ConoClear Long Life Microfiltration Filters employ the use of a technically designed synthetic polyester material expressly designed for filtration.  The physical characteristics are controlled to extremely close tolerances to yield repeatable and consistent particulate separation results.

EFFICIENCY / ENHANCED FLOW

ConoClear Filter media improves particulate separation efficiency over currently available paper and metal screen filter media.  ConoClear is rated at 99.9% efficient down to 0.5 micron.  Standard paper filters are rated at 20 to 30 micron retentive capability.  Metal screen filters are rated at 80 to 120 micron.  Paper and metal filters require the use of a filter aid (powder e.p. magnesium silicate) to enable more efficient particulate retention.  But even with a filter aid, retentive efficiency cannot equal that of the ConoClear.  Cellulose pads are the other option available to filter shortening.  Their retentive capability is close to that of the ConoClear without a filter aid, within the range of 1 to 5 micron.

Particulate separation is the essence and purpose of filtration.  A media’s efficiency is determined by its retentive capability in regard to how fine (or small) the particle that can be retained  plus the overall amount of particulate that can be retained versus the volume of the host medium that can flow through the media in a given period of time at a given force.  ConoClear  has the unique ability to separate out the smallest particulate, collecting or retaining the highest amount of particulate while providing the largest volume of shortening to flow through at a rate of 2 to 4 times that of any other filter media currently available.

DURABILITY / EXTENDED USE

The ConoClear filter media can be used for multiple filtration cycles whereas paper and cellulose pads cannot.  Metal filter media can be reused for multiple filtration cycles.  Filters often become laden with debris from the frying process in high volume restaurants making it impossible to maintain an adequate flow.  In these situations the filter surface must be scraped to eliminate the buildup to allow for flow.  Paper and cellulose pads are damaged easily which will facilitate a re-start or changing to a new filter.  The ConoClear filter media is extremely durable and almost impossible to damage under normal conditions.  They can be scraped easily and quickly to maintain flow and expeditious filtration.  ConoClear filter media can be cleaned with water, steam or high pressure air to extend use whereas paper and cellulose pads cannot.  The ConoClear media will perform efficiently with no special cleaning through a normal 7 to 30 day period for a single filter.

ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR A FILTER AID

Filter aids, also called filter powder, have been used extensively for many decades to enhance the particulate separation capability of filter media.  There has been a host of compounds used over time but the most prevalent in today’s foodservice market is mineral compounds in a silicate form such as magnesium, calcium or aluminum.  Just as organic compounds such as diatomaceous earth, adiaphorous clay or perlite, all will deposit components into the oil that remains after filtration.  These components can alter ph balance, leave unhealthy remnants and act as a catalyst that can accelerate the degradation process.  They are messy to use and retain shortening that must be discarded after every filtration cycle.  Due to the unique structure of the non-woven needle punched felt used in the ConoClear media, innate characteristics provide the efficiency required for enhanced particulate separation.  Filter aids are not necessary to achieve this condition.

IMPROVED PRODUCT QUALITY AND APPERANCE   

In all field test the fried product has a more golden brown color, less detectable odor and a crisper crust.  The ConoClear media removes so much of the very fine particulate left behind by other filter media there is lees charred particulate picked up that will discolor, transfer odor and flavor and retain oil at the surface of the fried product.

REDUCES DAILY TOP-OFF REQUIREMENTS

Due to shortening absorption by the food, filter aids and filter media, shortening is lost in frying cycles and must be added to maintain an adequate amount of shortening in the fryer.  Paper and cellulose filters absorb the shortening readily as well as the filter powder that must be discarded after each filtration cycle.  The standard number of filtration cycles per day is two.  In some cases there are multiple cycles.  The ConoClear media is synthetic polyester that does not absorb the shortening into its fibers.  And since the ConoClear filter is reusable through many cycles, the amount of shortening discarded is reduced.  Through many field tests we have recorded an average of a 7 to 10% reduction in daily top-off.

EXTENDED SHORTENING LIFE

The shortening used in deep fat fryers will naturally degrade when exposed to heat and air.  When food is deposited into the medium for frying, contaminates such as blood, water, fatty acids, flour, breading, spices and other become dispersed and suspended in the shortening.  These contaminates will react with each other and already present components within the medium to accelerate the degradation of the shortening.  By removing the dispersed and suspended particulate on a frequent schedule the degradation process can be interrupted to retard degradation.  All filtering mechanisms remove specific levels of contaminates.  Due to the inherent efficiency of the ConoClear media, it will remove a larger volume of particulate by retaining finer or smaller particulate than other media and systems.  The filtration media currently available cannot remove the level of fine particulate and remains in the shortening medium and becomes heavily charred over time.  This segment of fine particulate will ultimately facilitate degradation.  In numerous field test, ConoClear filters have extended the functional life of the shortening in every case.  The period of extended life will vary due to variables such as volume, menu and filtration frequency on an average of 50% to 150%.

RESISTS BLINDING / CLOGGING

The ConoClear media utilizes a mechanism termed depth filtration.  This means the media incorporates a structure that employs the dimensional construction to provide particulate separation below the surface.  Filter aids employ depth filtration but since powder fabrication cannot control the physical characteristics as well, repeatability and consistency is affected.  ConoClear media physicals can be controlled to extremely tight tolerances and can be deliberately altered to yield custom characteristics for a particular application.  Masterfil media maintains efficient flow by retaining particulate in such a way as to prevent the stacking and compressing of surface particulate.  This feature enables the ConoClear media to distribute particulate within its unique 3- dimensional structure to prevent the buildup and compression of the particulate that will result in restrictive flow.

EASE OF CLEANING

Do not use water to clean the ConoClear Filter, simply scrape off the sediment. Since the ConoClear media is a reusable filter, removing sediment between filtration cycles is necessary.  Due to its unique construction and durability, cleaning is simple, fast, safe and effective.  Even if paper and cellulose filters had the ability to be reused, they do not have the necessary durability and the cleaning process would damage the filter.  They must be changed between filtration cycles.  The ConoClear media releases retained particulate readily by scraping or physically knocking the debris from the filter on the disposal receptacle.  The ConoClear media is engineered with a special surface treatment that reduces surface tension and facilitates the release of the collected debris.

ELIMINATES RECIRCULATION NECESSITY

Paper, cellulose and metal filters need to have the shortening re-circulated for 3 to 5 minutes in order to build a filter cake to effectively enhance the separation efficiency by means of creating depth filtration via retained particulate and/or filter powder.  Due to the inherent construction of the ConoClear media, there is no need to build a filter cake to establish separation efficiency.  The structure of the ConoClear media is the filter cake.  This means that clarity is reached on the first pass of the shortening through the media.  Filtration cycles in field test were shortened by as much as 75%.  For example, a restaurant that had been taking 8 minutes with another media system to filter one fryer was filtering in 2 minutes using the ConoClear media.

REDUCES LABOR REQUIREMENTS

The amount of labor required to facilitate the filtration protocol will be reduced from several areas. 

1. Increased flow rate of shortening through filter.
2. Reduced frequency of filter media change due to scraping damage and single use.
3. Faster filtration cycles through elimination of re-circulation.
4. Reduced shortening change frequency.
5. Reduced boil out frequency.
6. Filtered fryer heats back to operating temperature and back on line quicker.

ECONOMY AND VERSALITY

The ConoClear filter media will provide the end user with cost savings in many areas.

1. Due to the reusable feature, the cost per use is reduced
2. Filter powder can be eliminated or cut in half.
3. Reduces shortening cost from top off savings.
4. Reduces shortening cost by extending functional life.
5. Reduces energy cost.
6. Reduces labor cost.
7. Reduces equipment maintenance and parts cost.

The ConoClear media will also yield additional economy by providing the operator greater versatility in their operation.  Since filtering is simpler and faster the operator has the ability to structure his needs in his process more effectively.  Additional filtrations can be added effortlessly to provide additional quality to the product and shortening savings.  Higher production can be achieved with the same amount of labor.  Some control procedures can be eliminated due to the effectiveness of the ConoClear filter media

ConoTech Continuous Filter Fryer

For them maximum life savings the ConoTech Continuous filter fryer beats all other systems.  Batch filtering removes sediment and ConoClear does the best job of batch type filtering.  But optimal life expectancy is realized when small particles of sediment are removed from the shortening.  These are the particles that cause the shortening to get cloudy after the first drop of food and those particles touch the heating tubes or elements causing them to carbonize.  The continuous filter keeps the particles away from the heat source.  The ConoTech continuous filter fryer and ConoClear filter media used once a day will optimize your shortening life.