FILTALLOY

TECHNOLOGY LTD.

Metal Filter Elements & Materials

Wedge Wire Slot & Open Area Calculator

Calculate theoretical slot open area for Johnson screens and wedge wire screens. Reverse-calculate the slot width and estimate clear opening area for a flat panel or cylindrical screen.

Calculator inputs

Use the wire face width on the screening surface, not wire height or support-rod width.

Screen geometry

Enter known extra blockage of the openings themselves. Do not enter total support-rod area unless its overlap with slots is known. Do not count the unslotted margins again.

Example values illustrate the calculation. They are not product specifications.

Results

Enter your inputs, then select Calculate.

How the calculation works

Local open area = s / (s + w) × 100%
Reverse slot width = w × f / (1 − f), where f is the target open-area fraction.
Net opening area = active region × f − known additional blocked opening area.
Effective overall open area = net opening area / overall surface × 100%.

For a sheet, active area uses the length and width after subtracting both end and side margins. For a cylinder, it uses π × screening-surface diameter × active length. Cylinder end faces are excluded.

This is a repeating-slot geometric estimate. Edge slot counts, slot tolerances, seams and support geometry may require a drawing-based calculation. Open area does not specify filtration efficiency, pressure drop or flow capacity.

Frequently asked questions

Is slot width the same as filtration rating?

Slot width describes the surface opening. Particle retention also depends on particle shape, orientation and operating conditions.

Which diameter should I use for a cylinder?

Use the diameter at the slotted screening surface. Select the inside or outside screening surface according to the actual screen construction.

Can I deduct supports automatically?

Only known blocked opening area is deducted. A support's projected surface area can overlap both wire faces and slots, so the whole support area is not automatically a loss of open area.

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