MLM® Multi-Layer Media

Where Conventional Ceramic Fails

Ceramic saddles nest and compress under service load, restricting airflow and accumulating particulates. Monolith honeycomb cracks under thermal cycling due to temperature gradients across full-depth blocks. MLM's layered construction and interleaved channels solve both failure modes, and Lantec-guided MLM field installations are not subject to the structural degradation or thermal fracture that can occur in saddle and monolith installations. Four configurations — MLM-125 through MLM-200 — span the heat capacity/pressure drop curve (specifications below.)

Reduce Operating Costs

Replacing ceramic saddles with MLM cuts both fan power consumption and fuel use in a single retrofit. Lower pressure drop means less horsepower to move the same air volume; higher heat capacity per cubic foot improves thermal efficiency, reducing natural gas consumption to maintain combustion temperature. Documented installations show annual savings of $78,000–$100,000 or more; at that scale the media investment can pay back in under a year. (Case Study 42, Case Study 33)

Boost Capacity Without a Second RTO

MLM's low pressure drop enables higher gas velocities — 400 scfm/ft² or more — with sustained heat recovery. Throughput gains of 40% or more have been documented without adding equipment; what would otherwise require a second RTO is accomplished by replacing media and upgrading the fan. In applications where random media became airborne at design velocity, MLM has succeeded where multiple conventional alternatives could not. (Case Study 29, Case Study 50, Pollution Engineering: Fitchburg)

Handle Dirty Air Streams

MLM's parallel plate geometry and interleaved channels together eliminate the plugging modes that force frequent maintenance with conventional media. Ceramic saddles trap particulates between pieces; straight honeycomb channels accumulate them end-to-end. MLM passes both. Installations that required washouts every two weeks with saddles now operate for months between cleanings, with pressure drop fully restored after each wash. (Case Study 33, Case Study 42)

Design Your System with Lantec

Lantec's engineers will size your MLM installation at no charge — selecting the right configuration and bed depth for your operating conditions — and back it with a performance warranty.