Hankison HF series filter elements are widely used across compressed air systems in manufacturing, food processing, and general industry. When it comes time to replace them, engineers often face a confusing array of part numbers — E1, E3, E5, E7, E9 — each with a size suffix that adds another layer of complexity. This guide cuts through the confusion, explains what each element type does, decodes the size designation system, and shows how R+F FilterElements equivalents map directly to every Hankison HF grade.
Understanding the Hankison HF Element Type Codes
The Hankison HF series covers five distinct filtration grades, each designed for a specific duty in a compressed air treatment train:
- E9 — Separator / Pre-filter: Removes bulk liquid water and large particulate. Typically the first stage after the compressor or dryer. Rated for coarse separation, not sub-micron filtration.
- E7 — Air Line Filter: General-purpose particulate removal to approximately 1 µm. Suitable for protecting pneumatic tools and actuators where trace oil is acceptable.
- E5 — High Efficiency Coalescing: Removes oil aerosols and particulate to 0.01 mg/m³ residual oil content. The workhorse of most compressed air quality systems.
- E3 — Ultra-High Efficiency Coalescing: Achieves residual oil content below 0.01 mg/m³, suitable for sensitive instrumentation, painting, and food-contact applications.
- E1 — Adsorber Element: Activated carbon adsorption stage that removes oil vapour and odour. Always installed downstream of a coalescing stage — never as a standalone filter.
Decoding the Size Suffix: E*-12 Through E*-48
Every Hankison HF element carries a numeric suffix that corresponds to the housing model it fits. The suffix does not directly indicate flow capacity in a linear way — it is a housing family code. Common sizes include:
When sourcing a replacement, you must match both the element type (E1–E9) and the size suffix to the housing installed on your system. Mixing sizes — even within the same element grade — will result in incorrect sealing and bypass leakage.
Cross-Reference: Hankison HF to R+F FilterElements
R+F FilterElements offers a full range of replacement filter elements that are dimensionally and performance-equivalent to Hankison HF series elements. The cross-reference below covers the most common grades. For a complete lookup including all size suffixes, use the R+F cross-reference tool.
| Hankison Type | Filtration Grade | Residual Oil | R+F Equivalent | R+F Performance Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E9 (Separator) | Bulk liquid / coarse particulate | ≤ 5 mg/m³ | RF-P (particulate) | Grade P |
| E7 (Air Line) | General particulate to 1 µm | ≤ 1 mg/m³ | RF-C (coalescing, standard) | Grade C |
| E5 (High Efficiency) | Oil aerosol to 0.01 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.01 mg/m³ | RF-C (coalescing, high efficiency) | Grade H |
| E3 (Ultra-High Efficiency) | Sub-micron oil aerosol | ≤ 0.01 mg/m³ | RF-C (coalescing, ultra-high efficiency) | Grade UH |
| E1 (Adsorber) | Oil vapour / odour removal | ≤ 0.003 mg/m³ | RF-AC (activated carbon) | Grade AC |
E3 — Ultra-High Efficiency Coalescing:
Use our free Engineering Tool to get a filtration recommendation for your specific application in under 2 minutes.
Why Switch to R+F Replacement Elements?
R+F branded replacement elements are manufactured to the same dimensional tolerances and filtration performance standards as OEM elements. The borosilicate glass microfibre media used in RF-C coalescing elements achieves 99.99% efficiency at ≥ 0.1 µm — meeting or exceeding the performance of the original Hankison E3 and E5 grades. For the adsorber duty, RF-AC elements use high-activity activated carbon with a residual oil vapour content below 0.003 mg/m³, directly equivalent to the Hankison E1 specification.
Beyond performance parity, R+F FilterElements offers several practical advantages for maintenance teams:
- Stocked in Europe: Short lead times from the Hildesheim warehouse, avoiding the delays common with OEM parts sourced from North America.
- Competitive pricing: Replacement elements available from R+F FilterElements at significantly lower cost than OEM list prices, with no compromise on filtration efficiency.
- Full size range: All suffix sizes from -12 through -48 are available, covering the complete Hankison HF housing range.
- Technical support: The R+F engineering team can verify cross-references and confirm compatibility before you order — use the Engineering Sizing Tool or contact the team directly.
Recommended Replacement Intervals
Hankison's own guidance recommends annual element replacement under normal operating conditions, or more frequently in high-contamination environments. R+F FilterElements follows the same recommendation. For compressed air systems operating at elevated temperatures or with high inlet oil carry-over (e.g. reciprocating compressors without a pre-separator), a six-month interval is advisable for E5/E3 grades.
For the E1 adsorber element, replacement should be triggered by odour breakthrough or by a fixed interval — whichever comes first. Activated carbon beds do not give a visible indication of saturation, so a time-based schedule is essential. Most installations replace adsorber elements every 6–12 months depending on inlet oil vapour concentration.
For guidance on building a complete compressed air treatment train — including pre-separation, coalescing, and adsorption stages — see our guide on coalescing vs particulate filter elements and the ISO 8573-1 compressed air quality classes reference.
- E9 — Separator / Pre-filter:
- Every Hankison HF element carries a numeric suffix that corresponds to the housing model it fits.
- R+F FilterElements offers a full range of replacement filter elements that are dimensionally and performance-equivalent to Hankison HF series elements.
- R+F branded replacement elements are manufactured to the same dimensional tolerances and filtration performance standards as OEM elements.
Ordering R+F Replacement Elements for Hankison HF Housings
To order the correct replacement element, you need three pieces of information: the element type (E1, E3, E5, E7, or E9), the size suffix (-12 through -48), and the operating pressure of your system. R+F FilterElements stocks the full range of compressed air filter elements and can supply elements for all Hankison HF housing sizes.
If you are unsure of the correct cross-reference for your specific housing model, the R+F cross-reference tool allows you to search by OEM part number and returns the matching R+F element code with dimensional confirmation.
Related Reading
- Coalescing vs Particulate Filter Elements — Which Do You Need?
- ISO 8573-1 Compressed Air Quality Classes Explained
- Oxygen Filtration Safety — What Every Engineer Should Know
Try our Engineering Sizing Tool → or discuss your requirements with our team.
