Typical compressed air filters ‘soak up’ oil and water and are said to run in a ‘wetted out’ or saturated state. This temporarily blocks the path of compressed air through the normally open filter structure and increases the operating pressure drop as the air flow has to force liquids through the fine matrix of the filtration media. This leads to the higher energy consumption.

Unlike typical filters, the Bossmanfilter's Microfilter elements are does not soak up in liquids, ensuring the available open area is kept to a maximum for dirt Liquid aerosols coalesce within the anti re-entrainment barrier and fall into the filter bowl to be discharged via the drain.Solid particulate is captured and held within the open area of the filter media, eventually increasing the differential pressure to a point where it is more economical to replace the filter element.