Shale shakers · Flow capacity and screen area, G-force and motion, deck angle, API RP 13C screen numbers versus brand names, conductance and open area, screen fit
A shale shaker is the first stage of a drilling-fluid solids-control system, a vibrating basket driven by vibratory motors that carries tensioned wire-mesh screen panels, over which returning mud flows so that cuttings are carried off the screens while liquid mud and fine solids pass through. Ask three things first: what flow rate and solids load it must handle with what screen area, what motion, G-force and deck angle it provides, and which API RP 13C screen sizes it will run and how they fit.
Linear and elliptical-motion shale shakers and their replacement screens for oil, gas, geothermal and HDD drilling. Mud cleaners, desanders, desilters, centrifuges and complete solids-control systems sold without shakers are outside this page.
01
Triflo's 146L PTP linear shale shaker data sheet lists a capacity of 750 GPM on 24 ft² of screen area using three pretensioned panel screens, two vibratory motors with a 2.30 hp rating at 1,750 rpm (460 V, 60 Hz), a centrifugal force of 7,551 lb and a maximum of 6.3 g. G-force is adjustable in the field without adding weights, and a hydraulic jacking system sets the deck angle from 1° below horizontal to 5° above. The unit is 69 × 96 × 55 in and weighs 4,450 lb. [1]
Editorial calculation: 750 US GPM is about 170 m³/h (750 × 0.227), and 24 ft² is about 2.23 m², or roughly 76 m³/h per square metre of screen at rated flow. Rated flow depends on mud weight, viscosity, solids and screen size, so ask the supplier for capacity with your mud and the screen you will run. [1]
GN Solids Control's GNZS linear-motion range shows how capacity tracks screen area: the GNZS752K mini shaker lists 45 m³/h (200 GPM) on two screens totalling 1.35 m² with 2 × 1.0 kW motors and 1,166 kg; the single-deck GNZS594K 140 m³/h (616 GPM) on four screens and 2.73 m² with 2 × 1.94 kW; the GNZS595K 175 m³/h (770 GPM) on five screens and 3.41 m²; and the double-deck GNZS596K 140 m³/h on a 1.36 m² top deck and 2.73 m² bottom deck with 2 × 2.2 kW. All four list G-force adjustable up to 7.5 G and vibration amplitude of 4.14 to 5.96 mm; deck angle is adjustable from −1° to +5° on the three larger models and fixed at +2° on the mini shaker, with weir feeders. GN states the capacities are for reference only and vary with the screen API number and mud conditions. [3]
Editorial calculation: the GNZS594K's 140 m³/h on 2.73 m² is about 51 m³/h per square metre of screen, against about 76 m³/h per square metre for the Triflo 146L PTP rating above — published reference capacities are not comparable without the same mud and screens. [3] [1]
Editorial note: higher G-force and steeper deck angles convey cuttings and dry them differently; ask how motion type (linear or elliptical), G-force and deck angle are adjusted on site.
Give the supplier the maximum circulating rate, mud type and weight, hole sections and expected cuttings load, required screen sizes (API numbers), number of shakers, power supply (voltage, frequency, hazardous-area rating), deck angle and G-force adjustment, footprint and weight limits, screen type and fit, and quantities including spare screens.
02
NOV Brandt's replacement-screen sheet for the M-I SWACO BEM-650 lists API RP 13C compliant screens with their API number, D100 cut point, conductance and non-blanked area (NBOA). The brand name and the API number differ: the 'RHD 200' screen is API 100 with a D100 of 155 µm and the 'RHD 89' is API 50 at 326 µm; XF screens run up to API 450 at 34.1 µm. NBOA is 0.37 m² per panel and each pretension panel measures 914 × 686 × 25 mm and weighs 8.16 kg. [2]
Conductance falls as screens get finer: from 5.72 kD/mm for the API 50 RHD screen to 0.632 kD/mm for API 200 RHD; Brandt describes RHD rectangular mesh as resisting blinding and supporting higher flow, and XF square mesh as offering finer API ranges. [2]
Editorial calculation: moving from the API 50 to the API 200 RHD screen cuts conductance by about nine times (5.72 ÷ 0.632), so the same shaker passes much less mud per square metre with fine screens. Compare quotations by API number, D100 and conductance, not by the mesh number in the product name. [2]
03
Aipu Solid Control's Hunter series page lists eight shaker configurations with capacity, screen area, screen count, motor power and deck angle. The single-deck Hunter-MG3, MG4 and MG5 list 120, 140 and 180 m³/h on 2, 2.7 and 3.8 m² with 3, 4 and 5 screens; the Hunter-Mini lists 50 m³/h on 1.35 m² with 2 screens and a fixed 0° deck; the MG4V and MG5V list 120 m³/h on 2.7 and 2.8 m². The dual MG4D and triple MG4T list 280 and 420 m³/h on 5.4 and 8.1 m² with 8 and 12 screens. All except the Mini list a deck angle of −1° to +5°. Motor power is listed as 2 × 1.5 up to 3 × 2 × 1.72 without a stated unit, and vibration motors are offered from Martin, Oli or Ital-Vibras. [4]
Editorial calculation: capacity per square metre of screen is 60 m³/h for the MG3, about 51.9 for the MG4, 47.4 for the MG5 and 37.0 for the Mini. The dual and triple units list exactly two and three times the MG4's capacity and area, so they also come to about 51.9 m³/h per square metre: on this maker's figures a multi-unit package adds capacity by adding identical decks, not by working each screen harder. These are reference ratings, so they cannot be ranked against the Triflo and GN figures above without the same mud and screens. [4] [1] [3]
When the rig's circulating rate exceeds one shaker's rating, ask whether the offer is one larger shaker or a dual or triple package with a shared feeder, how flow is split between units, and confirm the motor power in kW, the voltage and the hazardous-area rating of the motors offered. [4]
| Aipu model | Capacity | Screen area and count | Editorial calculation: m³/h per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter-Mini | 50 m³/h. [4] | 1.35 m²; 2. [4] | 37.0 |
| Hunter-MG3 | 120 m³/h. [4] | 2 m²; 3. [4] | 60.0 |
| Hunter-MG4 | 140 m³/h. [4] | 2.7 m²; 4. [4] | 51.9 |
| Hunter-MG5 | 180 m³/h. [4] | 3.8 m²; 5. [4] | 47.4 |
| Hunter-MG4D (dual) | 280 m³/h. [4] | 5.4 m²; 8. [4] | 51.9 |
| Hunter-MG4T (triple) | 420 m³/h. [4] | 8.1 m²; 12. [4] | 51.9 |
04
Listings include linear and triple-deck shale shakers and vacuum shale shakers alongside mud cleaners, desanders and centrifuges.
05
| Part | Role | Fix in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Vibrating basket | Carries screens. [1] | Size and screen count. |
| Vibratory motors | Create motion and G-force. [1] | Power, speed, voltage. |
| Deck angle adjustment | Sets conveyance. [1] | Range and method. |
| Screen panels | Separate cuttings. [2] | API number, D100, NBOA. |
| Screen fixing | Holds panels. [2] | Wedges; panel size. |
| Feeder | Spreads flow. [3] | Weir feeder; weir height. |
06
A flow rating is only comparable when the screen area and API screen size behind it are stated, so those rows come first.
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Area (m²) | 24 ft² (≈ 2.23 m²) in one shaker; 1.35–3.41 m² across another range. [1] [3] | Area and panel count. |
| Processing Capacity (m³/h) | 750 GPM (≈ 170 m³/h) in one shaker; 45–175 m³/h reference across another range. [1] [3] | Capacity with your mud. |
| Vibration Amplitude (mm) | Stroke; 4.14–5.96 mm on one linear range. [3] | Amplitude. |
| Vibration Frequency (rpm) | 1,750 rpm motors in one shaker. [1] | Speed. |
| Motor power | 2.30 hp motor rating with two vibratory motors in one shaker; 2 × 1.0 to 2 × 2.2 kW in another range. [1] [3] | Power and starting current. |
| Screen size (API RP 13C number) | API 50–450 by RP 13C. [2] | API number and D100. |
| Operating Temperature (°C) | Climate. | Range. |
| Ingress Protection | Motor and electrics. | IP and hazardous rating. |
| Noise Level (dB(A)) | Rig floor. | Value. |
| Weight (kg) | 4,450 lb (≈ 2,019 kg) in one shaker. [1] | Weight. |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 96 × 69 × 55 in in one shaker. [1] | Drawing. |
| Power Supply (V AC) | 460 V, 60 Hz in one shaker. [1] | Voltage and frequency. |
07
Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Flow: [max GPM or m³/h] Mud: [type; weight; solids] Screens: [API numbers; type; spares] Motion: [linear or elliptical; G-force; deck angle] Power: [voltage; frequency; hazardous area] Supply: [footprint; number of units]
Xi'an Brightway Energy Machinery Equipment lists shale shakers and triple-deck shale shakers, GN Solids Control lists vacuum shale shakers next to its linear units, and Sino Mechanical sells shakers within solids-control systems and drilling equipment.
Lists shale shakers and triple-deck shale shakers among solids-control equipment.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists shale shakers and vacuum shale shakers among solids-control equipment.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists shale shakers among solids-control systems and drilling equipment.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
Brand names differ from API numbers; NOV Brandt's 'RHD 200' screen is API 100 with a 155 µm D100. [2]
Triflo's 146L PTP is rated up to 6.3 g, adjustable in the field. [1]
Brandt lists conductance falling from 5.72 kD/mm at API 50 to 0.632 kD/mm at API 200 for RHD screens. [2]
GN lists 45 m³/h on 1.35 m² for its mini shaker and 175 m³/h on 3.41 m² for its five-screen model, and says actual capacity varies with screen API number and mud. [3]
Aipu lists its dual Hunter-MG4D at 280 m³/h on 5.4 m² and triple MG4T at 420 m³/h on 8.1 m², exactly two and three times its single MG4 (140 m³/h on 2.7 m²). [4]
Sources checked 2026-10-12. Triflo, GN Solids Control, NOV Brandt and Aipu Solid Control publish data for their own shakers and screens; capacity for your rig must come from the supplier with your mud and screen sizes.
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