Method and apparatus for predicting end-of-life of a consumable in a fluid purification system

A method for predicting the end-of-life of a system consumable held in a system column of a system for purifying an unpurified fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a model consumable in a model column to a fluid purification system, the model consumable having comparable characteristics but substantially less capacity than a system consumable in said fluid purification system, the model column having substantially the same geometry as the system column and having a diameter and length scaled with those of the system column;
• diverting a portion of the unpurified fluid which could otherwise flow into said system consumable into said model consumable;
• and
• analyzing said model consumable to predict the end-of-life of said system consumable.

A method for monitoring a getter purification system comprising the steps of:

• coupling an inlet of a system getter column to a source of unpurified gas, said system getter column containing a first quantity of getter material;
• coupling an inlet of a model getter column to said source of unpurified gas in parallel with said system getter column, said model getter column containing a second quantity of getter material which is substantially less in quantity than said first quantity of getter material within said system getter column;
• heating said first quantity of getter material within said system getter column with a first heater to a system getter operating temperature which is substantially greater than room temperature;
• heating said second quantity of getter material within said model getter column with a second heater to a model getter operating temperature which is substantially greater than room temperature;
• flowing unpurified gas into said system getter column having said heated first quantity of getter material and into said model getter column having said heated second quantity of getter material such that substantially more unpurified gas flows into said system getter column than said model getter column;
• and
• analyzing said second quantity of getter material within said model getter column to predict an end-of-life of said first quantity of getter material with said system getter column.

A fluid purification system comprising:

• an inlet adapted to be coupled to a source of unpurified fluid;
• an outlet;
• a system consumable coupled between said inlet and said outlet such that unpurified fluid flowing through said system consumable is purified by said system consumable;
• a model consumable having comparable characteristics but substantially less capacity than said system consumable;
• and
• diverting means coupled between said inlet and said model consumable for diverting a portion of said unpurified fluid which could otherwise flow through said system consumable into said model consumable, wherein said means for diverting a portion of said unpurified fluid further comprises a mass flow controller (MFC) coupled between said inlet and said model consumable.

A fluid purification system comprising:

• an inlet adapted to be coupled to a source of unpurified fluid;
• an outlet;
• a system consumable held in a system column coupled between said inlet and said outlet such that unpurified fluid flowing through said system consumable is purified by said system consumable;
• a model consumable held in a model column having substantially the same geometry as the system column and having a length and diameter scaled with those of the system column, the model consumable having comparable characteristics but substantially less capacity than said system consumable;
• and
• diverting means coupled between said inlet and said model consumable for diverting a portion of said unpurified fluid which could otherwise flow through said system consumable into said model consumable.

A getter purification system comprising:

• a system getter column coupled to a source of unpurified gas, said system getter column containing a first quantity of getter material;
• a model getter column containing a second quantity of getter material which is substantially less in quantity than said first quantity of getter material within said system getter column;
• coupling means coupling said model getter column to said source of unpurified gas such that substantially less gas flows into said model getter column than said system getter column;
• a first heater coupled to said system getter column to heat said first quantity of getter material to a system getter operating temperature which is substantially greater than room temperature;
• a second heater coupled to said model getter column to heat said second quantity of getter material to a model getter operating temperature which is substantially greater than room temperature;
• analyzing means for analyzing said second quantity of getter material within said model getter column to predict an end-of-life of said first quantity of getter material with said system getter column.