Method of monitoring filter components

A method for monitoring hollow filter elements used for filtering hot and dusty gases, comprising the steps of:

• arranging said filter elements in groups in a filter housing;
• connecting each group through a single supply line with a filtered-gas line;
• conveying filtered gas away through said filtered gas line;
• injecting a filtering sweeping medium with flow in form of a gas into each supply line in cycles at higher pressure;
• registering a filtering cycle;
• recording and measuring at least one of sweeper flow and filtered gas flow;
• comparing a result of said measuring step with a registration of a sweeping cycle;
• and releasing an alarm when a difference results from said comparing step, whereby a defective filter element can be isolated and penetration of unfiltered gas into the filtered gas is prevented, each sweeping cycle being related to a change at a filtered gas side, a group having a defective filter element being excluded from sweeping and a fracture in the defective filter element becoming sealed with dust and decontamination being initiated;
• generating individual sweeping pulses in each sweeping lance during a sweeping cycle;
• recording a maximum value of said individual sweeping pulses;
• comparing said maximum value with a standard;
• releasing said alarm for a respective group of filter elements when a difference results form said comparing step;
• measuring dust density and a pressure pulse of the filtered gas in relation to the sweeping cycle;
• designating said measuring step to a group of filter elements that was swept;
• withdrawing a particular group of filter elements from sweeping;
• and recording and comparing sweeping pulses, dust density, and a pressure pulse, through switching means, with a recording of a sweeping cycle.