Method and apparatus for testing the integrity of filter elements
AssigneePall Corporation
InventorGerhard Weich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for testing the integrity of filter elements is provided. The filter assembly comprises a plurality of filter elements which are subdivided into a plurality of sections. By measuring the gas flow rate under known pressure conditions through all of the sections or a selected portion of the sections, defective filter elements can be isolated in a systematic manner.
Claims14
A method of testing the integrity of filter elements in a filter assembly comprising a plurality of filter elements which are subdivided into a plurality of sections, said method comprising the steps:
- a) wetting a filter material of said plurality of filter elements;
- b) subjecting the filter elements with wetted filter material to a gas pressure;
- c) measuring a bulk gas flow rate through the wetted filter material of all of said plurality of filter elements;
- d) determining whether the measured bulk gas flow rate deviates from a first desired flow rate by an amount within a first preset range, wherein a deviation within said preset range indicates that all filter elements are intact;
- e) closing gas passage through at least one section of filter elements containing a portion of said plurality of filter elements;
- f) measuring a bulk gas flow rate through the wetted filter material of filter elements disposed in remaining sections open to gas passage;
- g) determining whether the measured bulk gas flow rate of step f) deviates from a second desired flow rate corresponding to the number of filter elements disposed in remaining sections open to gas passage by an amount within a second preset range, wherein a deviation of the measured bulk gas flow rate of step f) from a second desired flow rate within the second preset range indicates that one or more of the filter elements in said at least one section of step e) is not intact.
A method of testing the integrity of filter elements in a filter assembly comprising a plurality of filter elements which are subdivided into a plurality of sections, said method comprising:
- a) subjecting the filter elements to a gas pressure;
- b) measuring a parameter indicative of integrity of the plurality of filter elements;
- c) determining whether the measured parameter deviates from a first desired parameter by an amount within a first preset range, wherein a deviation within the preset range indicates that the filter elements are intact;
- d) closing gas passage through at least one section of filter elements;
- e) measuring a parameter indicative of integrity of the filter elements disposed in remaining sections open to gas passage;
- and
- f) determining whether the measured parameter of step e) deviates from a second desired parameter corresponding to the number of filter elements disposed in remaining sections open to gas passage by an amount within a second preset range, wherein a deviation of the measured parameter of step e) from a second desired parameter within the second preset range indicates that one or more of the filter elements in said at least one section of step d) is not intact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.