Filtration monitoring and control system

An on-line method of monitoring and controlling a filtering system, said method comprising the steps of:

• i) determining a resistance value of filtering elements used in the filtering system by monitoring a number of operating parameters of the system;
• ii) calculating a feed fouling index (FFI) representative of the fouling characteristics of the feedstream with respect to the filtering system using the resistance value determined in i), where ##EQU7## with FFI=Feed Fouling Index, .DELTA.R=change in resistance, V=volume of feedstream filtered and .DELTA.(V/A)=change in the ratio of volume of feedstream filtered to filter area;
• and
• iii) controlling operations of the filtering system in dependence on the value of the feed fouling index calculated.

An off-line method of determining the potential fouling effect of a feedstream, said method including the steps of:

• i) passing a sample of the feedstream at a predetermined pressure through a filter having known characteristics;
• ii) determining a change in resistance to flow of the feedstream across the filter, either continuously or over a number of time intervals;
• and
• iii) using the information determined from step ii), calculating a feed fouling index (FFI) representative of fouling characteristics of the feedstream sample on the known filter, where ##EQU8## with FFI=Feed Fouling Index, .DELTA.R=change in resistance, V=volume of feedstream filtered and .DELTA.(V/A)=change in the ratio of volume of feedstream filtered to filter area.

An apparatus for use in determining the potential fouling effect of a feedstream comprising:

• a filter having known properties;
• means to pass a sample of the feedstream through said filter at a predetermined pressure;
• means for measuring the change in resistance to flow of the feedstream through the filter over time;
• and
• means for calculating quantitatively a feed fouling index (FFI) indicative of potential fouling effect of the feedstream on the filter based on the measured change in resistance to flow, where ##EQU9## with FFI=Feed Fouling Index, .DELTA.R=change in resistance, V=volume of feedstream filtered and .DELTA.(V/A)=change in the ratio of volume of feedstream filtered to filter area, so as to estimate the potential fouling effect of the feedstream on other known filters.

A method of monitoring the operation of a filtration system comprising the following steps:

• a) sampling system parameter values at selected locations within the filtration system at a predetermined sampling rate;
• b) generating a parameter profile characteristic from the sampled parameter values at predetermined intervals of time;
• c) determining the change in resistance to flow of the feedstream across the filter, either continuously or over a number of time intervals, where ##EQU10## with R=resistance, .DELTA.P=change in pressure across the filter, A=filter area, .eta.=viscosity of the feedstream and Q=flow across the filter;
• and
• d) determining optimal operations of the filtration system using the information determined from steps a) to c).

An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a filtration system comprising:

• a) means for sampling system parameter values at selected locations within the filtration system at a predetermined sampling rate;
• b) means for generating a parameter profile characteristic from the sampled parameter values at predetermined intervals of time;
• c) means for determining the change in resistance to flow of the feedstream across the filter, either continuously or over a number of time intervals, where ##EQU11## with R=resistance, .DELTA.P=change in pressure across the filter, A=filter area, .eta.=viscosity of the feedstream and Q=flow across the filter;
• and
• d) means for determining optimal operations of the filtration system using the information determined from means a) to c).