Method for filtering at optimized fluid velocity

Abstract

There is provided in accordance with the invention a method for filtering comprising the steps of: providing a filter assembly comprising a depth filter and at least one microporous membrane; determining an optimal fluid velocity of the filter assembly by the steps of: operating identical filter assemblies at different constant fluid velocities, each for a time duration which terminates when a given total pressure drop is reached thereacross; noting the total throughput for such time duration; and based on the total throughput for each of said different constant fluid velocities, establishing a functional relationship between fluid velocity and total throughput for said filter assembly; and operating the filter assembly at a constant fluid velocity which corresponds to a desired total throughput. In a preferred embodiment, the filter assembly has a selectable filter area and the method further includes the step of selecting the filter area for the filter assembly which enables a desired flow rate to be realized for operation of the filter assembly at the fluid velocity which corresponds to the desired total throughput.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.