Method of insuring the integrity of a filtering element
US8084259B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/25375
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention describes a system for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system allows the operator to certify the integrity of the filters within the filter housing at the customer site without additional equipment. In one embodiment, a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen, is added to a carrier and injected into the system. The concentration of tracer gas at a specific operating transmembrane pressure is indicative of bubble pointing specific pores in the filter. This test will give a more sensitive indication of the bubble point and the presence of defects than a standard diffusion test. In a second embodiment, two gasses, in a known ratio, are introduced into the filter housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.