CA1102583A

CA1102583A - Side stream monitoring

Info

Publication number: CA1102583A
Application number: CA303,004A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Dale A. Young
Original assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co
Current assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
Priority date: 1977-07-22
Filing date: 1978-05-10
Publication date: 1981-06-09
Also published as: FR2397866A1; JPS6152414B2; NL7806492A; JPS5423260A; DE2832163C2; FR2397866B1; GB1604507A; DE2832163A1

Abstract

U.S. 818,154 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A site stream monitoring device for a main unit such as a vessel, which effectively has the same geometrical and dynamic characteristics as those corresponding components in the vessel for enabling the side stream monitor to provide a ready indication ant continuous monitor of the performance characteristics and quality of the corresponding com-ponents in the vessel, upon removal and testing or examination of the device. The apparatus and method for monitoring have particular utility in connection with clay filters or filter separators which are used for the removal of contaminants from e.g. jet fuels. In each case a bypass side stream is disposed between the inlet lines of the filter or filter separator and located within the bypass line is a device which effectively is a reduced scale replica of a portion of the main unit which corresponds to the critical operating components thereof.
For the clay filter a duplication of flow velocities and residence times of the fuel through a predetermined section of one of the main filter elements is reproduced. In the case of the filter separator, the side stream device comprises sections which are comprised of identical elements used in the main unit, including metal screens, fiber sheets, fiberglass screens, fiber sheets, fiberglass screens, etc., except that each component of the side stream monitor is of a reduced size ouch that the ratio of the cross-sectional area to the liquid flow is the same as that which exists in the main unit for that particular component.

Description

BACKGRO~D O~ THE INVENTION
Generally, clay filtration is used for the removal of organic contaminants, e.g. surface active agents, which occur naturally in or are added by cross contamination with other petroleum products containing additives. The purpose of removing these surfactants is to improve the water shedding ahility of, for example, a liquid fuel and to prevent those surfactants from disarming or deactivating a filter separator which would prevent its use as a filter and as a coalescer and separator of water from the fuel. Clay also is typically used for the removal of organic color bodies from the fuel.
Generally, the industry has u~ed attapulgus-type clay con-tained in a bag or canister element in field filtering install-ations for turbo fuel.
A problem which has heretofore been of substantial concern in connection with clay filtration is the desire and - néed to measure the ongoing performance of the clay filter in the ~ain unit and its remaining service life. When a high quality fuel is employed, fuel exiting from the filter i5 of a high quality and nothing is revealed as to the effectiveness of the clay as a filter. However, if a low quality fuel typ-ically containing high surfactant levels is employed, the exiting fuel can be properly analyzed with suitable conven-tional instrumentation (e.g~, a water separometer or a separator identified by the Trade Mark Mini-Sonic Separometer) which will aSces~ the water shedding ability of the fuel, i.e. the ability of the water to be coalesced from the fuel. If the performance of the clay filter to remove the surfactants is poor or ineff-ective, then the operation must be halted and new clay filter elements installed. Prior to this invention there has been no way to predetermine the remaining clay a-tivity before the low quality fuel is pumped through that filter.

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1 As avlation ~as turbine engines have developed 2 there has been an increasing demand for high performance '~ fuel, whereln the degrading effect of a small quantity of 4 contamination will have a severe effect on fuel ef~ectiveness.
5 Conventional control tec~miques have employed a'fil~er sepa- `
'6 rator which is designed to remove entrained water and solid 7 contaminants from the fuel. The~e filter separators per-8 ~orm their separation ~unction (i.e., water and solids re-9 moval from the hydrocarbon fuel) by providing specific filter lo media ~or filtering solids, coalescing medium for coalescing 11 wster droplets~ and a porous membrane which separates'the 12 coalesced water in the fuel. It is necessary ~or the 13 coalescence to take place prior to any separation.
''' 14 If the filter separator permits more than a speci-fied amount of solids or water to pass through''it ~o the ef- I
16 1uent, then it has failed Different types or modes of 1~ failure can be "mechanical" or what is cmmmonl;y known as 18 "deactivation". A mechanical failure can be attributed to 19 improper element installation, a pinhole in a new element, ~ or rupture of the ~ilter sepsrator during use. As for de~
'21 activation, this can occur even when the filter sep~ra~or 22 i8 méchanically sound. Present techniques do not provide 23 for ready detection or prevention of filter deact~vation 24 which can affect either the filter coalescer cartrid~e or separator element without any apparent cause, indication or 26 warning. If deactivation of either elemen~ oeours, this ` 27 will allow any contamination to be passed into the aircraft ?8 with the ~uel.
DESCRIPTION 0~ E~IRri~R ~A~I -As mentioned abo~e, heretofore there have been no 31 successful or known devices or method~ which will quantative-32 ly ~nd readily measure the filter and/or 11ter separator

- 3 1 p~rformance in the ield and also predict i~s remaining 2 service life, at least when either of these elements or com-3 ponents is approaching an inoperable or ineffec~ive stage.

4 It is generally known and common to continuously analyze a ~lowing stream by e~tablishing a sample loop including an 6 analyzer for certain characteristics of the stream, such as 7 disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,765,226. This expedient, however, 8 is not concerned with the use of a side stream monitoring 9 device or unit having certain critical parameters ~hich l duplicate as close as possible a representative`segment of 11 the main unit being monitored, such ~hat at any instant with-12. out disturbing operation of the main unit, the side monltor-13 ing unit can be tested or examined by removal or o~her suit-14 able means, to provide a ready indication o~ the performance characteristics of the main unit and also the life e~ectancy16 o~ such segments within the main unit 17 Other prior art U.S. patents located during ~he 18 course o a preliminary investigation for this invention are 19 ~8 ~Ollows: ~ 1 626,760 - Kohn 21 104,203 - Dahl 22 . 1~187~046 ~ Lamarter 23 1,515,080 - Strachan et al 24 . 1,696,735 - Scovill : 1,943,811 - Child et al 2~ 2,168,125 - . Hearn ~7 2,302,552 - Johnson 28 2,679,320 - Walton ~ 2,843,077 - Leifer 3,077~98g - Larkin 31 3,412,786 - Taylor 32 3,572,507 - Juskuvic , .- 4 :-None of the aforementioned prior art are considered to dis- :
close the above-discussed expedient, which is considered to provide patentability for the present invention. Of these patents, all with the possible exception of Leifer and Taylor relate to full flow filtration designs, while the latter two pertain to pressure sensing devices to indicate fouling by particulates on filters or heat exchange surfaces.
On the other hand, the present invention relates to side stream modeling, both on a physical and dynamic basis, of a main stream filtration unit where removal of the side stream unit and testing under controlled test conditions pro-vides a ready means and lndication of assessing the present condition of the main filter, as well as predicting its re-maining useful life.

SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTION -~
The present invention relates to side sample .. .
stream monitoring of a main unit, which effectively geometric-ally and dynamically duplicates or simulates operating para-meters of the intrical operating components in the main unit, which enables the side stream monitoring unit to provide a ready indication and continuous monitor of the performance charact'eristics and quality of the main unit corresponding features upon removal and testing or examination of the side monitor.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, a monitor for selected predetermined components in a ~ .
main unit having an inlet and outlet for the passage of a liquid stream therethrough, comprises: a bypass line for connection between said inlet and said outlet, a monitor device ~ 30 connected in said hypass line including reduced scale replica ; of at least one of said predetermined components of said main ~ ~ 5 - -.. . : . .,

5~33 unit which substantially duplicates the geometrical and dynamic characteristics thereof for having a predetermined sample flow of said stream through said monitor device whereby upon removal of said monitor device from said bypass line the effectiveness of said components therein can be measured relative to a pre-determined standard.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, apparatus for side stream monitoring of components within a main unit, through which a main stream flows, with which said apparatus is adapted to be associated, comprises:
bypa3s line means for connection at opposite ends to the inlet and outlet of said main unit including a side stream monitor which includes components bearing a proportional relatlonship to, comprising a reduced scale replica of, similar components in said main unit for duplicating geometrical and dynamic char-a t:eristics of said components in said main unit so as to provide a predetermined sample of said main stream and proportional flow residence time and velocity through ~aid side strear.l monitor, whereby ~aid side monitor provides represent-ative indication of effectiveness of said component~ in saidmain unit.
From a different a~pect, and in accordance with the invention, a method of monitoring the performance of selected predetermined components in a main unit having an inlet and outlet for the passage of a liquid strea~ there-through, comprises the steps of: (a) providing a bypass stream between said inlet and said outlet; (b) providing within said bypass strea.~ a monitor device including reduced scale replica of said predetermined components of said main unit which sub- ~ -stantially duplicates the geometrical and dynamic characteristics thereof, (c) passing a predetermined sample flow of said stream - 5a -through said monitor device, and (d) removing said monitor device from said bypass line and measuring the effectiveness of said components therein relative to a predetermined standard.
The apparatus and method for monitoring have particular utility in connection with clay filters and/or filter separator~ which are used for the removal of contaminants f~^cm liquids such as jet fuels. In each case the bypass side stream is disposed between the inlet and outlet lines of the filter or filter separator and located within the bypass is a unit which effectively is a reduced scale repliaa of a por-tion of the main unit which corresponds to the critical operat-ing components thereof. For the clay filters - 5b -:b -' ' ' ~ ` `~
~ 3 1 a duplication of flow velocitie~ and residence times of the 2 fuel through a predetermined section of one of thP main fil-3 ter elements is provided. In the case of the fllter separa-4 tor, the side stream unit comprises sections whlch are ~om-prised of identical components of the elements used in the

6 main unit, including metal screens, ~ber sheets, iberglass7 screens, etc., e~cept that each component of the side stream 8 monitoring unit has a reduced size such that the ratio of -~
9 the cross-sectional area to the liquid flow is the same as 0 that which exists in the main filter ~eparator unit for that 11 particular component. Thus, it is seen that the present in-12 vention provides a side stream monitoring unit which provides 1~ geometrical and dynamic characteristics similar to those of 1~ the main uni~
iS In the case of measuring and monitoring performance 16 of the clay filter independent of the quality of fuel which 17 flows in the main filtration unit, the clay holder located 18 in the side stream betwéen the inlet and outlet lines of the 19 1eld clay filtration unit, basically duplicates the ~low ~0 velocities and residence time of the fuel through a small 21 section of one o the main filter elements. To measure the 22 clay performance, the side stream holder containing the same 23 clay ag installed in the main unit is removed from the side 24 stream and placed in a small measuring instrument in which various te~ts are conducted to provide a suitable indication 26 and measure of the clay effectiveness in reference to a ks~own n standard. The clay in the holder is renewed each time the 28 elements in the main filter are changed. Flow is proportional through the side stream at all times flow occurs by the main unit which provides a cumulative history of the main filter ~1 unit clay.
3~ In the case of the filter separator, the s~de stream .
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~ 5~ 3 1 monitoring ~mit contains the section of actual elements in 2 reduced proportion to those installed in the main filtration 3 unit, to provide a flow rate capacity the same as that in 4 ~he main unit and also to have a cross-sectional area/flow ratio corresponding to that of the full-sized filter section~
6 This monitor unit can ~e tested with appropriate instrument~

7 ation to provide an indication as to its present state and

8 remaining life. Again, the monitor unit components are

9 changed onLy when the main unit elements are changed to t0 thereby provide a duplicated and simulated exposure history 11 of the life o~ the main elements.

Fig. 1 illustrates a liquid filtration unit having 14 a side stream monitor in accordance with the present inven-tion. ~ r~i 16 Fig~ 2 i9 an enlarged cross-sectional view of ~he 7 side Rtream clay filter holder of Fig. 1.
18 Fig. 3 i8 a cross-sectional view taken substanti.ll-.. . ..
19 ly on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. `
~ Fig. 4 is a filter separator having a side stream 21 monitor in accordance with the present invention.
?2 Fig. 5 i9 an enlarged cross-sectional view of the ~3 8ide stream monitor holder for the filter separator of Fig.
~4 4.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the side stream fil-26 ter holder of Fig- 4-28 Fig. 1 illustrates the side stream monitor accord-g to the present invention in comblna~ion w~th a conven-tional liquid filter 10, which i~ designed to remo~e contam~
31~ inants from flowing liquid produc~ stream~. The ~ilter has 32 an inlet 12 and an outlet 14 with contaminatPd product en~

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l tering the inlet and relatively clean product exiting from 2 the outlet. The main filter unit 10 includes a n~mber of 3 cartridges 16, each of which basically comprises a standard ! 4 filter element w~ich is made of attapulgite and montmorill-onite-type clays and are contained either in a woven bag or 6 a canister. These standard filter elements are available 7 rom the several commercial suppliers (e.g. Facet Enterprises~
Velcan Filters, etc.) and are commonly referred to as clay 9 filter elements. The cartridges are conventionally mounted lQ on a cartridge~mounting plate 18. The flow path of the in-11 let stream is shown in Fi~. 1 by the arrows. ~ side stream ~2 monitor unit generally designated 20 is connected between 13 the inlet and outlet lines 12, 14 respectively, The unit 14 basically may comprise a prefabricated unit which is COII-nected to a conv~ntional ASTM sampling probes 22, 24 at the 16 inlet and at the outlet. The unit includes a rotometer 26 17 connected in series with a monitor holder 28, which is con-l~,8 nected in the side stream line by means of the standard 19 couplings 30 located on either ~ide thereof. The rotometer 2~ comprises a standard valve flow regulator. The holder 28, 21 best 8hown in Fig. 2, is designed to ~ubs~antially duplicate 22 flow velocities and re~idence time of the flowing stream, 23 i.e. uel, which passe~ through a small section of one of the 24 main filter elements 16 in the main filter unit 10. The ~ holder includes an insert 32 which is generally annular and 26 includes an inner flow passageway 34 of predetérmined length 27 L and tapered inwardly ~ the direction of flow (a truncated 28 conical configuration in cross-section) so as to have a maxi-mum internal inlet~dlàmeter ~ and a minimum internal outlet tiameter Dout~ The clay filter within the holder 28 actually 31 duplicates the main unit clay filter in the amount of clay 32 surface area contacted by the flowing side stream In a pre-~ ' .

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l determined ratio relative to the same parametrs in the main 2 unit. At the inlet to the clay filter 32 may be a flow de~
3 flector 36 which functions to prevent impingement o the in-4 let stream on the clay ant channelling through the clay and directly adjacent the inlet on the downstream side is a 6 standard wire mesh screen 38 with a similar screen 40 7 ,slightly smaller than that at the inlet being disposed at 8 the outle~ end. At the outle~ a layer of filter paper 42 , 9 ,~also used in the main unit) is located adjacent the screen ! , 4O (on the upstream side), adjacent an O-ring seal 44. The , 11 clay used in the side stream monitor is the same as the clay 12 actually installed and employed in the larger monitored ves-13 sel and is renewed or changed when the main elements are 4 changed.
Typical dimensions for the side stream monitor unit ,16 and in particular the clay filter holder for a lOO ml per 17 minute flow capacity through the side stream unit would be 18 ~8 follows: The Din ~ 1-1/2 inches, DoUt ~ 3/4 inches, and 19 the L ~ 2-3/8 inches. These reduced dimensions'can be de-términed by calculating the total flow per unit area of the 21 outer and inner diameters of commercial clay filter elements 22 while operating at rated flow capacity. Rated flow capacity 23 o the elements is specified by the element manufacturer.
24 Unit area is calculated by multiplying the outer or inner 2s element or circumference by the element length. The side-?6 stream monitor diameters are then ratioed to this flow per 27 unit area. It should be understood they are only illustrative 28 and ~he actual dimensions will depend on actual dimensions of 29 the commercial elements their rated flow capacity and the de-sired flow rate of the sidestream monitor under these condi-3l t:ions.
32 . When it is desired to messure the performance o~

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~ 3 '' 1 the clay in ~he main unit vis-a-vis analyzing and taking 2 certain predetermlned measurements of the clay filter in the 3 side stream monitor, the monitor 78 containing the clay is 4 removed from the side s~ream and placed in a small portable pump unit which includes a reservoir of predetermined and 6 rated fuel. At that time the flow regulator 30 is closed 7 such that no sample flows through ~he side stréam line.
8 ~ This small pump unit has its own reservoir'of'reference fuel 9 which may, for example, have a 60-70 MSS rating (this is a iO conventional rating given fuels as determined'by ASTM D-2550 11 "Test for Water Separation Characteristics of Aviation 2 Turbine Fuel~", and contain known quantitites of surfactants.
~13 The pump forces the fuel at a rated flow capacity (i.e., the 14 same flow per unit area as the main element) through the clay ~' 'filter monitor holder. A suitable sample (e.g., 50 ml) of 16 effluent fuel is collected and then evaluated for its water ; 17 shedding ability in conventional instrumentation such as a 18 Mini-sonic Separometer, (manufactured by EMCE~ Electronics, 19 Inc., P.O.Box 32, New Castle, Del~ware 19720), typically ~hat disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,478,578. If a high MSS rating 21 results~ which is a reading above 90, that is indicative of 22 satisfactory clay filter performance. However, if the MSS
23 result8 are between 80 and 90~ this is indicative of reduced 24 clay effectiveness, while below a MSS rating of 80 the clay filter i8 considered ine~fective. These tests can be con-26 ducted at the filter site since the unit and the pump are 27 portable. Depe~ding on the particular rating obtained from 28 the monitor clay fi'lter, the clay in the main unit can be -' 29 changed accordingly. By perlodic testing of the clay filter in the monitor~'a plot of clay effectiveness can be made and 31 at the point where there i8 a significant deviation, i.e., 2 clay'deàctlvation, then the time or change in the main ele-: .

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1 ment is indicated.
2 It is know that the effec~ivenss of the clay fil-3 ter to absorb and remove surfactants from fuel is a function 4 of the residence time or relative fuel velocity, i.e. the s time the surfactant laden fuel contacts the clay. This re-6 lationship and the results obtained from the testing of the 7 clay monitor in taking effluent samples can provide a means 8 of predicting remaining clay filter service life. Typically, 9 by orcing the fuel through the monitor clay filter at rates higher than its normal rated capacity (i.e., 200% of rated

11 flow capacity per unlt area calculated from the flow capacity

12 of the main element), the higher flow rates will result in

13 a lower MSS value before similar value is takën at a rated

14 flow capacity of the filter. This provides an indication of lmpending clay deactivation and an estimate of remaining 16 clay li~e. However, since lower than rated flow through the 17 clay improves the clay effectiveness in surfactant removal, 18 analysis of the MSS results obtained from using ~he clay 19 holder at lower flows can provide a method of predetermining the required reduction in optimum low rate operation of the 21 maLn filter unit for maintaining high quality effluent fuels.
22 Basically what the clay filter in the monitor 23 holder does is to provide the same clay material and to 24 ~atch the flow velocity and the area and volume o the clay - -2S filter in a predetermined ratio relative to the main unit 26 filter. Thus, there is provided similarity of geometrical and 27 dynamic or operational characteristics with those of the fil- -~8 ~er elements in the main unit.
While not shown, the end covers of the holder 28 can be connected through some appropriate means as shown at ~31 46 such as welding to the main body of the holder. To facil-32 itate insertion into and removal of the clay filter from the . - 11 - , -.. . . , . . . .. . . . ~ .. . ; . . -~ 1~ 2~ ~ 3 l ~ monitor, the inlet end (Din) can have an end cover such as 48 2' which is threaded as shown at 50 onto the main body or is 3 held in place by means of a quick release coupling of the 4 conventional type (not shown).
Turning now to the embodiment of Flgs. 4 through 6 6, there is shown a conventional filter separator main-unit 7 52, including a coalescer unit 54 and a separa'tor element 56.
8 Flow is received by the coalescer via the inlet 58. The 9 coalescer is designed to remove solid contaminants, to break the çmulsion of t~e water in a product stream'flowing in~o ll droplets, and to enlarge the droplets so that they will drop 12 out of the product by gravity. Flow is typically from the l3 inside to the outside of the coales~er. The flow exiting 14 the ~oalescer and containing the coale~ced water droplets then is passed onto the separa,tor element 54 which repels 16 coalesced water droplets and prevents them from going down-17 , stream, In the case of the separator, flow is from the out-18 side to the inside as shown by the arrows. The coalesced and 19 separated water collects in a sump for subsequent draw-off.
~ , nected bctween the inlet and outlet of the filter separator "
2l (in the same way as the embodiment of Figs. 1~3) is a side 22 8tream monitoring unit 62, the basic device being enclosed 23 in dotted lines. The side stream monitoring unit 62 includes ', 24, a connection at one end to the standard probe 22 and i6 ,25 coupled also in a conventLonal manner to the outlet end at 26 24. The monitor unit includes a section of the actual ele- ' 27 ments which are installed and in use in the larger vessel 28 being monitored, and ~are sized to have a flow'rated capaci~y 29 which is compatible and within the capability of an analysis in~trument such as the Mini sonic ~eparometer. A critical ~31 feature is that each o~ the components of the sectlon ilter 32,~ substantially maintain the same cross sectional area/flow .
1 ratio as the full size fil~er. The ~onitor elements are 2 changed only when the main unit elemen~s are changed and 3 this provides a duplicated and simulated exposure history of ' 4 the life of the main elements, as with the prior embodiment.
- 5 Thus, tests on the filter separator performance can be con-6 ducted on the monitor without any disruption of the main UIIit 7 and can in fact be conducted at any time whether the main 8 unit is in service or not. The present practice to determine 9 the performance of the main elements is to'remove the main unit from service, open the vessel and remove a representa-11 tive element and test in a single element test rig usually 12 located at,a remote site. During this period the main unit 13 remains out o~ service. With the sidestream monitor device ,14 this is not the case since testing is conduc~ed on site and ,requires only rJ 5 minutes wlthout disruption to the main 16 unit opexation. ' 17 , The side stream monitoring comprises a standard ' 1~ , lcw regulator 64 (identical to 26) connected in serie~ with 19 a coalescer 66 which duplicates in a same ratio the coalescer and the main unit and optionally can also include a series 21 connected separator 68. The separator side stream monitor 22 68 is optional since experience has shown that the coalescer 23 teactivates before the separator element. Thus, monitoring 24 of the coalescer is of primary,importance. Turning to Fig.
5, thcre i9 shown an enlarged illustration and cross-sec-~' ~ 26 tion of the coaIescer monitor holder for'the side stream.
27 Thi8 holder 66 includes an outer housing 68 threaded at op-i , "
,28 posite ends shown at-~70 for receiving an inlet end cap 72 ~9 and an outlet end cap 74, each of which may be threaded or ~ ~ ~30 one may be secured by other conventional means such as a ,~ 31 quick relief coupling while the other end can be weld~d.

~32 ~ Each'end cover includes a sultable 0-rin~ seal 76 for pre-- -1 venting leakage of any of ~he fuel as it passes through the 2 mini-monitor holder. Also at the inlet end can be provided 3 an appropriate gasket 78 for holding ~he cartridge firmly in 4 place and preventing bypass o~ any flowing fuel between the S filter components and the monitor housing. Within the 6 monitor housing 78 along the axial length thereof are a 7 plurality of spaced filter components which correspond to 8 those in the flow path that the fuel would take in the main 9 unit. These include as an example of a particular commer- , 0 cial filter in the direction of flow perforated screen 80, a 11 pleated paper 82, a second p'erforated screen 84, fiberglass 12 mats 86 and 8~, and a cotton sock 90 which is the outer com-13 ponent of the main filter element. Between the various ele-14 ments are spacer elements 92, each of which are of a differ-ent diameter and are based on calculations'of flow per unit '16 area o'f the main filter unit. The diameter of each of the 17 , compartments whLch would correspond to the flow area and 18 contact surface can be calculated ~rom the main element by 19 calculating the flow per unit area of each component of the filter media of the main element. The unit area i8 the cir-21 cumference of the media component multiplied by'the element 22 length. The flow per unit area is calculated'by dividing the rated flow capacity oi the element (as specified by ~he , ' 24 manufacturer) by the total media component area. The spacer diameter dimensions are then ratioed to the fIow per unit .
26 ; area.
, 27 - Fig. 6 illustrates a monitor holder or the op-2~ tional separator unit 68 and can include basically the same .
general construction as the coalescer holder except that the ~, ' ~ only components therein would be those that would correspond 31 to the actual material employed in the separator ins~alled , 32~ in the main unit. The component 98 is disposed Transverse - 14 ~
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~ 5~ 3 l of the flow and comprises the components of the separator 2 media, which is a replica of separator 54. The device 99 3 i8 a water sump where coalesced and separated water collects 4 and can be drained from time to time through valve lO0.
In order to test for performance of the filter separator, it is accomplished in generally the same manner 7 as for the embodiment of Figs. 1-3. Each of the holders 8 containing the element tests sections can be removed from 9 the side stream and placed in Mini-sonic Separometer apparatus and established quantities of reference fluids, for example, 1l lO0 MSS fuel and water can be pumped through the holder by 12 the MSS instrument. An effluent sample is ~aken and measured 13 by a conventional turbidimeter which is included in the MSS
4 apparatus for a~y uncoalesced water issuing from the filter lS separator section and uncoalesced water passing through the 16 filter separator reduces light transmission and given a l7 corresponding MSS rating. From this one can determine when 18 deactivation has occurred, if the efluent from the sample 19 filter at the ~ilter flow capacity reaches a predetermined MSS level, e.g. 85. To predict impending deactivation, this 21 can be done by relying on the relationship between the low 22 rate and the MSS rating o~ used element sections. As the on-23 8et of deactivation approaches, coalescence will become more 24 critical with ~low rate and therefore, increased passage of uncoalesced water will occur first at higher than the ra~ed 26 flow of the sectioned coalescer and thereby give a prewarn-27 ing of loss of coalescer effectiveness at lower flow rates.
28 In additio~ the filter separator sections which , 29 are contained in the side stream monitor also can provide means for monitoring static electricity genersted by the 31 different fuels flowing through a particular filter which is 32 u~ed. This can be accompli~hed by first ele~tri~a11y i~-, . .

~ 3 1 lating the filter separator test section and then measuring 2 the flow of current to ground through an electrometer.
3 Further, while the side stream monitor unit and 4 method has been disclosed for clay filters and filter sepa-rators, it also has utility for other units where similar 6 side stream monitoring is desirable or preferred for obtain-7 ing a ready indication of performance of the main unit com-8 ponents. This may inblude such devices as catalyst reactors, 9 where a side stream monitor may be used to measure remaining 10 catalyst activity or catalyst "poisoning". While specific 11 embodiments of the invention and certain modifications there-12 to have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the 13 application of the inventive principles, it will be under-14 stood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. Various modifications to 16 the inven~ions will be apparent to those skilled in the art 17 without departing rom the scope of the invention to which 18 referqnce 18 made in the claims.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-

1. Apparatus for side stream monitoring of components within a main unit, through which a main stream flows, with which said apparatus is adapted to be associated, comprising, by-pass line means for connection at opposite ends to the inlet and outlet of said main unit including a side stream monitor which includes components bearing a proportional relationship to, comprising a reduced scale replica of, similar components in said main unit for duplicating geometrical and dynamic char-acteristics of said components in said main unit so as to provide a predetermined sample of said main stream and proportional flow residence time and velocity through said side stream monitor, whereby said side monitor provides representative indication of effectiveness of said components in said main unit.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side monitor dup-licates flow velocities and residence time of streams which pass through a predetermined small section of said main unit in said side stream monitor.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side stream monitor includes a plurality of components each of which is sized such that the ratio of the cross-sectional area with respect to the flow therethrough is substantially in the same ratio as that which exists in the main unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main unit comp-rises a filter separator.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the side stream monitor includes a holder having a plurality of spaced filter media components with spacers of calculated diameter dis-posed between said components.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main unit includes a clay filter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said side stream monitor includes a holder having an annular clay filter of conical shape which tapers inward in the direction of flow.

8. A monitor for selected predetermined compon-ents in a main unit having an inlet and outlet for the passage of a liquid stream therethrough, comprising:
a bypass line for connection between said inlet and said outlet;
a monitor device connected in said bypass line including reduced scale replica of at least one of said predetermined components of said main unit which substan-tially duplicates the geometrical and dynamic characteristics thereof;
for having a predetermined sample flow of said stream through said monitor device;
whereby upon removal of said monitor device from said bypass line the effectiveness of said components there-in can be measured relative to a predetermined standard.

9. The monitor of claim 8 wherein said reduced scale replica of substantially duplicates in said monitor device, the flow velocities and residence time of the stream through a predetermined section of said main unit.

10. The monitor of claim 8 wherein said reduced scale replica substantially duplicates in said monitor de-vice the ratio of cross-sectional area to liquid flow through a predetermined section of said main unit.

11. A method of monitoring the performance of se-lected predetermined components in a main unit having an in-let and outlet for the passage of a liquid stream there-through, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a bypass stream between said inlet and said outlet;
(b) providing within said bypass stream a monitor device including reduced scale replica of said predetermined components of said main unit which substantially duplicates the geometrical and dynamic characteristics thereof;
(c) passing a predetermined sample flow of said stream through said monitor device; and (d) remvoing said monitor device from said bypass line and measuring the effectiveness of said components therein relative to a predetermined standard.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step of substantially duplicating in said monitor device the flow velocities and residence time of said stream through a pre-determined section of said main unit.

13. The method of claim 11 including the step of substantially duplicating in said monitor device the ratio of cross-sectional area to liquid flow through a predetermined section of said main unit.

14. The method of claim 11 including the steps of:
(e) passing a predetermined flow of a reference liquid at selected flow rate through said monitor device after removal from said bypass line;
(f) collecting a sample amount of liquid which passes through said unit; and (g) measuring the effectiveness of said component in said monitor device by obtaining a measurement indicative of the dynamic performance of said component, whereby there is provided an indication of the dynamic performance of the corresponding component in said main unit.

15. The method of claim 14 including the step of passing said flow of reference liquid through said monitor device at a flow rate which is greater than the normal rated flow capacity of said component.