CA2057925A1 - Laboratory filtration apparatus - Google Patents

Laboratory filtration apparatus

Info

Publication number
CA2057925A1
CA2057925A1 CA002057925A CA2057925A CA2057925A1 CA 2057925 A1 CA2057925 A1 CA 2057925A1 CA 002057925 A CA002057925 A CA 002057925A CA 2057925 A CA2057925 A CA 2057925A CA 2057925 A1 CA2057925 A1 CA 2057925A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
filter
air
water
display
coupled
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002057925A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert G. Hood
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bio Flo Ltd
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2057925A1 publication Critical patent/CA2057925A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D37/00Processes of filtration
    • B01D37/04Controlling the filtration
    • B01D37/043Controlling the filtration by flow measuring
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D35/00Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/14Safety devices specially adapted for filtration; Devices for indicating clogging
    • B01D35/143Filter condition indicators

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
  • Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)

Abstract

A laboratory filtration apparatus is described in which flow through the filter is measured as the filter is being used and then visually displaying an indication of the measured flow which is used to indicate the effectiveness of the filter. In one arrangement air and water are filtered using separate filters (24, 36) and the effectiveness of the filter is monitored by using flowmeters (28, 30) coupled to microprocessor-based control systems (34) and the output of the microprocessor-based control system is coupled to a visual display unit (32) which gives separate visual indication of the effectiveness of air and the water filter.

Description

W090/14144 2 ~ 2 ~ PCT/G~90/006~

LABO~ATORY FILT~ATI N APPARATUS
The present invention reLates to filtration apparatus particularly, but not exclu~ively, for use in laboratories for filtering air and water l:o be uied in laboratoxy experiments.
It is known to filter air and water for use in the laboratory to give a source of clean air and water for use in experiments. This is usually done by placing a filter in line with the outle~ so that the air or water supply to the la~oratory is passed through the filter and is thus cleaned. With this system there is no indication of the performance of the filter nor wh~n the filter is ceasing to be effective. Acoordingly filters are changed after an arbitrary time and this, of course, can vary depending on the use of the filter and on how clean the air or water supply to the filter is. The result of this arbitrary replacemen~ is that the air and water supply to the laboratory '!S less clean than it should be because thsre is no indication of filter performance nor of when the filter requires to be changed.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improYed filtration apparatus which obviates or mitisatas at least one of the a~orementioned disadvantages.
Thls is achieved by measuring flow through the filter as the med1um, s1~h as air or water, is being used and visually displaying the flow through the filter to a use to provide a visual indication of the effe~tiveness of the .
`' , . .

WO90~141~ PCT/GB90/006~
~ 5 -2 -filter.
In a preferred arrangement air and water are filtered using separate filters and the effectiveness o~ the filter is monitored by using flowmeters coupled to microprocessor-ba~ed control systems and the output of the microprocessor-based control system is coupled to a visual display unit which gives separate visual indications of the e~fectiveness of air and the water filter.
Conveniently the air and thP water supply have an inline pump or valve means a~d the pressure in the filter system is monitored and the monitored pressures are coupled to a second microprocessor based control means such that should the pressures in eithex filter exceed or fall beneath a predetermined value then a signal is sent from the second microprocessor basie means to actuate the valve or pump means to interrupt the water supply.
With this arrangement the user actuates the water supply by turning on a tap, the water passes through a flow meter and filter before being dispensed from ~he tap nozzle. The flow of water is monitored by the microprocessor and the result is displayed on a L.E.D.
display in analogue form. For a particular ~low rate the analogua display will depict a particular value, however, should the filter become blocked or clogged up then this value falls the operator will see that there are prshlems with the filtration and accordingly c~n swit~h the system off and replace the filter. Alternatively the system can ,.
-~ : .. .... - . -' - . :.
'. ~ i . : ' 2 ~ 2 ~ PCr/GB90~00634 be configured so that for a particular flow rate if the signal drops beneath a predetermined value the microprocessor can switch the water supply by means of a valve to pass through a further filter so that the original filter can be changed. This can be applied to the air supply as well as to the water supply.
Accordingly in one aspect of the pre~ent invention there is provided apparatus for deter~ining the effectiveness of a filter coupled in line to a supply of a medium such as air or water, said apparatus compxising;
a flowm ter in an inlet line to a filter, said flow meter having an output coupled to a control means said control means h~ving an output coupled to a visual display, the arrangement being such that when said mediu~
outlet is switched on the level of display indicates the effectivene s of the filter and for a particular flow rate should this drop then a visual indication i5 provided that the filter requires ko be changed.
Preferably the visual display is an an logue display although it will be appreciated this may be a digital display.
Conveniently the control means is a microprocessor b~sed system ~or monitoring the flow in both water and the air or any medium requiring filtration and processing this info~mation to be passed to ~he display element, the display element having a separate display associated with .

. ~. .: - . . . .......... . . ..
- . . . : . :~
.. . - .. : , WO90/14144 2 ~ ~ 7 ~ 2 ~ PCT/GBgO/006.~

each filter so that the filtration performance of each filter can be separately monito:red.
Conveniently the pressure o:f fluid through the filter can be monitored using a separate microprocessor based co~trol system the output of which is coupled to valve or pump means for supplying the air or water to the appropriate ~ilter so that in the event of over pressure or under pressure outwith certain limits the microprocessor can disconnect the air or water supply.
The output of the filt~r may be coupled to a deioniser column or any other device which requires a supply of filtered water. The air filter includes a purge valve and this can also be actuated automatically using the microprocessor-based control system.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for indicating the condition of a filter, said method comprising the steps of monitoring the flow of a medium through the filter, processing the monitored flow value to provide a siynal representati~e oP a particular flow, and visually displaying this signal on a visual unit to a user so that the per~ormance of the filter can be monitored. .
Preferably if the signal for a particular flow rate drops benaath a predetermined value the medium being filtered is automatically rerouted to a second filter and is indicative that the original filter requires to be changed or cleaned.

.

.- . : ' . , .~ . ~ .
... . , , . . , . , . . . :

WO90/]4144 2 ~ 5 !y 3 2 5 PCT/GB90/006~

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent ~rom the fol:Lowing description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. l is a perspective view o a laboratory bench incorporating laboratory fill:ration apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus as shown in Pig. l.
Reference is first made to Fig. l of the drawings which shows a typical laboratory bench,generally indicated by reference numeral lO, for supplying filtered air and water through tap 12 and air outlet 14 respectively.
deioniser 16 is also shown and this supplies deionised ~iltered water to the Laboratory.
As will be explained air and water supplies 18, 20 are disposed beneath the bench top 22 and the inlets are passed through respective air and water filters 24/ 26 the outlets of which are connected to the air outlet 14 and to the tap 12 and deioniser 16 respectively. In line wi~h the filter supply are flow meters 28 and 30 which are coupled to a microprocessor-~ased control unit (not shown in the interest of clarity) the output of which is coupled to a visual display unit 32 which has separate visual 25 display ele~ents asso~iated with the air and ~ater filters respectively so as to indicate the performance or condition of each filter in operation, as will be later WO90/141~ 2 ~ ~ 7 ~ 2 ~ PCT/~B90/00634 explained in detail.
Reference is now made to Fig. 2 of the drawings which depicts a schematic diagram of the laboratory filtration system shown in Fig. l. From this diagram it can be seen that flow meters 28 and 30 are connected to a firs~ micro~
proce~sor 34 which has outputs 36, 38 which are fed to a first LED display element 40 for indicating the condition of the air filter 24 and to a second LED display element 42 for indicating the condition of the water filter 26. A
further flow meter 44 connected between the input of filter 26 and the inlet to the deioniser can also be coupled to the microprocessor unit and the effective~ess of the deioniser can also be shown on a separate display.
The microprOCeSSOr 34 is configured and programmed in accordance with known techniques to drive displays 40 and 42.
In operation, when a user turns on the tap l2 water flows through flow meter 3~ and through filter 26 out of the tap. The flow meter 30 provides a signal which is processed by the microprocessor 34 to drive display 42 so that the number of elements illuminated is indicative of the per~ormance of the filter for that par~icular flow rate. If the flow rate is always set at maximum then all o~ the light emittiny diodes will illuminate and as long as the filter stays clear and is effective then all of these diodes should r~main illuminated. Should the filter performance degrade because it requires chanyin~ or ther~

. , . .. .. , ... ., - .... . ~ . . - . . ............... . ........... .
,- . - . , , . : . . ..

. . . ,.. , ~ , , ~

WO90/14144 PCT/GB90/006~
2~37~

is some blockage then the number of il uminated LEDs in display 42 will decrease and this is indicative that the filter parformance is decreasing and that the filter require~ changing. The display 40 and associated microproces80r 34 operates in the same way to visually depict the performance and condition of air filter 24.
Thus a user can readily and easily monitor the performance of the filters and when they require to be changed using this system.
In Fig. 2 there is also shown pre~sure sen60rs 46, 48 associated with the air filter 24 and water ~ilter 26 respectively. These pressure sensors have outputs connected to a second microprocessor 50 which in turn has outputs connected to a controlling element such as a valve or pump 52, 54 connected in line with the air and water supply 18 and 20 respectively. Pressure sensors 46 and ~:8 monitor the pressure ~^ the filters 24, 26 respectively and the microprocessor compares these monitored pres~ure with predetermined values in, for example, 7ook-up table~ and should the pre ~ure exceed or fall beneath the preset }imits then the miCroproceSSor can actuate the valve or pu~p to disconnect the air or water supply in the intere~ts of safety if this is required.
It will be appreciated that YariOus modifications may be made to the apparatus herein~efore describsd without departing from the scopa of the invention. For example, it will ~e appreciated that although the display i~ an , ~ '...

... ,...... . . - ~ - . : - -analogue display a digital display could be used although it will be appreciated that a separate dispLay is required for ea~h filter which is to be monitored. Although a visual indication is given to the user that the fil~er S requires to be chan~èd so as t:o enable the user to change the ~ilter, it will be appreciated that this may be done automatically by incorpor~ting more than one filter for the air or water supply and for programming the microprocessor to switch to a second or su~se~uent filter when the performance falls beneath a predetermined value.
This is conveniently combined with a separate display which indicates to the user that a subsequent ~ilter is now in use and that the original filter requires to be cleaned or changed. It will also be appreciated that although air and water are the fluid media bein~ filtered any other suitable laboratory media which requires filtration could be proce~sed using this system such as special gases or special 1uids. It will be appreciated that the filtration monitoring system can be used in an industrial scale as well as laboratory scale so as to provide a vi~ual indication to the user of the effectivenes~ of the filter.
An advantage of the present invention is that the user is im~ediately advi~ed of the performance of the ~ilter as it is being used so that ~he quality of the medium being supplied to the labora ory is able to be maintained by the user at the des1red standard. A further advantage is that . . . .
.

- ~: : . - . . : : - . ~ :

WO90/14144 PCT/CB90/006~
23~2~

the system permits identification of filter performance in a rapid and convenient manner and requires no special skills to be able to interpre~t the information.

, ~ ,. , , ... , . - .... , ., '~ . ., : .

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for determining the effectiveness of a filter coupled in line to a supply of a medium such as air or water, said apparatus comprising;
a flowmeter in an inlet line to a filter, said flow meter having an output coupled to a control means said control means having an output coupled to a visual display, the arrangement being such that when said medium outlet is switched on the level of display indicates the effectiveness of the filter and for a particular flow rate should this drop then a visual indication is provided that the filter requires to be changed.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the visual display is an analogue display or a digital display.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the control means is a microprocessor based system for monitoring the flow in both water and the air or any medium requiring filtration and processing this information to be passed to the display element, the display element having a separate display associated with each filter so that the filtration performance of each filter is separately monitored.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pressure of fluid through the filter can be monitored using a separate microprocessor based control system the output of which is coupled to valve or pump means for supplying the air or water to the appropriate filter so that in the event of over pressure or under pressure outwith certain limits the microprocessor issues a control signal to disconnect the air or water supply.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the output of the filter is coupled to a deioniser column or any other similar device which requires a supply of filtered water.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the air filter includes a purge valve which is actuated automatically using the microprocessor-based control system.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a method for indicating the condition of a filter, said method comprising the steps of monitoring the flow of a medium through the filter, processing the monitored flow value to provide a signal representative of a particular flow, and visually displaying this signal on a visual unit to a user to that the performance of the filter can be monitored.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein if the signal for a particular flow rate drops beneath a predetermined value the medium being filtered is automatically rerouted to a second filter and is indicative that the original filter requires to be changed or cleaned.
CA002057925A 1989-05-15 1990-04-25 Laboratory filtration apparatus Abandoned CA2057925A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898911059A GB8911059D0 (en) 1989-05-15 1989-05-15 Laboratory filtration apparatus
GB8911059.7 1989-05-15
PCT/GB1990/000634 WO1990014144A1 (en) 1989-05-15 1990-04-25 Laboratory filtration apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2057925A1 true CA2057925A1 (en) 1990-11-16

Family

ID=10656722

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002057925A Abandoned CA2057925A1 (en) 1989-05-15 1990-04-25 Laboratory filtration apparatus

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0477185A1 (en)
AU (1) AU5447690A (en)
CA (1) CA2057925A1 (en)
GB (1) GB8911059D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1990014144A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3650100A1 (en) * 2018-11-08 2020-05-13 Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp Filtering device and control system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9010842D0 (en) * 1990-05-15 1990-07-04 Computer Shower Company The Li Fluid flow and temperature control apparatus
DE4400582A1 (en) * 1994-01-12 1995-07-13 Erich Neukamm Water filter

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3325010A (en) * 1963-10-09 1967-06-13 Cleveland Technical Ct Inc Filter clogging indicator
US4341124A (en) * 1980-11-10 1982-07-27 General Electric Company Automatic sampling apparatus
GB2110553A (en) * 1981-12-01 1983-06-22 Willett And Company Limited Th Pressurized filtration system
US4685066A (en) * 1984-12-18 1987-08-04 Caterpillar Inc. Contamination monitor and method
FR2609645B1 (en) * 1987-01-21 1989-03-24 Alsthom Cgee AUTOMATIC MODULAR FILTRATION SYSTEM

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3650100A1 (en) * 2018-11-08 2020-05-13 Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp Filtering device and control system
US11154797B2 (en) 2018-11-08 2021-10-26 Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. Filtering device and control system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0477185A1 (en) 1992-04-01
GB8911059D0 (en) 1989-06-28
AU5447690A (en) 1990-12-18
WO1990014144A1 (en) 1990-11-29

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Discontinued