FR2904575A1 - Filtering installation e.g. isolation station for preventing contaminations in safety chamber, comprises air circuit constituted by pipe and airing unit, and filtration unit of suction air constituted by movable filter mounted on flange - Google Patents

Abstract

The filtering installation (50) such as isolation station, sampling station, weighing station, microbiological hood, suction sheath and recovery sheath for preventing contaminations in a safety chamber (1), comprises an air circuit constituted by a pipe (55) and a ventillation unit (57), a filtration unit of suction air constituted by a movable filter mounted on a flange in the pipe, a manipulation unit (10) of a sniffer detector internally positioned within the pipe for testing an integrity of a sealing zone joint between the mounting flange and the filter, and a display window. The filtering installation (50) such as isolation station, sampling station, weighing station, microbiological hood, suction sheath and recovery sheath for preventing contaminations in a safety chamber (1), comprises an air circuit constituted by a pipe (55) and a ventillation unit (57), a filtration unit of suction air constituted by a movable filter mounted on a flange in the pipe, a manipulation unit (10) of a sniffer detector internally positioned within the pipe for testing an integrity of a sealing zone joint between the mounting flange and the filter, and a display window. The manipulation unit is constituted by a flexible muff, which is internally positioned within the pipe in front of the filter, and is assembled tightly on the walls of the pipe. The pipe is equipped with a connection in an upstream of the filter for generating pollution. The sniffer detector is internally disposed to the pipe, and has a flexible conduit connected to a photometer, which is externally disposed to the pipe. The pipe has a passage in downstream of the filter, and allows a tight connection between the walls of the pipe and the flexible conduit of the sniffer detector. Independent claims are included for: (1) a safety chamber; and (2) a process to test sealing of an assembly of a filter in an installation.

Description

 The invention relates to a filtration installation, such as, in particular, a containment station, a sampling station, a weighing station, a microbiological hood, a suction duct, a recovery duct, or the like, as well as a process that is pure for testing. sealing the mounting of a filter in said filtration installation.

The invention also relates to a safety box, intended to form a part of a pipe of a filtration installation.

For example, the containment stations are used for the handling of toxic products, without risk of contamination, in a containment of the device, open at least on its lower part to the outside. A blowing mouth, and a suction mouth, respectively positioned on the upper and lower parts of the enclosure allow to establish a flow of protection and evacuation of toxic fumes.

Air flow rates in suction and / or blowing are generally determined to put the containment depression. A pipe, integrating a fan or the like, allows the recycling of the sucked air. This pipe is fed at least in part by the air of the suction mouth, and can convey the air to supply the mouth of blowing after passing one or more filters.

One of the filters used is a high efficiency filter known as HEPA (High Efficiency Particular Air) and / or a very low penetration filter known as ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air), which meets the European standard now in force EN 1822-1.

Today, it is known to seal these filters in a safety box at a mounting flange of the box. This safety box is intended to constitute an element of a filtration installation and in particular a containment station. So far, when a filter is first installed in a filtration system, the leakage test of the filter assembly is factory-made by the supplier. However, the filter is often dismantled for shipping and reassembled at the end customer. A new integrity test must be carried out at the customer's premises to prove that the assembly is correct.

An access opening to the filter, closed by a sealed door, allows to mount the filter or change the end of life of the filter. The filter is changed without breaking confinement, according to a particular procedure that consists of using two plastic bags fitted on the same collar, around the access opening. The filter change is thus achieved without risk of contamination for the operator and the environment. Once the filter is changed, it is imperative to make sure that the new filter is correctly installed. The tightness of the mounting at the mounting flange must be tested.

The integrity test of an isolated filter, extracted from the confinement station, may follow the following protocol: a pollution is generated, in particular a mist of fine particles suspended upstream of the filter to be tested;

the concentration of the pollution, in particular of the fog upstream of the filter to be tested, is verified, the latter to be included between

80% and 100%, - the filter is scanned downstream, using a suction gun, connected to a photometer, thus checking the concentration of particles.

The leakage rate admitted can then depend on the quality of the filter, and go from 0.1% for an H 13 filter, or from 0.01% for a filter.

H14. This integrity test, for example known as test

DOP is based on the retention of aerosol droplets calibrated at 0.3 micron, or it may be the test known as MPPS.

Today, the integrity test carried out at the end-user's premises is carried out directly on the filtration plant, in particular the containment station, by operating the ventilation of the installation and generating a fog near the mouth of the plant. aspiration of the aerolic circuit. The operator then scans the air at the blower mouth of the ventilation equipment in place.

However, this test can not be satisfactory because it does not make it possible to precisely locate an eventual leak between the point of emission of the pollution and the test point.

For the moment, there is no possibility of scanning the filter by opening a technical access downstream of the filter because the aerolic circuit would become open and the flow of air would no longer pass through the filter.

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a filter installation for testing the tightness of the filter assembly directly inside the pipe of said installation, for detecting and locating a possible leak.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filtration installation for performing the integrity test manipulations in a sealed manner, so as not to open the air circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for the leak test of mounting a filter in a filtration installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety box, intended for a filtration installation, for mounting a filter and the tightness test mounting directly inside the box.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it.

The invention relates first of all to a filtration installation such as, in particular, a containment station, a sampling station, a weighing station, a microbiological hood, a suction duct, a recovery duct, comprising: a ventilation circuit constituted by a duct and incorporating ventilation means, - Filtration means of the sucked air, constituted by a removable filter mounted at a mounting flange in said pipe.

According to the invention, the installation furthermore has means for handling a test device, of the sniffer sensor type, internal to said duct, capable of allowing the integrity of the tightness of the zone to be tested. seal between the mounting flange and the filter.

The invention also relates to a method for the leak test of the mounting of a filter in a filtration installation, in which process:

an Emery-type pollution is created, upstream of the filter, and as close as possible to said filter in the pipe,

the ventilation means of the installation are actuated,

- The pollution is measured at the joint area between said filter and the mounting flange, downstream of said filter, through a test device, sniffer sensor type disposed internally to said pipe.

Finally, the invention relates to a safety box, able to constitute an element of a pipe of a filtration installation, in particular a containment station, having an air inlet opening to an upstream chamber, by which in particular arrives the unfiltered air, and a downstream chamber opening on an air outlet, through which in particular filtered air spring and a mounting flange for sealingly securing a filter positioned between said upstream chamber and said downstream chamber, the box having an access opening, provided to allow the filter to be changed, adapted to be closed by a door, characterized in that the box further comprises means for handling a test device, snifter type sensor, internal to the box, adapted to allow the integrity test of the sealing of the seal area between the mounting flange and the filter.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description following, accompanied by the attached drawings, among which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a filtration installation, in particular a containment station, according to the invention according to one embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of a safety box, constituting in particular an element of the pipeline of the filtration installation as illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view in a partial left section of the security box as illustrated in FIG. 2. The invention relates firstly to a filtration installation

50, such as in particular containment station, sampling station, weighing station, microbiological hood, suction duct, recovery duct or the like.

The installation comprises an air flow circuit constituted by a pipe 55, said circuit integrating ventilation means 57 as well as filtering means 56 of the sucked up air, constituted by a removable filter 60, mounted at a mounting flange. 6 in said pipeline.

As illustrated in Figure 1, in one example, the facility is a containment station, particularly for fractionation operations, sampling and weighing by manipulative operators. These positions allow the prevention of contaminations, in particular the protection of the operators and the external environment.

The containment station comprises a confinement enclosure 51 having an outward opening on the operator side with a handling zone 52 located inside said confinement enclosure.

The enclosure may have a protective glass and viewing, located laterally on an upper part of the enclosure and a work table at its lower part. Furthermore, the station comprises means 53 for blowing air into said enclosure 52, which can take the form of a mouth of blowing, in particular mesh, as well as suction means 54 of the air contained in said enclosure, in particular constituted by a suction mouth at the work table.

The means 53 for blowing air and the suction means 54 make it possible to create a flow of gas evacuation, in particular directed, as illustrated by the arrows from the top to the bottom of the enclosure.

The pipe 55, in particular metal, here makes it possible to recycle the sucked air and integrates the ventilation means 57, in particular constituted by a fan powered by an electric motor. The pipe, in particular consisting of an assembly of metal sections comprises at least one air inlet, at least partially supplied by the suction means 54 and an air outlet for supplying the means 53 for blowing.

The station further comprises the means 56 for filtering the sucked air constituted by the removable filter 60 mounted at the mounting flange 6 in the pipe 55.

According to the invention, the filtration installation 50 has, in addition, means 10 for handling a test device, of the sniffer sensor type. The handling means 10 are internal to said pipe and are capable of allowing the integrity of the seal zone to be tested between the mounting flange 6 and the filter 60.

The handling means make it possible to move the test device without opening the ventilation circuit.

As illustrated in Figure 3 according to an exemplary embodiment, the handling means may be constituted by a flexible sleeve

11 positioned internal to said pipe, downstream of the filter, and mounted in a sealed manner, in particular via a sleeve ring on one of the walls of said pipe 55.

A removable door, sealed, allowing the introduction of the test device, including the sniffer gun in the pipe can also be provided on one of its walls. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sleeve, in particular the glove, makes it possible to manipulate the test device, in particular the pistol, all around the seal area of the filter and also at its center.

According to another embodiment not illustrated, the handling means may take the form of an articulated arm, disposed internal to the pipe, having gripping means, such as a clamp of a test device, disposed internally to the pipe, and a handle, arranged outside the box.

Advantageously, the pipe may be equipped, upstream of the filter 60, with a connection 15 for connecting a pollution generator.

The test device meanwhile can take the form of a sniffer sensor disposed internally to said pipe and has a flexible conduit connected to a photometer type of analysis device. The analysis device is disposed external to said pipe. The pipe may then have a passage 14, downstream of the filter 60, adapted to allow a tight connection between the wall of said pipe and the flexible conduit of the test device. This sealed passage may in particular take the form of a stuffing box, particularly of the gland type. The connection 15 for the pollution generator may be constituted by a clamp-type connection 17, consisting of a clamp formed by two arms 18 in opposition, and hinged together. The clamp connection is also constituted by a ferrule having on its inner diameter a seal. The clamping ring makes it possible to compress the seal via the ferrule 19.

In addition, the pipe may be equipped with a port for taking pressure to check the fog concentration upstream of the filter. This orifice may take the form of a second passage 16 intended to allow a tight connection between the box and the flexible conduit of a test device, in particular of the sniffer sensor type, intended to measure the concentration of the pollution generated upstream of the filtered. A viewing window 13 of said joint area may be provided on one of the walls of the pipe 55. This window 13 may be constituted by a transparent polycarbonate. According to an exemplary embodiment, this window is also the hatch, removable, sealed to said pipe and allowing the introduction of the test device.

As illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention also relates to a safety box 1, intended to constitute an element of a pipe 55 of a filtration installation, in particular of the containment station 50, or any other aeraulic equipment. As illustrated, this box has an air inlet 2 leading to an upstream chamber 3, by which in particular unfiltered air arrives from the installation, and a downstream chamber 4 opening on an air outlet 5, through which in particular appears filtered air.

The safety box also has a mounting flange 6 for sealingly securing a filter 60, in particular of the HEPA or ULPA type, positioned between the upstream chamber 3 and the downstream chamber 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the filter is mounted in an intermediate zone, in particular pinched between the mounting flange 6 and a clamping flange 70.

The clamping flange 70 can make it possible to pinch the filter 60, in particular actuated by pinching by means of cams 71 taking, for example, the form of eccentrics. These cams 71 are carried by the same actuating shaft 72 provided at one of its ends with a lever or a steering wheel.

The box further has an access opening 7, provided to allow the filter 60 to be changed, which can be closed by a door 8.

According to the invention, the casing 1 further has handling means 10, a test device of the sniffer sensor type. The handling means 10 are arranged inside the box and are able to allow the integrity of the seal of the seal zone between the flange to be tested. 6 and the filter 60.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the handling means are constituted by a flexible sleeve 11, in particular a synthetic glove, positioned inside the box in said downstream chamber 4, and sealingly mounted, in particular to a sleeve ring 12, on the one of the walls of the caisson 1.

According to another embodiment not illustrated, the handling means may take the form of an articulated arm having gripping means of a test device, in particular a sniffer sensor, internal to the box and handling means such as that a maneuvering handle, disposed external to the box.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upstream chamber 3 of the safety box 1 may be equipped with a connection 15 for a pollution generator. This connection can be constituted in particular by a clamp type connection 17, consisting of a clamp formed by two arms 18 in opposition, hinged together. The clamp connection furthermore has a seal on the internal diameter of a ferrule 19. The clamping ring makes it possible to compress the seal via the ferrule 19.

The test device is of the sniffer sensor type, arranged inside the box, and has a flexible conduit, connected to a photometer type of analysis device, disposed external to the box. The downstream chamber 4 may then have, in addition, a passage 14, adapted to allow a sealed connection between the wall of the box and the flexible conduit of the test device.

This passage 14 may in particular take the form of a packing press 20, in particular a gland.

In addition, the upstream chamber 3 may have a pressure tap to verify the concentration of pollution, including fog upstream of the filter. This pressure measurement can take the form of a second passage 16, able to provide a tight connection between the casing 1 and the flexible duct of a test device, in particular of the sniffer sensor type, intended to measure the concentration of a pollution generated in the said upstream chamber 3.

The box may further provide a removable hatch 73 opening on the downstream chamber 4, in particular designed to allow the insertion of the test device, including a sniffer gun. The box may further have a viewing window 13 of the joint area, in particular consisting of a transparent polycarbonate. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the hatch 73 constitutes the viewing window 13. This hatch integrates in particular the sleeve ring 12. This removable hatch can be replaced by a solid, watertight hatch, which is more aesthetic, making it possible to test another equipment with the same hatch.

The safety box 1 may furthermore have means 9 for changing the filter 60 without breaking the confinement. As illustrated in FIG. 3, these means may consist of a change collar 21 placed around said access opening 7.

This collar 21 is provided for fixing two plastic bags.

In particular the collar is provided with two grooves 22. Each of said grooves makes it possible to seal between the collar 21 and one of the two bags. Each bag can be pinched in said groove 1, 2 by a clamping band, for example rubber.

The invention also relates to a method for the leak test of the mounting of a filter in a filtration installation, in particular according to the invention.

According to the method:

an Emery-type pollution is created, upstream of the filter, and as close as possible to said filter in the pipe 55,

the ventilation means 57 of the installation are actuated; the pollution is measured at the joint area between said filter and the mounting flange, in front of said filter, via a test device, of the sniffer sensor type, arranged inside said pipe 55.

Of course, other embodiments and / or other applications, within the reach of those skilled in the art, could also be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. Filtration plant (50) such as in particular containment station, sampling station, weighing station, microbiological hood, suction duct, recovery duct, comprising: - a ventilation circuit consisting of a duct (55) and integrating ventilation means (57), - Filtration means (56) of the sucked air, constituted by a filter (60), removable, mounted at a mounting flange (6) in said pipe (55), characterized in that the installation Furthermore, it has means for handling (10) a test device, of the sniffer-sensor type, internal to said pipe, capable of allowing the integrity of the seal of the seal zone between the flange to be tested. mounting and filter. 2. Installation according to claim 1, wherein the handling means are constituted by a flexible sleeve (11) positioned internally to said pipe in front of the filter, and sealingly mounted on one of the walls of said pipe (55). ). 3. Installation according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the pipe is equipped, upstream of the filter (60), a connection (15) for a pollution generator, and wherein the test device is the sniffer sensor type, disposed internal to said pipe, and has a flexible conduit, connected to an analysis device, photometer type, disposed external to said pipe, the pipe (55) having, in addition, a passage (14). downstream of the filter (60), able to allow a tight connection between a wall of said pipe and said flexible conduit of the test device. 4. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, having a window (13) for viewing said seal area on the wall of the pipe (55). 5. Safety box (1), able to form a part of a pipe (55) of a filtration installation, in particular a containment station (50) according to claim 1, having an air inlet ( 2) opening on an upstream chamber (3), in particular by which unfiltered air arrives, and a downstream chamber (4) opening on an air outlet (5), in particular by means of filtered air, and mounting flange (6) for sealingly attaching a filter (60) positioned between said upstream chamber and said downstream chamber, the casing having an access opening (7), provided to allow the filter to be changed, adapted to be closed by a door (8), characterized in that the box further has means for handling (10) a test device, of the sniffer sensor type, internal to the box, able to allow the test of the sealing integrity of the joint area between the mounting flange (6) and the filter. 6. Safety box according to claim 5, wherein the handling means are constituted by a flexible sleeve (11) positioned inside the box in said downstream chamber, and sealingly mounted on one of the walls of the box. 7. Safety box according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the wall of the box has a window (13) for viewing said joint area. 8. Safety box according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the upstream chamber (3) of the safety box is equipped with a connection (15) for a pollution generator and wherein the test device is sniffer sensor type, arranged inside the box, and has a flexible conduit, connected to an analysis device of the photometer type, disposed external to the box, the downstream chamber (4) having, in addition, a passage (14), suitable to allow a sealed connection between the box and said flexible conduit of the test device. 9. Safety box according to claim 8, wherein the upstream chamber (3) has, in addition, a second passage (16), adapted to allow a sealed connection between the box (1) and the flexible conduit of a device test device, of the sniffer sensor type, designed to measure the concentration of the pollution generated in said upstream chamber (3). 10. Safety box according to one of claims 5 to 9, having means (9) for changing the filter without rupture of confinement, said means being constituted by a change collar (21) disposed around said access opening, intended for fixing two plastic bags, said change collar being provided with two grooves (22), each of said grooves for sealing between the collar and one of the two bags, clamped in said groove by a clamping band. 11. A method for the leak test of the mounting of a filter in an installation according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: - Emery-type pollution is created upstream of the filter, and as close as possible to said filter in the pipe (55), the ventilation means (57) of the installation are actuated, the pollution is measured at the joint zone between said filter and the mounting flange, in front of said filter, by means of a test device of the sniffer sensor type disposed internally to said pipe.