The Force Driving Progress in Compressed Air Filter Testing

The Force Driving Progress in Compressed Air Filter Testing

Palas® helped the IUTA successfully test large compressed air filters at 7 bar overpressure

Keywords: ISO 12500 test, compressed air filter test, natural gas filter test, compressed air filter test rig, compressed air filter
performance test

The Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA) in Germany has successfully tested compressed air filters at 7
bar overpressure. This move advanced the field of large-scale compressed air filter testing. Before that, the IUTA was only
able to test smaller filters. How did the IUTA do that?

In cooperation with Ehrler Prüftechnik Engineering, Palas® has optimized the compressed air filter test rig of the IUTA. Several
Palas® aerosol spectrometers and generators were used for the test rig. Under the motto “ Circulation concept increases energy
efficiency”, Palas® with its partner raised the volume flow rate from 50 m3/h to 3000 m3/h. The progress in the field of filtration
testing has been witnessed together.

Dr. Wolfgang Mölter-Siemens, manager of the Air Purification and Filtration division

Compressed air filter testing needs a breakthrough

The application-oriented IUTA focuses on environmental sustainability, energy supply, etc. It was awarded the title of “site of
progress”. Large-scale compressed air filter testing has wide market demand, as such filters are widely used in many sectors,
including automotive, food and pharmaceutical industries. However, before the change made by Palas®, the IUTA could only test
smaller filters with volume flow rates of up to 50 m³/h. Conclusions by analogy had to be used to deduce the performance of large
filters with volume flow rates up to 60 times greater than that. In addition, energy consumption was also a major challenge, and a
breakthrough in the field of compressed air filter testing was needed in many ways.

Circulation concept increases energy efficiency

Under the motto of circulation, Palas® and Ehrler Prüftechnik Engineering suggested that the IUTA could pump the circulation up
to 8 bar and use additional inline blower fans to ensure that the pre-compressed air is fed into the circular flow. Dr. Wolfgang Mölter-Siemens,
manager of the Air Purification and Filtration division said, “If you compress a volume flow of 3,000 m³/h and expand it again, you’ll
need 360 kW, but  the circulation principle provided by Palas® reduces the energy needed to 25 – 30 kW.” The test rig made use of
Palas® welas® digital 1000 P Aerosol Spectrometer (Add link: https://palas.com.cn/en/aerosol-spectrometry/ ) and Palas® PLG 3000
Aerosol Generator (Add link: https://palas.com.cn/en/aerosol-generation/ ) for the fractional separation efficiency. Palas® AGF 3000
Aerosol Generator (Add link: https://palas.com.cn/en/product/agf-3000/ ) was for the charge concentration. Palas® aerosol generators
charged the compressed air filters with droplets of compressor oil, thus simulating the contamination of the compressed air. And then
the IUTA used software from Palas® to evaluate the data. This enabled the IUTA to measure directly at a volume flow rate of 3,000 m³/h
and an absolute pressure of 8 bar.

Additionally, Palas® offered a special airlock system that allowed gravimetric determinations to be conducted at the same as the particle
measurement. The IUTA test rig stored data for a long time. It automatically calculated the fractional separation efficiency and indicated
factors such as particle size distribution and mass concentration. Dr. Wolfgang Mölter-Siemens also appreciated its user-friendliness and
versatility. The Palas® solution will continue to be optimized to further enable the development of large compressed air filter testing in
the future.

Palas® has promoted Palas® DFP 3000 Compressed Air Filter Test Rig based on these core products. Palas® complete and proven filtration
solutions deserve your trust.

Palas® DFP 3000 Compressed Air Filter Test Rig

Palas® DFP 3000 Compressed Air Filter Test Rig delivers fully-automated measurements of fraction separation efficiency for compressed air
filter under overpressure up to 7 bar, offering better results in the process than ISO 12500. An additional filter holder can be supplied for flat
filter media. The fraction separation efficiency is measured with the new aerosol spectrometer Palas® Promo® 3000 P, which is equipped
with presuure-resistant Palas® welas® aerosol sensors for raw gas and clean gas measurements.

Advantages

 Particle measurements at a glance

 Internationally comparable measurement results

 High reproducibility of the testing method

 Easy use of different test aerosols, e.g. DEHS, SAE Fine and Coarse

 Flexible filter test software FTControl

 Flexibly programmable sequence programs for pressure loss measurements, measurements of fraction separation efficiency and burden
measurements

 Fully-automatic and reproducible test sequence including pressure and volume flow control

 Easy to operate, even untrained personnel can be instructed quickly in the use of the equipment

 Short set-up times

 Cleaning and calibration can be performed autonomously by the customer

 Easy use of the measurement technology components – even in other applications

 Mobile setup, easy to move on castors

 Reliable operation

 Validation of the clear function of individual components and the overall system during pre-delivery acceptance testing and upon delivery

 Low-maintenance

 The unit will reduce your operating costs

Applications

 Testing of complete filters better than ISO 12500

 Testing of filter media

 Determination of the drainage amount during burdening

Palas® will arrange a series of online webinars both in English and Chinese for Ambient air quality continuous monitoring system, SMPS
scanning mobility particle size spectrometer, Promo® aerosol spectrometer, Aerosol generator and Dilution system, ISO 16890 filter media
test rig-MFP 3000 G, ISO 29463-3 HEPA/ULPA filter media test rig-MFP Nano plus 4000, ISO 17536 oil mist separator filtration performance
test rig-HMT 1000, as well as many other aerosol measurement solutions. You are welcome to register for the conference and will be informed
of the webinar information as soon as possible!