Claims
- 1. A method of determining the operating condition of a filter device for a compressed air system in which the filter device is placed in line in a compressed air stream, said method comprising the steps of:i. determining an initial characteristic pressure drop across the filter device; ii. determining an average differential pressure across the filter device during operation of the compressed air system during a predetermined time period; iii. calculating an actual pressure drop across the filter device by subtracting the initial characteristic pressure drop from the average differential pressure; iv. continuously repeating step iii, and summing said actual pressure drop values to calculate a cumulative avoidable energy loss; and v. comparing said cumulative avoidable energy loss with a predetermined value.
- 2. The method as recited in claim 1, further providing the step of providing an indication of a need to replace the filter device when the cumulative avoidable energy loss exceeds the predetermined value.
- 3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step estimating a number of days until filter device replacement by calculating a rate of increase in the cumulative avoidable energy loss at a predetermined time period and dividing said rate of increase in the cumulative avoidable energy loss into the difference between said initial characteristic pressure drop and a current cumulative sum at said predetermined time period.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/129,855 filed on Apr. 17, 1999.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US00/10312 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO00/62897 |
10/26/2000 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (28)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0808206 |
Feb 1996 |
EP |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/129855 |
Apr 1999 |
US |