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Compressed air filters are energy efficient
productnews Compressed air filters are energy efficient Energy efficient compressed air filters have been launched in Australasia by Domnick Hunter Ltd. According to Domnick Hunter, the Oil-X Evolution filter range has been designed to eliminate all unnecessary pressure losses. As the air stream enters the housing, a ‘bell mouth’ inside the inlet port reduces the level of turbulent flow entering the vessel. The air stream then enters the full flow inlet conduit of the filter element top end-cap where it is turned through 90° using a full radius blended bend. Turning vanes within the inlet conduit split the 90° corner into a number of smaller, more efficient corners. The air stream is therefore channelled, reducing turbulence and pressure losses. Oil-X Evolution filter elements have been designed to provide air of a quality that meets international standards
while keeping incremental operating costs to a minimum, says the company. To achieve this, the filters use a borosilcate glass nanofibre media, with 96% open area, or voids volume, providing a high dirt-holding capacity. A special oleophobic coating is also employed to actively repel oil and water, ensuring the open area is kept to a maximum for dirt entrapment. Additionally, the surface area of the cartridge has also been maximised by using ‘deep pleat’ media beds. Once liquids are removed from the air flow, they must be prevented from being re-entrained into the clean air and carried downstream. The filters incorporate a number of design features to ensure that all coalesced liquids are effectively and efficiently removed.
Air flow management for low energy consumption The design of a compressed air filter housing is critical as it can directly affect system pressure losses, which in turn result in higher operating costs for the user. Because of installation restrictions and for ease of maintenance, compressed air filters are designed to be installed vertically at 90° to the piping system. This design restriction requires the air stream to turn a corner and, in a typical compressed air filter, the air is turned sharply through 90°.
To improve air flow and reduce turbulence, the sharp corner should be made rounded and smooth. The rounded corner produces a different type of flow as the air stream lines diverge near the outside wall of the turn and converge on the inside wall. Compressed air filters using this design offer improvements over those using a sharp corner to turn the air stream because turbulence-induced pressure losses are reduced.
Sartorius launches sterility testing systems UK-based Sartorius Ltd has launched its Sterisart New Family (NF) sterility testing systems. The NF range includes testing systems for closedsample vessels and for use with open containers such as ampoules or collapsible plastic bags. The Sterisart NF16466 is equipped with a dual-
needled metal spike, which has been specially designed for closed-sample containers. The spike can be briefly flamed to minimise the risk of contamination. Sterisart NF16467, which is the second adapter type in the range, is used with open containers that do not require venting when samples for sterility testing are removed. The thickness and length of the individual needle enables samples to be drawn up even from exceptionally small ampoules with narrow openings, according to the company. And both NF family members can be used in existing sterility testing pumps – with the use of adapters, the manufacturers report.
Filters enhance tablet dissolution test Simple and convenient filter units that enhance automatic sample preparation for the tablet dissolution test, used in pharmaceutical, process and other similar quality control applications, are now available from Schleicher & Schuell UK, part of the Whatman Group. Called Roby 25, the filters have been specially developed for Sotax and Zymark tablet testers. Through the use of a clever design and shape, Roby filters are always in a perfect position in the storage unit, while in transit and when dispensing, says Schleicher & Schuell. Depending on the application, the membranes within the Filtration+Separation
ready-to-use filters are made from nylon or regenerated cellulose. However, other types of membrane filter are available on request, so they have the potential to be suitable for all types of tablet formulation. For difficult-to-filter samples the company can also supply filter holders with membrane filters and built-in glass fibre pre-filters or with glass fibre filters alone. The units, which have a recommended filtration volume of less than 100 ml and an effective filter area of 4.2 cm2, provide reproducible results, and, depending on the membrane, will ensure low extractables. They are also pressure-resistant and suitable for use with robots.
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while keeping incremental operating costs to a minimum, says the company. To achieve this, the filters use a borosilcate glass nanofibre media, with 96% open area, or voids volume, providing a high dirt-holding capacity. A special oleophobic coating is also employed to actively repel oil and water, ensuring the open area is kept to a maximum for dirt entrapment. Additionally, the surface area of the cartridge has also been maximised by using ‘deep pleat’ media beds. Once liquids are removed from the air flow, they must be prevented from being re-entrained into the clean air and carried downstream. The filters incorporate a number of design features to ensure that all coalesced liquids are effectively and efficiently removed.
Air flow management for low energy consumption The design of a compressed air filter housing is critical as it can directly affect system pressure losses, which in turn result in higher operating costs for the user. Because of installation restrictions and for ease of maintenance, compressed air filters are designed to be installed vertically at 90° to the piping system. This design restriction requires the air stream to turn a corner and, in a typical compressed air filter, the air is turned sharply through 90°.
To improve air flow and reduce turbulence, the sharp corner should be made rounded and smooth. The rounded corner produces a different type of flow as the air stream lines diverge near the outside wall of the turn and converge on the inside wall. Compressed air filters using this design offer improvements over those using a sharp corner to turn the air stream because turbulence-induced pressure losses are reduced.
Sartorius launches sterility testing systems UK-based Sartorius Ltd has launched its Sterisart New Family (NF) sterility testing systems. The NF range includes testing systems for closedsample vessels and for use with open containers such as ampoules or collapsible plastic bags. The Sterisart NF16466 is equipped with a dual-
needled metal spike, which has been specially designed for closed-sample containers. The spike can be briefly flamed to minimise the risk of contamination. Sterisart NF16467, which is the second adapter type in the range, is used with open containers that do not require venting when samples for sterility testing are removed. The thickness and length of the individual needle enables samples to be drawn up even from exceptionally small ampoules with narrow openings, according to the company. And both NF family members can be used in existing sterility testing pumps – with the use of adapters, the manufacturers report.
Filters enhance tablet dissolution test Simple and convenient filter units that enhance automatic sample preparation for the tablet dissolution test, used in pharmaceutical, process and other similar quality control applications, are now available from Schleicher & Schuell UK, part of the Whatman Group. Called Roby 25, the filters have been specially developed for Sotax and Zymark tablet testers. Through the use of a clever design and shape, Roby filters are always in a perfect position in the storage unit, while in transit and when dispensing, says Schleicher & Schuell. Depending on the application, the membranes within the Filtration+Separation
ready-to-use filters are made from nylon or regenerated cellulose. However, other types of membrane filter are available on request, so they have the potential to be suitable for all types of tablet formulation. For difficult-to-filter samples the company can also supply filter holders with membrane filters and built-in glass fibre pre-filters or with glass fibre filters alone. The units, which have a recommended filtration volume of less than 100 ml and an effective filter area of 4.2 cm2, provide reproducible results, and, depending on the membrane, will ensure low extractables. They are also pressure-resistant and suitable for use with robots.
March 2005 9