The HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) represents a well-established and documented technology within the Nuclear and wider industrial environment. However traditional HEPA filter systems have limitations that prevent them from solving some filtration problems in the nuclear industry; particularly in applications where long service or storage life, high levels of radioactivity, dangerous decomposition products, chemical aggression, organic solvents, elevated operating temperatures, fire resistance or resistance to moisture are issues. 

 

To solve such applications – most work has focused on the development of a low cost, long life (cleanable) probably metallic, direct replacement of the traditional filter train. The white paper ‘Cost and waste volume reduction in HEPA filter trains by effective pre-filtration’ proposes and evaluates an alternative strategy, that of preventing the contaminating dust from reaching and binding the traditional HEPA filters, and thereby removing the need to replace them.

 

The author describes a practical means by which dust can be prevented from reaching the HEPA train, together with field experience and data to prove the contention. The paper examines how evenwhen the mechanical life limit of the HEPA train is reached, how the degree and nature of its contamination may be such that final disposal may be modified to prevent the need for long term storage. The paper also reviews the benefits of returning to the user (for disposal) the small quantities of dust that would otherwise lead to the contamination and blinding of the large volume of the filter train. A cost benefit analysis is presented together with a review of the technology and its application to other areas where gross dust removal or recovery is necessary, or where extreme conditions make traditional HEPA technologies impractical.

A copy of the described white paper is available by contacting Porvair Filtration Group on +44-1489-864330 / +1-804-550-1600 or email info@porvairfiltration.com.

 

Porvair Filtration Group has more than 25 years experience in supplying high quality filtration solutions to the nuclear industries within Europe, the USA and the UK. Working across the field, designing and supplying filtration and other equipment, we offer solutions to the power generation, fuel production, reprocessing, decontamination and decommissioning and waste packaging sectors. As an engineering company in the filtration industry, we are able to take an initial discussion to a fully optimized solution, meeting material, code and technical requirements providing a total solution to a specific problem.

 

Porvair Filtration Group is an international leader in the development and supply of materials and products for applications in filtration and separation. Their expertise in a wide range of media and the dedication of their design, manufacturing, sales, test and research teams ensure they are at the forefront of filtration technology, delivering world class performance to the Aerospace, Defence, Nuclear, Energy, Chemical Process, Industrial Process, Water Treatment, Printing and Life Science markets. With offices and manufacturing sites located in the UK, Europe and the USA combined with a world-wide network of market representatives and distributors, they pride themselves on their continuous innovation and research to meet global demands.