Membrane Technology for Air Handling Units

Due to its unique membrane technology, filter media has been the media of choice for many end users in the life sciences and microelectronics industries for many years. In addition to low pressure drop, the focus in these areas is on minimizing risk through high mechanical stability and chemical resistance.

Due to the extremely low pressure drop, the filter media is suitable for high flow filters such as those used in ventilation systems for high purity environments. To investigate this application, we conducted tests in real outdoor air conditions. For this purpose, the filters are subjected to a "1000-day" long-term test in parallel with conventional glass fiber filters in a two-stage filtration system using AAF test vessels. After describing the test container, this article discusses the short- and long-term behavior of filters.

On short-term timescales, an interesting correlation between relative humidity and filter pressure drop can be seen. In the long run, the filter's low pressure drop advantage is maintained even with 100% fresh air. In addition, the paper discusses the economic impact of filters with good pressure drop characteristics compared to glass fiber-based filters.

For this purpose, operating costs as well as "total cost of ownership" are discussed, especially in the context of different increases in electricity costs in different countries. The end-2021 energy costs on which this article is based must now be adjusted upwards monthly, so the current cost-effectiveness of using filters may be higher than shown.

The carbon footprint of different filters during operation will also be discussed. Although carbon footprints (due to their different energy mixes) vary from country to country, filters offer significant advantages over traditional fiberglass filters. The filter is therefore not only an economical but also ecologically sound technical solution for particle filtration in high-purity environments.