Filter life measurement

Abstract

A method of measuring the remaining useful life of a filter may comprise flowing a particulate-laden fluid through a filter, measuring values indicative of pressure drop across the filter, and outputting the values to a store. The store may hold a set of values indicative of pressure drop and the percentage of remaining useful life of the filter represented by those values. On receiving a measurement indicative of pressure drop, the store may find the corresponding stored value indicative of pressure drop and output the value indicative of percentage of remaining useful life represented by the stored value.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of measuring the remaining useful life of a filter comprising: 
 flowing a particulate-laden fluid through the filter,    measuring values indicative of pressure drop across the filter,    outputting the values to a store, the store holding a set of values indicative of pressure drop and the percentage of remaining useful life of the filter represented by those values, the store on receiving a measurement indicative of pressure drop, finding the corresponding stored value indicative of pressure drop, and outputting the value indicative of percentage of remaining useful life represented by the stored value.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein measuring the pressure drop across the filter includes generating signals related to pressure drop across the filter.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising displaying values of percentage of remaining useful life in accordance with the value output by the store.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the store holding a set of values includes the store holding a set of values corresponding to more than one alternative pressure detectors or more than one alternative fluids or more than one alternative particle sizes formulated for use with the filter.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the store holding the set of values includes the store holding a plurality of sets of values each relating to a different filter.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the store holding a set of values comprises holding a set of values in a computer, disc, or other digital storage device.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the store receiving the measurement indicative of pressure drop includes applying averaging/peak detection techniques to the measurement indicative of pressure drop to modify the measurement before finding the corresponding stored value indicative of pressure drop, and outputting the value indicative of percentage of remaining useful life represented by the stored value.