Device method and computer programme product for carrying out a process for the filtration of fluids

Abstract

The invention relates to a filtration system and method for carrying out a process for the filtration of fluids, comprising at least one filtration device with at least one filtration element comprising readable data and a check and/or test apparatus to which the filtration device may be connected, by means of data and testing means lines. The check and/or testing device is connected to a process controller, by data exchange means, for regulation and control of the filtration process and the process controller is connected to a filtration databank, by means of data exchange means, which comprises data sets for at least one filter element and/or for each filtration device and/or for the filtration process. The invention further relates to a computer programme product for carrying out a filtration process on fluids whereby programme components may be called up from a programme memory which support the carrying out of the filtration process.

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         31 . A filtration system for carrying out a filtration process for fluids, comprising at least one filtration apparatus having at least one filter element that has legible data, a monitoring and/or test set to which the filtration apparatuses can be connected via data and test equipment lines, wherein the improvement is that the monitoring and/or test set ( 4 ) can be connected via data interchange means ( 11 ) to a process control device ( 5 ) for closed-loop and open-loop control of the filtration process, and in that the process control device ( 5 ) can be connected via data interchange means to a filter element database ( 6 ), which has data records for at least each filter element ( 8 ) and/or each filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) and/or for the filtration process.  
     
     
         32 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the process control device ( 5 ,  5 ′) has an electronic memory element ( 15 ) which can be associated with each filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) and in which data can be stored for each of the filter elements ( 8 ) of the filtration apparatuses ( 2 ,  3 ) and/or the filtration process to be carried out.  
     
     
         33 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the legible data ( 9 ) for the filter elements ( 8 ) represents at least individualizing identification data for the filter element ( 8 ).  
     
     
         34 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the identification data is machine-legible and/or can be read visually.  
     
     
         35 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the identification data comprises numbers or letters or alphanumeric characters and/or bar codes and/or data matrices and/or electronic elements.  
     
     
         36 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the electronic elements are in the form of transponders.  
     
     
         37 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the filter element database ( 6 ) is arranged externally.  
     
     
         38 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the filter element database ( 6 ′) is integrated in the monitoring and/or test set ( 4 ) or in the process control device ( 5 ′).  
     
     
         39 . The filtration system as in  claim 31 , wherein the data records for the filter element database ( 6 ,  6 ′) contain identification data, limiting data and product release data for each of the filter elements ( 8 ) and/or the filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) and/or for the filtration process.  
     
     
         40 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the article numbers and individual numbers for the filter elements ( 8 ) and for the filtration apparatuses ( 2 ,  3 ) and codes for the filtration process may be used as identification data.  
     
     
         41 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the integrity data for the filter elements ( 8 ), temperature details, pressure details, pH values, a substance concentration, flow details, operating times, life, flow rates for fluid to be filtered or for filtrate, the number of permissible sterilization and/or cleaning cycles of the filtration process can be used as limiting data.  
     
     
         42 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the integrity data, determined by the manufacturer, for the filter elements ( 8 ) can be used as product release data.  
     
     
         43 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the data interchange means ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ) represents a data network.  
     
     
         44 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the Internet is used as the data network.  
     
     
         45 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein beams, in particular light or radio-frequency beams, are used as the data interchange means ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ).  
     
     
         46 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the data interchange means ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ) is a mobile data storage medium.  
     
     
         47 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the test equipment lines ( 10 ) are lines for test gases.  
     
     
         48 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the data lines ( 10 ) are connected to measurement instruments for determination of filtration process data.  
     
     
         49 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the electronic memory elements are in the form of external transponders which are preferably arranged with the filtration apparatuses ( 2 ,  3 ).  
     
     
         50 . The filtration system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the filter elements ( 8 ) are chosen from the group of filter cartridges, filter capsules, filter cassettes, filter winding modules, flat filter elements or a combination of them.  
     
     
         51 . A method for carrying out a filtration process for fluids via filter elements which are located in filtration apparatuses, in which at least a minimum amount of identification data is supplied to a monitoring and/or test set, the improvement wherein the filtration process is started, is carried out and/or is stopped on reaching a limiting data item via a process control device ( 5 ,  5 ′), which is connected to the monitoring and/or test set ( 4 ) by supplying the identification data, by providing limiting data and product release data from a filter element database ( 6 ,  6 ′) and by determining integrity and/or filtration process data while carrying out the filtration process and by comparison of the data.  
     
     
         52 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the following steps are carried out: 
 a) the individualizing identification data for each filter element ( 8 ) for each filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) and/or identification data for the filtration process to be carried out are/is entered in the process control device ( 5 ,  5 ′),    b) the identification data according to a) is transferred to the filter element database ( 6 ,  6 ′) and a check is carried out to determine whether the filter elements ( 8 ) and/or filtration apparatuses ( 2 ,  3 ) specified for the filtration process have been selected, and whether the filter elements ( 8 ) and/or the filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) have/has been released for this purpose,    c) the filtration system ( 1 ) is inhibited if at least one filter element ( 8 ) and/or one filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) has been chosen incorrectly or if at least one filter element ( 8 ) is inhibited,    d) limiting data and product release data for each of the filter elements ( 8 ) for each filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) and/or each filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) and/or for the filtration process are called up from the filter element database ( 6 ,  6 ′) by the process control device ( 5 ,  5 ′), and this data is entered, or is added and entered, in the electronic memory element ( 15 ) that is associated with the respective filtration apparatus ( 2 ,  3 ) for storage of limit values and product release values for process data and/or integrity data,    e) permissible tolerance values are determined and stored,    f) the filtration process is started by the process control device ( 5 ,  5 ′),    g) process data and/or integrity data are/is measured by the monitoring and/or test set ( 4 ) and this data is entered, or is added and entered, in the respective memory element ( 15 ),    h) a comparison process is carried out to determine whether the measured process data and/or integrity data or their/its sums exceed/exceeds one of the permissible tolerance values,    i) the filtration process is terminated and the filtration system  1  is inhibited when one of the tolerance values is reached or exceeded and the filter elements ( 8 ) in the filter element database ( 6 ) are inhibited.    
     
     
         53 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the identification data is entered by machine by a reader.  
     
     
         54 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the filter element database ( 6 ′) is connected to an external database ( 14 ) at least at times, in order to interchange data.  
     
     
         55 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the connection for an external database ( 14 ) is made via a data network.  
     
     
         56 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the filter element database ( 6 ,  6 ′) is connected to a mobile data storage medium in order to interchange data.  
     
     
         57 . The method as claimed in claims  51 , wherein the process control device ( 5 ) is connected to the external filter element database ( 6 ) via a data network.  
     
     
         58 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the current process data is stored as a record in the filter element database ( 6 ,  6 ′).  
     
     
         59 . A computer program product for carrying out a filtration process for fluids as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the program parts can be called up from a program memory and assist the process of carrying out the filtration process.  
     
     
         60 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein program parts can be called up from the program memory which assist the communication between the filter elements ( 8 ) and/or the filtration apparatuses ( 2 ,  3 ) and the monitoring and/or test set ( 4 ) and/or a process control device ( 5 ,  5 ′) and/or the filter element database ( 6 ,  6 ′).