Cleaning method, control apparatus and connecting device

Abstract

A cleaning method for sectional cleaning of a filter is proposed, the filter having several filter sections, by means of one cleaning process one of the filter sections at a time being cleaned, the filter sections being cleaned within one cleaning cycle in cleaning processes separated in time from one another, the cleaning method having at least two cleaning cycles and both one time interval between the cleaning processes within the respective cleaning cycle and also one time interval between the end of one of the cleaning cycles and the start of a following one of the cleaning cycles being changed, and/or the filter having at least three filter sections, the filter sections being cleaned in cleaning processes separated by time intervals from one another and the time intervals between successive cleaning processes being changed. Moreover a connecting device for connecting a filter to a cleaning device is proposed, the connecting device having one side wall which borders an internal cross section which increases along one longitudinal axis of the connecting device and has openings laterally with assigned major axes.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A cleaning method for sectional cleaning of a filter which has a plurality of filter sections by means of a cleaning process in which the filter sections are cleaned one at a time, the cleaning method comprising at least one of the following steps:
 cleaning the filter sections within at least two cleaning cycles in which cleaning processes for each filter section are separated from one another by a time interval, both the time interval between the cleaning processes within a respective one of the cleaning cycles and also a time interval between the end of one of the cleaning cycles and starting of a following one of the cleaning cycles being changed; and   for a filter having at least three filter sections cleaning the filter sections cleaned in cleaning processes separated from one another by a time interval, the time interval between successive cleaning processes being changed.   
     
     
         62 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein each of said filter sections is a filter cartridge, and wherein the method comprises cleaning said filter cartridges from one another in cleaning processes separated by said time interval. 
     
     
         63 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein a first time interval between the successive cleaning processes of a first and a second filter section and a second time interval between successive cleaning processes of the second and a third filter section are each changed. 
     
     
         64 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the time intervals are changed by means of a feedback control. 
     
     
         65 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 64 , wherein the feedback control adjusts a differential pressure between a filter inlet and a filter outlet of the filter or a differential pressure between a filter inlet and a filter outlet of the filter is used as a controlled variable in the feedback control,
 wherein a target differential pressure is used as a reference variable in the feedback control, and   wherein a difference between a target differential pressure and the differential pressure is used as a system deviation in the feedback control.   
     
     
         66 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 64 , wherein the feedback control uses a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller as a controller. 
     
     
         67 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 64 , wherein triggering of a cleaning process of one of the filter sections is used as a manipulated variable in the feedback control. 
     
     
         68 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 65 , wherein the differential pressure or system deviation is filtered with a control filter such that peaks or fluctuations of the differential pressure caused by one or more cleaning processes are essentially suppressed. 
     
     
         69 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the time intervals between the cleaning processes within one cleaning cycle are constant. 
     
     
         70 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the time intervals between the cleaning processes or the time intervals between the end of one of the cleaning cycles and the start of a following one of the cleaning cycles become smaller with at least one of increasing clogging, fouling of the filter, and time. 
     
     
         71 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the time intervals between the cleaning processes or the time intervals between the end of one of the cleaning cycles and the start of a following one of the cleaning cycles are limited with a maximum value or a minimum value. 
     
     
         72 . The cleaning method as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein a pressure pulse is used for sectional cleaning of the filter or of one filter section. 
     
     
         73 . A system comprising:
 a connecting device for the connection of a filter to a cleaning device, the connecting device forming an adapter to fluidically connect the filter to the cleaning device, the connecting device having a side wall which delimits an internal cross section which increases along a longitudinal axis of the connecting device, and has openings laterally with assigned major axes, the connecting device having one or more of the following features:   the major axes of the openings run obliquely relative to the side wall and run from outside to inside in a direction of an internal cross section which is greater than an internal cross section into which the respective opening discharges;   the openings are oriented at at least one plane which is aligned orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; and   the side wall has a first section with openings, and a second section free of openings in a region of the greatest internal cross section.   
     
     
         74 . The system as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the major axes of the openings intersect the longitudinal axis at a second angle, the second angle being less than 90°. 
     
     
         75 . The system as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein a diameter or a width of a smallest internal cross section is at least one of greater than 30 mm, and more than 20% of a diameter or a width of the greatest internal cross section. 
     
     
         76 . The system as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the openings are oriented in one or more planes, the planes each being defined by at least three openings. 
     
     
         77 . The system as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the number of openings per plane increases with increasing internal cross section. 
     
     
         78 . The system as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the openings have a diameter or a width which is at least one of: more than 2% of the diameter or width of the greatest internal cross section, and less than 20% of the diameter or of the width of the greatest internal cross section, at least 5 mm, and at most 40 mm. 
     
     
         79 . The system as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the connecting device has a connecting apparatus for connection to the cleaning device and a connecting apparatus for connection to the filter. 
     
     
         80 . The system as claimed in  claim 73 , further comprising a cleaning device for cleaning of the filter, wherein the connecting device forms an adapter for fluidically connecting the filter to the cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device is configured to clean the filter by means of a gas flowing in a direction of increasing internal cross section of the connecting device. 
     
     
         81 . The system as claimed in  claim 80 , further comprising a filter, wherein the connecting device has a side wall which delimits the internal cross section, which increases along one longitudinal axis, and has openings laterally. 
     
     
         82 . The system as claimed in  claim 81 , wherein the system is configured to direct a gas which is cleaned by means of the filter from the inside to the outside of the filter or filter section through the openings. 
     
     
         83 . An installation for coating processes, comprising:
 an installation housing,   a filter and   a cleaning device for cleaning of the filter,   wherein the installation housing has a storage apparatus in an interior space of the housing and which is configured to supply the cleaning device with a first medium which is gas;   wherein the interior space of the installation housing has at least one valve for triggering a cleaning process; and   wherein the interior space of the installation housing has a connecting device which connects the filter to the cleaning device, the connecting device having a side wall delimiting an internal cross section which increases along a longitudinal axis, and has openings laterally.   
     
     
         84 . The installation as claimed in  claim 83 , wherein the interior space of the installation housing forms an explosive zone, at least in part. 
     
     
         85 . The installation as claimed in  claim 84 , wherein the storage apparatus is a gas reservoir forming a gas line network, wherein the storage apparatus is a ring or ring-shaped and supplies several filter sections of the filter with gas for cleaning, and wherein at least one valve is located in the storage apparatus. 
     
     
         86 . The installation as claimed in  claim 84 , wherein the installation has a control apparatus for controlling the valve with a time for opening or closing of the valve that is more than 20 ms and less than 200 ms. 
     
     
         87 . The installation as claimed in  claim 84 , wherein each filter section is a filter cartridge, and each filter cartridge is connected to the storage apparatus by one of said valves.