Buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffuser flow membrane filter

By designing a buffer tank for high diffusion flow membrane filters, the problem of excessively rapid test pressure drop caused by excessive diffusion flow is solved, achieving test accuracy and reliability. It is suitable for membrane filter integrity testing in the pharmaceutical, bioengineering, and food and beverage industries.

CN224297945UActive Publication Date: 2026-05-29SHANGHAI GESHI FLUID EQUIP TECH CO LTD

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
SHANGHAI GESHI FLUID EQUIP TECH CO LTD
Filing Date
2025-08-07
Publication Date
2026-05-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In existing technologies, due to the extremely large diffusion flow of membrane filters and the small upstream volume, the gas pressure drops too quickly in automatic filter integrity testers, triggering leakage alarms or distorting test data, thus failing to successfully complete the integrity test.

Method used

Design a buffer tank comprising an upper elliptical head, a lower elliptical head, and a hollow cylindrical tank body with a length-to-diameter ratio of 1:1 to 20:1. The tank body is welded to the head, has a wall thickness greater than 1.5 mm, and has a polished inner wall. It is equipped with multiple inlets and outlets, supported by support legs, and made of 304 or 316L stainless steel, nylon, polypropylene, or ABS. It is used to uniformly buffer gas and stabilize test pressure.

Benefits of technology

The design of the buffer tank achieves uniform gas buffering, stabilizes the test pressure, improves the accuracy and reliability of the test, and avoids test failure caused by excessively rapid pressure drop.

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    Figure CN224297945U_ABST
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Abstract

The utility model discloses an embodiment relates to a kind of buffer tanks for large diffusion flow membrane filter integrity test, upper oval head is arranged above the buffer tank for large diffusion flow membrane filter integrity test;Lower oval head is arranged below the buffer tank for large diffusion flow membrane filter integrity test;Tank body is arranged between upper oval head and lower oval head head;The length-diameter ratio of buffer tank is 1:1 to 20:1, buffer tank plays the role of gas uniform buffering, stable test pressure, improves the accuracy and reliability of test, solves the technical problem of the problem that when membrane filter is tested by automatic filter integrity tester in prior art, because diffusion flow is too large, and the upstream volume of membrane filter is small, so that the gas pressure in upstream volume drops too fast during test, and cannot be successfully tested.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of this utility model relate to a buffer tank, and more particularly to a buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter. Background Technology

[0002] Membrane filters are widely used in pharmaceutical, bioengineering, food and beverage and other industries for liquid filtration and separation. Filter integrity testing is a key step to ensure the performance of membrane filters. Typically, a filter integrity tester is used to determine the integrity of the filter by detecting the gas diffusion flow rate.

[0003] In existing technologies, some membrane filter elements have extremely high flux due to their structural characteristics. Therefore, in practical applications, a smaller number of membrane elements is sufficient to meet the actual needs (e.g., 6 elements, with a filtration area of ​​15m²). 2 The upstream volume of the system is relatively small (generally less than 5000 ml), while the diffusion flow of the membrane filter is extremely large, with an upper limit of up to 1600 ml / min. 2 As mentioned above, when performing diffusion flow tests using an automatic filter integrity tester, a certain volume of gas pressure needs to be isolated upstream of the filter. Gas molecules will diffuse downstream through the micropores of the moistened membrane-encased filter, causing the gas pressure in the upstream volume to drop. However, since the diffusion flow of the membrane-encased filter is extremely large, and the upstream volume of the filter itself is relatively small, this may trigger a leakage alarm on the automatic integrity tester or cause severe distortion of the test data due to excessively low pressure, resulting in the failure of the integrity test. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filters, which can uniformly buffer gas and stabilize test pressure.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, an embodiment of this utility model designs a buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filters, comprising:

[0006] An upper elliptical end cap is provided above the buffer tank used for the integrity test of the large diffusion flow membrane filter.

[0007] The lower elliptical head is disposed below the buffer tank used for the integrity test of the large diffusion flow membrane filter; the tank body is disposed between the upper elliptical head and the lower elliptical head;

[0008] The length-to-diameter ratio of the buffer tank is 1:1 to 20:1, and the buffer tank serves to uniformly buffer the gas and stabilize the test pressure.

[0009] Furthermore, in the buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter of this utility model, the tank body is a hollow cylinder; the tank body is welded to the upper elliptical head and the lower elliptical head respectively, the weld seam height is ≤0.5mm, and it is polished to be flush with the connection between the tank body and the upper elliptical head and the lower elliptical head.

[0010] Furthermore, in the buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter of this utility model, the wall thickness of the tank is greater than 1.5 mm, and the tank is arranged horizontally or vertically; the volume of the tank is 5 liters to 150 liters.

[0011] Furthermore, in the buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter of this utility model, the inner wall of the tank includes multiple curved surfaces, or a combination of planes and curved surfaces; the curved surfaces, or planes and curved surfaces, have a smooth transition; the curved surfaces, or planes and curved surfaces, are transitioned by an arc with a radius of ≥6mm.

[0012] Furthermore, in the buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter of this utility model, both the inner and outer walls of the tank are polished, the inner surface roughness of the inner wall is Ra≤0.8μm, and the outer surface roughness of the outer wall is Ra≤1.6μm.

[0013] Furthermore, in the buffer tank of this utility model for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter, several inlets and outlets are provided on the tank body.

[0014] Furthermore, in the buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to this invention, the number of inlets and outlets on the tank body is no less than four; the diameter of the inlet and outlet pipes is... to The connection between the inlet / outlet and the pipeline is a pipe clamp structure.

[0015] Furthermore, in the buffer tank of this utility model for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter, the intersection line connecting the tank body and the outlet is ≥6mm.

[0016] Furthermore, in the buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter of this utility model, several support legs are connected to the tank body; the number of support legs is 3 or 4; the lower end of the support legs may or may not have wheels.

[0017] Furthermore, in the buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter of this utility model, the tank body, the upper elliptical head and the lower elliptical head are made of 304 or 316L stainless steel or nylon or polypropylene or polyethylene or ABS.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the embodiment of this utility model adopts an upper elliptical head above the buffer tank for the integrity test of the large diffusion flow membrane filter; a lower elliptical head below the buffer tank for the large diffusion flow membrane filter; and a tank body between the upper and lower elliptical heads. The length-to-diameter ratio of the buffer tank is 1:1 to 20:1. The buffer tank plays a role in uniformly buffering the gas and stabilizing the test pressure, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the test. It solves the technical problem in the prior art that when using an automatic filter integrity tester to test the membrane filter, the gas pressure in the upstream volume drops too quickly during the test due to the excessive diffusion flow rate and the small upstream volume of the membrane filter, resulting in unsuccessful testing. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is the front view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a top view of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the buffer tank during the integrity test. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the various embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details have been provided in the various embodiments of this utility model to facilitate a better understanding of this application. However, the technical solutions claimed in the claims of this application can be implemented even without these technical details and with various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments.

[0023] The embodiments of this utility model relate to a buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes:

[0024] In this embodiment, an upper elliptical head 1 is provided above the buffer tank used for the integrity test of the large diffusion flow membrane filter. The upper elliptical head 1 is used to enhance the pressure bearing capacity of the buffer tank and make the stress distribution uniform. It can not only save space and facilitate the layout, but also optimize the gas distribution and improve the filtration effect.

[0025] A lower elliptical head 2 is installed below the buffer tank used for the integrity test of the large diffusion flow membrane filter. The lower elliptical head 2 is used to enhance the pressure resistance of the tank body 3, make the stress distribution uniform, facilitate drainage and cleaning, and the structure of the lower elliptical head 2 is also conducive to installation support, which can ensure the stable operation and maintenance of the buffer tank used for the integrity test of the large diffusion flow membrane filter.

[0026] A tank 3 is set between the upper elliptical head 1 and the lower elliptical head 2. The tank 3 can provide space for containment and can also store materials to buffer pressure. The tank 3 is connected to the upper elliptical head 1 and the lower elliptical head 2 to form a complete sealed structure, which can ensure the normal operation of the integrity test of the large diffusion flow membrane filter.

[0027] The length-to-diameter ratio of the buffer tank is 1:1 to 20:1. The buffer tank plays a role in uniformly buffering the gas and stabilizing the test pressure.

[0028] In this embodiment, the length-to-diameter ratio of the buffer tank is 1:1 to 20:1. The buffer tank serves to uniformly buffer the gas and stabilize the test pressure, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the test. It solves the technical problem in the prior art where, when testing membrane envelope filters with an automatic filter integrity tester, the gas pressure in the upstream volume drops too quickly during the test due to the excessive diffusion flow rate and the small upstream volume of the membrane envelope filter, resulting in unsuccessful testing.

[0029] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, the tank body 3 is a hollow cylinder; the tank body 3 is welded to the upper elliptical head 1 and the lower elliptical head 2 respectively, the weld seam 5 has an excess height of ≤0.5mm, and is polished to be flush with the connection between the tank body 3 and the upper elliptical head 1 and the lower elliptical head 2.

[0030] The hollow cylindrical shape of the tank body 3 ensures a relatively uniform stress distribution when subjected to internal pressure, preventing excessive stress in certain areas. This avoids deformation or cracking of the tank body 3 due to excessive stress, thus ensuring the stability and safety of the tank body 3 structure. The hollow cylindrical shape also simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing manufacturing costs and ensuring the quality and consistency of the tank body 3. The sanitary, dead-angle-free structure of the tank body 3 fully utilizes the space to store fluid, ensuring sufficient buffering and residence time for the fluid, which is beneficial for achieving a stable filtration and diffusion process.

[0031] The tank body 3 is welded to the upper elliptical head 1 and the lower elliptical head 2 respectively, forming a completely sealed space. This prevents leakage of the internally stored fluid and ensures stable fluid flow and filtration within the system. Furthermore, welding is a robust connection method that allows the tank body 3, upper elliptical head 1, and lower elliptical head 2 to form a unified whole, jointly bearing internal pressure and external loads, resulting in high strength and reliability.

[0032] Excessive weld seam height (5) can cause stress concentration at the weld seam. When the tank body (3) is under pressure, these stress concentration points are prone to becoming crack initiation points, thus reducing the lifespan and safety of the tank body (3). A weld seam height of ≤0.5mm, polished to be flush with the connection between the tank body (3) and the upper elliptical head (1) and lower elliptical head (2), can effectively reduce stress concentration, improve the structural strength and reliability of the tank body (3), and ensure the flatness of the tank body (3) surface. Polishing removes burrs from the weld seam surface, making it smooth and flat, reducing the adhesion and penetration of corrosive media, thereby lowering the corrosion rate and risk of contamination, and ensuring the purity of the stored fluid.

[0033] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, the wall thickness of tank 3 is greater than 1.5mm, which makes the overall structure more robust, sufficient to withstand the pressure of the internal fluid and the external mechanical force, and also enhances corrosion resistance and extends service life. Tank 3 can be installed horizontally or vertically. Horizontal installation saves horizontal space and facilitates installation and maintenance, while vertical installation reduces the floor space, facilitates natural fluid settling, and is convenient for connection with pipelines. The volume of tank 3 ranges from 5 liters to 150 liters, which can meet the needs of different processing scales, flexibly adjust the system configuration, and achieve efficient operation.

[0034] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, the inner wall of the tank 3 includes multiple curved surfaces, or a combination of flat and curved surfaces; the curved surfaces, or the flat and curved surfaces, have a smooth transition; the curved surfaces, or the flat and curved surfaces, are transitioned by arcs, which can reduce the resistance to fluid flow, avoid dead corners, make the fluid flow smooth, and improve filtration efficiency; the arc radius is ≥6mm, which can prevent stress concentration, enhance the structural strength of the tank 3, reduce the risk of cracking, facilitate cleaning and maintenance, reduce dirt and impurity residue, and ensure the purity of the stored fluid.

[0035] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, both the inner and outer walls of the tank 3 are polished. The inner surface roughness of the inner wall is Ra≤0.8μm, which can reduce fluid residue, reduce the risk of contamination, and improve the purity of filtration. The outer surface roughness of the outer wall is Ra≤1.6μm, which facilitates cleaning and maintenance, enhances corrosion resistance, and extends the service life of the tank 3.

[0036] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, several inlets and outlets 6 are provided on the tank body 3. These inlets and outlets 6 can flexibly control the flow of fluid to meet different process requirements. They also facilitate cleaning of the tank body 3, prevent the accumulation of contaminants, and meet the requirements of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

[0037] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, the number of inlets and outlets 6 on the tank body 3 shall not be less than 4; the diameter of the inlets and outlets 6 is... to It can meet different flow requirements and process requirements; the connection between the inlet / outlet 6 and the pipeline is a pipe clamp structure, which is easy to install and disassemble, and has good sealing performance to prevent fluid leakage.

[0038] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, the intersection line connecting the tank body 3 and the outlet 7 is ≥6mm, which can avoid excessive stress concentration between the tank body 3 and the outlet 7, reduce the risk of the tank body 3 cracking along the intersection line 8, ensure the stable operation of the tank body 3, and extend the service life of the tank body 3.

[0039] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, several support legs 4 are connected to the tank body 3; the number of support legs 4 is 3 or 4; the lower end of the support legs 4 may or may not have wheels. The support legs 4 are used to support the tank body 3, keeping it in a horizontal position, preventing swaying and tilting, and ensuring safety during operation. Three support legs are suitable for smaller tanks, with a simpler structure; four support legs are suitable for larger tanks, providing more stable support. Support legs 4 with wheels at the lower end facilitate moving the tank body 3, making cleaning and maintenance more convenient; support legs 4 without wheels at the lower end can fix the position of the tank body 3, reducing the risk of collision caused by movement, and are suitable for occasions where frequent movement is not required.

[0040] To achieve the above-mentioned technical effects, such as Figure 1 As shown, the tank body, upper elliptical head, and lower elliptical head are made of 304 or 316L stainless steel, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, or ABS.

[0041] The application method of this embodiment is as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the inlet of the buffer tank is connected to the integrity tester via a pipe, and the outlet is connected to the membrane filter via a pipe; the test air inlet is connected to a compressed air source, and the air source pressure is adjusted to about 0.6MPa.

[0042] Connect a thin tube to the downstream end of the membrane filter, and place the other end of the thin tube into a water container so that the diffuse flow bubbles downstream can be collected during testing.

[0043] Start the automatic filter integrity tester, select the diffusion flow test function, choose membrane filter as the filter type, input the relevant parameters, and start the test. The instrument automatically performs control phases such as pressure increase, pressure stabilization, and testing. When the instrument enters the testing phase, use an inverted graduated cylinder filled with water downstream of the membrane to collect the bubble flow rate and time it, then calculate the bubble flow rate collected per minute. After the test is completed, the instrument automatically stops and displays the test results.

[0044] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing the present invention, and in practical applications, various changes can be made to them in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A buffer tank for integrity testing of large diffusion flow membrane filter, characterized in that, include: An upper elliptical end cap is provided above the buffer tank for the diffusion flow membrane filter. The lower elliptical end cap is provided below the buffer tank for the diffusion flow membrane filter. The tank body is disposed between the upper elliptical head and the lower elliptical head; the length-to-diameter ratio of the buffer tank is 1:1 to 20:1, and the buffer tank plays a role in uniformly buffering the gas and stabilizing the test pressure.

2. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank body is a hollow cylinder; the tank body is welded to the upper elliptical head and the lower elliptical head respectively, the weld seam height is ≤0.5mm, and it is polished to be flush with the connection between the tank body and the upper elliptical head and the lower elliptical head.

3. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank has a wall thickness greater than 1.5 mm and is arranged horizontally or vertically; the tank has a volume of 5 liters to 150 liters.

4. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the tank includes multiple curved surfaces, or a combination of planes and curved surfaces; the curved surfaces, or planes and curved surfaces, have a smooth transition; the curved surfaces, or planes and curved surfaces, are transitioned by an arc with a radius of ≥6mm.

5. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the inner and outer walls of the tank are polished. The inner surface roughness of the inner wall is Ra≤0.8μm, and the outer surface roughness of the outer wall is Ra≤1.6μm.

6. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several inlets and outlets are provided on the tank body.

7. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank body shall have at least four inlets and outlets; the diameter of the inlet and outlet pipes shall be [missing information]. to The connection between the inlet / outlet and the pipeline is a pipe clamp structure.

8. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intersection line connecting the tank body and the outlet is ≥6mm.

9. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several support legs are connected to the tank body; the number of support legs is 3 or 4; the lower end of the support legs may or may not have wheels.

10. The buffer tank for integrity testing of a large diffusion flow membrane filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank body, the upper elliptical head, and the lower elliptical head are made of 304 or 316L stainless steel, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, or ABS.