Operational evaluation of the high flow alternative filter test system

Abstract

An alternative to the current filter test system (Q107) used to test Size 4 (500 cubic feet per min rated flow) and larger nuclear grade high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters at DOE Filter Test Facilities (FTFs) has been developed. This new test system, called the High Flow Alternative Filter Test System (HFATS), has undergone a long-term operational evaluation at the Oak Ridge FTF (ORFTF) for: comparison between HEPA filter penetration measurements made with the HFATS and with the Q107; assessment of the HFATS' long-term routine operational performance in the FTF environment; and determination of the potential operational impacts of the HFATS on the FTFs. Data for the operational evaluation were collected by the Oak Ridge staff using both test systems. These data were analyzed and interpreted by Los Alamos staff. A total of 849 filters were tested in the evaluation. The data provided by the HFATS easily permits filter penetration to be reported in terms of: penetration at the size of maximum penetration; number, surface area, or mass penetration; or penetration at 0.3 ..mu..m for reference to historical data. Results of the penetration measurement comparisons show that the HFATS measurements at about 0.3 ..mu..m aerosol diameter do not differ significantly from the Q107 measurements. Analysis of the HFATS penetration data indicates that for the 100% flow tests maximum penetration most frequently occurs at an aerosol diameter of about 0.15 ..mu..m as measured by a laser aerosol spectrometer (LAS). The 0.15 ..mu..m HFATS measurements at 100% test flow were markedly higher than the corresponding Q107 measurements. These measurements resulted in over 18% of the filters being rejected by the HFATS only, compared to no filters being rejected only by the Q107 and approximately 0.2% being rejected by both systems