FILTRATION DEVICES WITH EMBEDDED RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAGS

• US 20090032477A1
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydranautics (Nitto Denko Corporation), Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hydranautics (Nitto Denko Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeyama, Norio, Wilf, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/808
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/56 Wireless systems for monitoring the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/10 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/10 Spiral-wound membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/107 Specific properties of the central tube or the permeate channel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/12 comprising multiple spiral-wound assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/00 Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise reverse osmosis filters and systems comprising embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for storing and retrieving data. The RFID tags can be preferably embedded under a filtration device'"'"'s protective outer shell. Information can be easily stored onto and retrieved from the embedded RFID tags. The ability to easily store and retrieve data from the embedded RFID devices facilitates the creation of loading maps, monitoring, addition, and replacement of fluid filtration devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for, monitoring the pressure within a filter housing having at least one filtering element, comprising:

said filtering element;

a pressure sensor embedded in said filtering element; and

a transmitter, in communication with said sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage element adapted to store measurements from said sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter utilizes wireless communication.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises an RFID tag.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a wireless receiver, adapted to receive signals transmitted from said wireless transmitter.

6. A method of insuring the integrity of a filtering element, having an upstream side and an outlet, within a filter housing,

affixing a sensor, in connection with a transmitter, adapted to measure an operating parameter at the outlet of said filtering element;

pressurizing the upstream side of said filtering element to a predetermined pressure;

monitoring said parameter at the outlet of said filtering element; and

determining whether said parameter is within a predetermined range to determine integrity of said filtering element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said monitoring step is performed at regular intervals.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter and said method further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting said monitored parameter to a receiver located outside of said housing.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor and said parameter is a pressure drop.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises an RFID tag.

11. A method of maintaining a uniform flow within a filter housing, comprising:

affixing a plurality of sensors, each in communication with a transmitter, to a plurality of locations with said filter housing;

monitoring an operating parameter at said locations with said filter housing said sensors;

comparing said monitored parameters to one another; and

regulating the flow within said filter housing in response to said comparison.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting said monitored parameter to a receiver located outside of said housing.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor and said parameter comprises pressure.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said sensor comprises a flow rate sensor and said parameter comprises flow rate.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said transmitter utilizes wireless communication and said wireless transmitter comprises an RFID tag.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said filter housing comprises tangential flow filtration (TFF) devices.

17. A method of measuring the integrity of a TFF device, having a plurality of connecting ports between modules, comprising:

positioning a sensor in at least one of said connecting ports;

pressurizing said device to a known pressure;

monitoring an operating parameter within said at least one of said connecting ports;

comparing said operating parameter with a predetermined range to determine the integrity.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said operating parameter is pressure.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said TFF device is pressurized to a plurality of pressures, and said corresponding operating parameters are monitored.

21. A method of measuring the liquid flow within a TFF device, having a plurality of connecting ports between modules, comprising:

positioning a pressure sensor in at least one of said connecting ports;

monitoring the pressure within said at least one of said connecting ports; and

converting said monitored pressure into a liquid flow rate.

22. A method of measuring the liquid flow within a TFF device, having a plurality of connecting ports between modules, comprising:

positioning a flow rate sensor in at least one of said connecting ports; and

monitoring the flow rate through said at least one of said connecting ports.

23. A Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) device comprising at least one connecting port;

a filtering element and at least one sensor located in at least one of said at least one connecting port.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said sensor comprises a flow rate sensor.

26. A method of determining the integrity of a particular filtering element within a multi-filter environment, comprising:

positioning a first sensor to measure an operating parameter at the input side of said filtering element;

positioning a second sensor to measure an operating parameter at the output side of said filtering element; and

determining the integrity of said filter based on the difference between said measured parameter at said input side and said measured parameter at said output side.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said operating parameter comprises pressure and said sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said operating parameter comprises flow rate and said sensor comprises a flow rate sensor.