Sterile Gas Filtration & Venting

Liquids and gases are both fluids however there is a significant difference between them. Liquids are mostly non-compressible, whereas gases are compressible. What this means when we are dealing with gases is that their volume is dependent on their pressure and temperature, whereas with liquids their volumes remain almost constant. Therefore, a mass of gas can have a different volume whereas a liquid is almost constant. This significantly impacts the sizing of filters and the initial capital and running costs of a system.

In gas filtration there are two key contaminates we need to remove prior to final sterile gas filtration. Firstly, condensate that forms in the transfer lines of the gas if there is any reduction in gas temperature. Secondly oil and particulate that may already contaminates the gas, dependent on its source, or is added to the gas when it is manufactured, transported, or stored.

Any gas filtration installation needs to remove these contaminates, so that the gas is condensate, oil and particulate free, prior to the sterile gas filter. This then allows the filter to run at low differential pressure and its most efficient at removing microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses so that they cannot be transferred into the process or product that the gas contacts.