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MERC – Membrane Filter Test Plan
2
2. Introduction to Technology
The filter vendor has provided filter materials for electronics and biopharm applications
for over 30 years. Recently the vendor developed a revolutionary new filtration material suitable
for high performance water filtration applications. They are now selling this product into
electronics polish loop applications. The vendor is a technology/innovation based company
which focuses on exploiting the properties of PTFE materials, developing products which add
high value in challenging applications. The purpose of this test plan is to determine the
effectiveness of the removal of particulates and bacteria from ballast water through the use of a
variety of filter cartridge arrangements. The life of the filter cartridges, as defined by the total
volume filtered before reaching 30 psid differential pressure, will also be investigated
3. Protocols for Pilot-Scale Evaluations of Ballast Water Filter Systems
Basic Experimental Design:
MERC will evaluate the efficacy of
ballast filtration systems onboard the
MARAD
vessel
M/V
Cape
Washington
while
docked
in
Baltimore Harbor, Maryland (right).
The ballast system of the
Cape
Washington
has been modified to
allow for delivery of ballast water at
variable flow rates up to 700 m
3
/hr
and pressures up to 36 psi. A
nominal flow rate of
≈
10 gph (0.4
m3) shall be delivered to the vendor
filtration system at a pressure
specified by the manufacturer. A
detailed drawing of the modified ship
ballast system can be found on page
9.
It is important to note that protocols will be the same for all filter trials However, tests of
different filters will NOT be conducted simultaneously, and MERC will NOT compare the
performance of the systems evaluated. Thus, a final report specific to this filter system will be
written upon completion of the evaluation.
MERC will allow the vendor to conduct one leak test to assure proper operations, then six
(6) unique trials will be conducted (Appendix 1): 1. An initial test trail will evaluate the
efficiency of the polish filter system (
Filter #1, 0.1 micron rating, 20" length
) without pre-filtering.
2. The second trial will evaluate the efficiency of the polish filter system (
Filter #5, 0.1 micron
rating, 20" length
) without pre-filtering. 3. The third trial will evaluate the efficiency of a prefilter
(
20micron prefilter #2, 20" length
)and the polish filter system (
Filter #1, 0.1 micron rating, 20" length
).
4. The fourth trial will evaluate the efficiency of a prefilter (
20micron prefilter #2, 20" length
)and
the polish filter system (
Filter #5, 0.1 micron rating, 20" length
)). 5. A fifth trial will evaluate the
efficiency of three prefilters (
20micron prefilter #2, 20" length, 10micron prefilter #3, 20" length, and