Patent ID: 8221523
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: B01D,F24F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for filtering a volume of gas, said apparatus comprising: a hollow vessel defining an internal cavity; a first inlet defined by said hollow vessel, the first inlet exposed to a first environment, wherein said first inlet is for introducing the volume of gas into said internal cavity of said hollow vessel; a first outlet defined by said hollow vessel, the first outlet exposed to the first environment, wherein said first outlet is for removing the volume of gas from said internal cavity of said hollow vessel and discharging into the first environment; a second inlet defined by said hollow vessel, the second inlet exposed to a second environment, wherein said second inlet is for introducing the volume of gas into said internal cavity of said hollow vessel; a second outlet defined by said hollow vessel, the second outlet exposed to the second environment, wherein said second outlet is for removing the volume of gas from said internal cavity of said hollow vessel and discharging to the second environment; a filter media for separating components of the volume of gas within said internal cavity of said hollow vessel, said filter media contained within said internal cavity of said hollow vessel; a flow control device for advancing the volume of gas across said filter media, said flow control device positioned within said internal cavity of said hollow vessel; a first sensor exposed to the first environment for measuring in the first environment sought to be filtered at least one indicator and producing a first signal; a second sensor exposed to the second environment for measuring in the second environment at least one indicator, the second sensor producing a second signal; and a controller for receiving the first signal from said first sensor and the second signal from the second sensor, said controller in communication with said first sensor, said second sensor, and said flow control device; an outlet flow regulator for controlling the flow of a filtered volume of gas out of said first outlet and said second outlet, said outlet flow regulator positioned between said first outlet and said second outlet and proximate both said first outlet and said second outlet, wherein said outlet flow regulator is configured to open said first outlet when said second outlet is closed, and wherein said outlet flow regulator is configured to open said second outlet when said first outlet is closed; and an inlet flow regulator for controlling the flow of the volume of gas into said first inlet and said second inlet, said inlet flow regulator positioned between said first inlet and said second inlet and proximate both said first inlet and said second inlet, wherein said inlet flow regulator is configured to open said first inlet when said second inlet is closed, and wherein said inlet flow regulator is configured to open said second inlet when said first inlet is closed; wherein said controller regulates said flow control device in response to the first signal communicated by said first sensor and to the second signal communicated by the second sensor; wherein said apparatus is capable of operating to filter the volume of gas in the event of a power failure in an electrical grid.