Patent ID: 8332183

Claim:
A detection and analysis apparatus for a membrane filtration process, used in a filtration system comprising a filtering device, a filter medium, and a target fluid where the filtering device executes a filtration process and the filter medium possesses a thickness change of the cake formed thereon, the apparatus comprising: a photo sensing device, comprising a plurality of sensing elements linearly arranged to form a first array, for detecting a signal of the thickness change of the cake at a linear position of the filter medium; a driving device, comprising a stepping motor, for driving the photo sensing device to move relatively parallel to the filter medium on the top of the cake so that the photo sensing device detects the thickness change of the cake on at least one local plane of the filter medium; and a data processing device, coupling to the photo sensing device, for continuously processing and analyzing the signal detected by the photo sensing device to thereby in-situ estimate the thickness change of the cake on the at least one local plane of the filter medium during the filtration process.