Patent ID: 7569093

Claim:
A method of monitoring fluid emissions from processing equipment, the method comprising: extracting a sample fluid from the processing equipment; delivering the sample fluid to a filter assembly comprising a plurality of filter assembly sections arranged in a parallel fluid flow manner with respect to each other, wherein each filter assembly section includes a filter unit and first and second valves disposed at upstream and downstream locations of the filter unit to isolate each filter assembly section from other portions of the filter assembly; selectively controlling the flow of the sample fluid through at least a first filter assembly section by opening the first and second valves of the first filter assembly section while preventing the sample fluid from flowing through at least a second filter assembly section by maintaining the first and second valves of the second filter assembly section in a closed position, wherein the filter unit of the first filter assembly section filters particulate materials from the sample fluid flowing through the first filter assembly section; delivering the filtered sample fluid from the filter assembly to an analyzer section that includes at least one analyzer to determine the concentration of at least one species within the filtered sample fluid; switching the flow of sample gas from the first filter assembly section to the second filter assembly section by closing the first and second valves of the first filter assembly section and opening the first and second valves of the second filter assembly section; and directing a filter cleaning fluid through the filter unit of the first filter assembly section in a direction that opposes a direction in which the sample fluid flows through the filter unit of the first filter assembly section.