NELIOR filtration technology enhances performance and helps energy efficiency

Published: 13-Sep-2012

Tailored to the stringent demands of the pharma and microelectronic industries

AAF says its new HEPA and ULPA filters with NELIOR filtration technology provide value-added benefits for applications that work under classified conditions, such as the pharmaceutical and microelectronic industries. The firm, which has a European office in The Netherlands, says these benefits are demonstrated by its newly developed Life Cycle Valuation programme.

NELIOR filtration technology is based on a patented membrane air filtration media, developed by AAF and produced in one of the firm’s manufacturing facilities.

The membrane media is composed of an evenly distributed layer of fibres with nanometre-scale diameters. It provides up to 50% lower operating resistance in combination with overall particulate collection efficiency. Furthermore, recently conducted research by the ÖP textile testing laboratories in Germany has shown a superior mechanical strength performance of NELIOR membrane media compared with traditional air filtration media.

The research included different comparative tests on the tensile strength, burst pressure and abrasion resistance of both media types. One of the clear observations was the fact that traditional media suffers from a loss in strength after pleated into media packs, whereas NELIOR membrane media retains its integrity.

The research also showed that NELIOR membrane media has a high resistance to potential damage from errors in handling and installation, in contrast with traditional media.

In daily practice this means that filter media failure risk is limited and that fibre shedding, which could increase contamination risk when entering the airstream, is eliminated. These benefits are complemented by a chemically inert and hydrophobic media structure.

Georg Schuermann, vice president sales and marketing for AAF Europe, said: “With our new NELIOR filtration technology we offer the next generation of air filtration to those industries that heavily rely on strictly controlled air cleanliness conditions. I feel confident that AAF will make a difference through providing our customers with a unique solution to their ongoing quality and process challenges.“

AAF has launched the VITCAcel filter for the pharmaceutical industry and the MEGAcel filter for the microelectronic industry.

The VITCAcel mini-pleat HEPA/ULPA filter with NELIOR filtration technology is available in filter classes H14 and U16 to EN1822:2009 for application in ISO 5/GMP grade A cleanrooms and adjacent areas. The air filter features an anodised extruded aluminum frame and comes standard with a stainless steel (grade 316) faceguard to minimise corrosion risk.

The NELIOR membrane media packs are available in 35mm and 50mm depths, where the 50mm media pack in filter class H14 reaches an initial operating resistance of just 50 Pa. A double tear-off label is provided to support Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and VITCAcel is packed in a double layer heat sealed plastic wrapping, to eliminate contamination risk once entering classified environments.

The mini-pleat MEGAcel ULPA filter for the microelectronic industry with NELIOR filtration technology is boron-free and fully resistant to hazardous chemical compounds.

MEGAcel is available in filter class U16 to EN1822:2009 for application in controlled areas up to ISO 1, including highly sensitive semiconductor mini-environments. The air filter comes with an anodised extruded aluminum frame and the NELIOR membrane media packs are available in 35mm and 50mm depths. With the 50mm media pack, a very low initial operating resistance of 60 Pa is achieved. In common with the VITCAcel, a double tear-off label is provided to support traceability requirements and MEGAcel is packed in a double layer heat sealed plastic wrapping.

AAF’s Life Cycle Valuation (LCV) approach takes both energy savings and failure risk costs into account and demonstrates the value potential to be achieved by air filters with NELIOR filtration technology. It calculates the environmental and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings potential based on a risk management approach with application specific data. The results are summarised in an automatically generated customer report.

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