System for determining force imparted by a filter in a variable flow environment and related methods of use

Abstract

A control system for a variable flow filtration system that is configured for receiving an operating condition of a variable speed impeller of the variable flow filtration system; determining a threshold filter force associated with the received operating condition to determine an increased threshold filter force proportionally to increases in the received operating condition; receiving one or more real-time environmental conditions of the variable flow filtration system; modifying the determined threshold filter force based on the received one or more real-time environmental conditions; receiving a real-time filter force imparted by a filter of the variable flow filtration system on a load cell or other filtration system component, the filter force being imparted by a flow of gas or fluid driven by the variable speed impeller; comparing the received real-time filter force to the modified determined threshold filter force; and generating a filter status notification based on the comparison.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 determining a threshold based on one or more first conditions of a variable speed first component of a filtration system and one or more second conditions;   receiving, from a sensor, a force imparted by a filter of the filtration system on the sensor and/or a second component of the filtration system, the force of the filter on the sensor and/or the second component being imparted by a flow of air, gas, or fluid driven by the variable speed first component;   comparing the received force to the determined threshold ; and   generating a notification or signal based on the comparison of the force to the determined threshold.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more first conditions include one or more of a fan setting, a pump setting, an intensity setting, a fan speed, a rotational velocity, a voltage, a current, an air/fluid flow rate, or a force. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more second conditions include one or more of a temperature measurement, a humidity measurement, an air or fluid density measurement, an altitude measurement, or an air or fluid pressure measurement of the filtration system. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the one or more first conditions, the one or more second conditions, or the force, is received continuously in real-time. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein determining a threshold includes modifying an initially determined threshold based on changes in the one or more second conditions. 
     
     
         26 . A control system for a variable flow filtration system, the control system comprising: a digital data storage device storing instructions for generating a notification or signal; and a processor configured to execute the stored instructions to perform a method comprising:
 determining a threshold based on a first condition of a variable speed first component of the variable flow filtration system and one or more second conditions;   receiving, from a sensor, a force imparted by a filter of the variable flow filtration system on the sensor or on a second component of the variable flow filtration system, the force of the filter being imparted by a flow of air, gas, or fluid moved by the variable speed the first component;   comparing the received force to the determined threshold ; and   generating the notification or signal based on the comparison of the force to the determined threshold.   
     
     
         27 . The control system of  claim 26 , wherein the first condition includes one or more of a fan setting, a pump setting, an intensity setting, a fan speed, a rotational velocity, a voltage, a current, an air/fluid flow rate, or a force associated with the variable speed first component of the variable flow filtration system. 
     
     
         28 . The control system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more second conditions includes one or more of a temperature measurement, a humidity measurement, an air or fluid density measurement, an altitude measurement, or an air or fluid pressure measurement of the variable flow filtration system. 
     
     
         29 . The control system of  claim 26 , wherein the sensor is mounted at surface of the filter facing upstream, facing downstream, and/or facing perpendicular to the flow of gas or fluid. 
     
     
         30 . The control system of  claim 26 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a compressive or tensile force exerted by the filter. 
     
     
         31 . The control system of  claim 26 , wherein determining a threshold includes modifying an initially determined threshold based on changes in the one or more second conditions. 
     
     
         32 . A variable flow filtration system, comprising:
 a filter disposed across a flow of fluid or gas;   a variable speed first component configured to move air, fluid, or gas through the filter;   a sensor disposed adjacent to the filter and/or a second component of the variable flow filtration system; and   a controller configured to:   determine a threshold associated with one or more first conditions of the variable speed first component and one or more second conditions;   receive, from the sensor, a force imparted by the filter of the variable flow filtration system on the sensor or the second component of the variable flow filtration system;   compare the received force to the determined threshold ; and   generate a notification or signal based on the comparison of the force to the determined threshold.   
     
     
         33 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more first conditions includes one or more of a fan setting, a pump setting, an intensity setting, a fan speed, a rotational velocity, a voltage, a current, an air/fluid flow rate, or a force associated with the variable speed first component of the variable flow filtration system. 
     
     
         34 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more second conditions includes one or more of a temperature measurement, a humidity measurement, an air or fluid density measurement, an altitude measurement, or an air or fluid pressure measurement of the variable flow filtration system. 
     
     
         35 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein determining the threshold includes modifying an initially determined threshold based on changes in the one or more second conditions. 
     
     
         36 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the filter is located upstream or downstream of the variable speed first component. 
     
     
         37 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive the one or more first conditions at a first interval;   receive the one or more second conditions at a second interval; and   receive the force from the sensor at a third interval, wherein the first, second, and third intervals are different from each other or the same.   
     
     
         38 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a compressive or tensile force exerted by the filter. 
     
     
         39 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the variable speed first component moves fluid or gas through the filter in a non-uniform path. 
     
     
         40 . The variable flow filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the sensor is mounted at surface of the filter facing upstream, facing downstream, and/or perpendicular to the movement of air, gas, or fluid.