Process and device for local and controlled regeneration of a particle filter

A process and device for local permeability evaluation and local regeneration of a particle filter consisting of several juxtaposed zones through which a flow of gas to be scrubbed is passed include the steps of and apparatus for measuring the temperature of the flow upstream from the filter, measuring the temperature in at least one of the zones forming the filter, evaluating the thermal inertia of at least one of the zones by relative measurement of the temperature or of the local resistance to the temperature upstream from the filter, deducing from this the local permeability of the filter and locally regenerating the filter.

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What is claimed is:

1. A process intended for local permeability evaluation and local regeneration of a particle filter consisting of several juxtaposed zones through which a flow of gas to bescrubbed is passed, the process comprising the steps of:

measuring the temperature of said flow upstream from said filter,

measuring the temperature in at least one of said zones forming the filter,

evaluating the thermal inertia of at least one of said zones via relative measurement of the temperature or of the local resistance to said temperature upstream from the filter,

deducing therefrom the local permeability of the filter, and

locally regenerating said filter.

2. An evaluation process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said zones of the filter is locally regenerated when said permeability is above a certain threshold value.

3. An evaluation process as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that local regeneration consists in local heating.

4. An evaluation process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the process consists in installing a resistor in each of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter and one resistor upstream from the filter, in measuring each resistor atpredetermined time intervals and in evaluating the relative resistance of each zone so as to deduce the local permeability of each zone.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the process further consists in installing at least one valve upstream from at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter and in modulating its opening independentlyaccording to the desired local regeneration.

6. A process as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that measurement of each of the local resistors (Ri) is used itself to modulate the opening of each associated valve.

7. A process as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the measurement of each local resistor (Ri) is stored separately in order to determine a clogging or breakage of said resistor.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the most fouled zones are regenerated first.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the process further consists in locally and independently injecting hydrocarbons into at least one of said zones of the filter.

10. A device intended for local permeability evaluation and local regeneration, over the total length thereof, of a particle filter consisting of several juxtaposed zones through which a flow of gas to be scrubbed is passed, characterized inthat the device comprises a means for evaluating the thermal inertia of at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter, associated with a means for measuring the temperature upstream from and at different points in the filter, and a meansintended for local regeneration of said filter that cooperates with the means intended for evaluating the local permeability of the filter.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the means intended for local regeneration of the filter consists of at least one resistive element installed in at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of said filter.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the thermal inertia evaluation means consists of a temperature detector situated in the gaseous flow upstream from the filter and at least one temperature detector locally installed inat least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the thermal inertia evaluation means comprises a resistive element placed in the gaseous flow upstream from said filter, associated with at least one resistive element installed in atleast one of the several juxtaposed zones of said filter.

14. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the device further comprises at least one valve placed upstream from at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter, associated with local regeneration of said filter.

15. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the device further comprises a means for local injection of hydrocarbons into at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter, associated with local regeneration of saidfilter.

16. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the device further comprises a means for detecting a malfunction of at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said means for detecting a malfunction allows to detect clogging of said at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said means for detecting a malfunction allows to detect a breakage in said at least one of the several juxtaposed zones of the filter.