The effect of flow on the filtration performance of paediatric breathing system filters

The effect of flow on the filtration performance of six different types of filter intended for use in paediatric anaesthesia was measured by challenging the filters with sodium chloride particles at five different flows: 6, 10, 15, 20 and 30 l x min(-1). Twenty-five unused samples of each filter type were evaluated. The pressure drop across each filter was measured at the same flows as those used to measure penetration. The pressure drop varied both between and within the types of filter. Mean pressure drop varied between 89 and 262 Pa at a flow of 15 l x min(-1) for the six different filters. Penetration of sodium chloride particles varied from 1.9 to 18% at 15 l x min(-1) for the six filters. Allowing for the variation in pressure drop, the penetration of particles increased fairly linearly as flow increased for all six filter types. The increase in penetration per unit increase in flow varied from 0.11 to 0.82% per litre per minute. Over the range of flows studied, the increase in penetration with flow is fairly predictable.