When calibrating or testing a gauge or transducer with a pneumatic pressure controller you should protect the controller from any liquid contaminants which may be present in the device under test (DUT). Blunder and bleed valve (BBV) in-line with a coalescing filter is an excellent way to do that.
The potential flow of containments is from the DUT to the controller. Lies and a coalescing filter, oriented as seen in the diagram above, will to work to prevent contamination. The BBV is used to purge the majority of liquid from the DUT. The coalescing filter is a backup to remove any residual liquid that could be present even after the original purge and will separate entrained liquid droplets from gas flowing in direction of the controller. The following procedure is built to prevent damage to a pneumatic pressure controller from the contaminated DUT.
Purge the DUT of liquid containments
Before connecting the DUT to the machine, remove as much liquid as possible from the DUT.
With the controller power off and both the block and bleed valve closed, connect the machine as shown above.
Use the controller to use a pressure near to the full scale pressure of the DUT.
Open the block valve slowly to pressurize the DUT (note: the gas will flow in direction of the controller to the DUT ? high pressure to low pressure).
Following the system is pressurized close the block valve.
Open the bleed valve and detox the system to atmospheric pressure. Observe the sump to see if any liquid is purged.
Close the bleed valve.
Repeat steps 3 to 7 until no more liquid is observed appearing out of the system.
With the block and the bleed valves securely closed, vent the controller.
After completion of the aforementioned procedure it should now be safe to calibrate the DUT. To calibrate, open the block valve and close the bleed valve. The coalescing filter will coalesce (join together) any liquid droplets that could still be within the gas, and gravity will draw the liquid to underneath of the filter housing. The filter may also remove particles larger than the specified size. An automatic or manual valve could be attached to the bottom of the filter housing to periodically drain any liquid which has accumulated.
Note:
1. The coalescing filter won’t protect against a big slug of liquid that fills the housing and is forced through the filter membrane or liquid vapor.
2. Severe used to calibrate the DUT can flow in either direction within this system.
3. There will be a pressure drop over the filter in the flowing condition; at steady state pressure there is no pressure drop.