You will hear about an LLNL developed high-efficiency filter made from ceramic materials in a metal housing. The filters are scalable and can be engineered for myriad commercial applications.

1. Keiretsu Forum Mark Mitchell, Ceramic Filter Program Manager
LLNL-PRES-561172
This work was performed under the auspices of the
U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
Conceptual Cut Away View

2.  Novel inorganic ceramic materials
in a metal housing
 Scalable
• Full Scale Nuclear Application (1000
cfm):
— 2’ X 2’ x 11.5”, 50 kg
• Mini (70 cfm):
— 8.5” x 8.5” x 11.5”, 4.5 kg
• Commercial units can be engineered
to weigh less
Mini-Assembly
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172
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Full-Scale Assembly

3.  Survive elevated temperature, moisture, corrosion
and fires better than existing technology.
 Increase safety of operations – by performing the
safety function within a wider operational range.
 Provide for in-situ cleaning and reuse, thereby
reducing secondary waste.
 Minimize costs and risks of contamination posed by
“hot breaks”.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172
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4. Filtration efficiency
tunable to market
specifications
Substitution of
ceramic HEPA filters
into existing filtration
systems enables a
regulatory ecosystem
that engenders
greater safety, cost
effectiveness, and
efficiency.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172 4

5.  Semiconductor Fabrication
 Clean rooms
 Aerospace Manufacturing
 Petroleum Processing
 Biotech/Biopharmaceutical
 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
 Clean Coal Power Generation
 Hazardous Chemicals Processing
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 Mining
 Metals Processing
 Wastewater Treatment
 Agriculture
 Dyes
 Defense Industries
 Nuclear Power Generation
 Non-reactor Nuclear Facilities

6.  Selected optimal ceramic substrates, coatings,
and application technologies
 Tested proof-of-concept filter
 Developed manufacturing tooling
 Innovations that facilitate continuous system
operation, e.g.,
• Process operations in a chemical plant
• Ventilation during a fire in a nuclear facility
 IP based on 30 years of HEPA filter research
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172
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3 tube types
Ceramic
Substrate
Coating

7.  Complete: ASME 510 leak test at
LLNL industrial hygiene laboratory
• Individual components and
assembled HEPA filter
 Complete: Independent Certification
Testing
• Verification of HEPA filtration (> 99.97%
filtration efficiency) at
— 30 cfm (dP 2.8”)
— 71 cfm (dP 6.1”)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172
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8.  Independent Qualification
Testing
 Utilize HTTU to study HEPA
filter behavior as effected by
fire conditions
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9. Traditional HEPA
Filter
Ceramic HEPA filter
Purchase price for 1” x 1” x 1” size $200 to $300 $2,000 (Cost of components purchased as
single items; can be reduced with bulk
purchasing)
Current assembly and testing time (can be
reduced significantly with automation): 8 hrs
Cost of install & replacement (including
package, waste shipment, & waste disposal)
for process equipment, fume hood, etc.
(depends on class of waste)
$16,000 per filter Same: $16,000 per filter
Cost of install & replacement (including
package, waste shipment, & waste disposal)
in ventilation system (depends on class of
waste)
$2,700 per filter (LLW) Same: $2700 per filter (LLW)
Light Use (light dust/moisture/corrosive
environment)
3 to 5 years
operational life
Infinite
Challenging Use (heavy dust/moisture/
corrosive environment)
Short operational life Infinite (with cleaning)
Savings Up to $14,000 every replacement interval
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172 9

10.  Ceramic HEPA filters offer unique capabilities and
benefits
• Safer with large life-cycle cost savings potential
• Make possible additional process innovations
 Completed successful proof-of-concept, verified by
independent testing
 Portfolio of inventions
 Applicable to a wide range of industries
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172
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11. Annemarie Meike
meike1@llnl.gov
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLNL-PRES-561172 11