Palltronic® AquaWIT XC System

The Palltronic Aquawit XC system offers major benefits for integrity-testing of hydrophobic gas filters. All stages of the water intrusion test can now be performed fully automatically on gas filters - and on line. The operator simply connects the Palltronic Aquawit XC unit to the filter system, inputs test parameters on the easy to use touchscreen and starts the test sequence. The filling, testing, draining and drying is performed without further operator involvement and a detailed test result is saved and printed.

With Pall direct flow measurement technology and a hydraulic bridge link to the test filter, accurate and reproducible results are ensured even during changes in environmental temperature

Materials of Construction

• Stainless Steel – Water Wet DIN 1.4404¹
• Stainless Steel – Frame DIN 1.4301²
• Seals EPDM

Connections

• Compressed Air Inlet: Staübli Nipple RBE03.6150
• Compressed Air Outlet: Staübli Coupling RBE03.2904
• Water Line to Fill Filter: 25 mm (1 in.) Sanitary clamp
• Water Line to Fill Tank 25 mm (1 in.) Sanitary clamp
• Water Drain (Bottom Level) 25 mm (1 in.) Sanitary clamp

Physical Dimensions

• Weight Empty 100 kg (220 lbs)
• Height, Width and Depth 1100 mm, 580 mm and 840 mm (43 in., 22 in. and 33 in.)
• Water Tank Volume 14 Liters (3.7 US gallons)

Filter Tests

• Water Intrusion Test (fully-automatic), Water Intrusion Test (semi-automatic), Forward Flow Test (semi-automatic), Bubble Point Test (semi-automatic) and Combined FF and BP Test (semi-automatic)

Function Tests

• Self Test, Flow Check Test and Valve Check

Other Functions

• Air Clean program, Test Program memory capacity of 500 programs, Test result memory capacity, 10,000 test results and User ID memory capacity of 250 users

Language Options

• English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, US English and Japanese (Katakana with English)

Electronic Interface Ports 

• COM: Two (2) Serial RS232C (V24)/Asynchronous/DB9 Auxiliary
• For Remote Operation Data: One (1) RSJ45 for high-speed data transfer

Measuring Range

• Water Intrusion Test: 0.05 – 50 mL/min
• Forward Flow Test
  • Standard: 0.1 – 200 mL/min
  • High-flow: 0.1 – 2,000 mL/min
• Bubble Point Test 700 – 6000 mbar (10 – 87 psi)
• Accuracy Forward Flow Test:  +/- 3% or +/- 0.05 mL/min, whichever is the greater
• Water Intrusion Test:  +/- 3% or +/- 0.02 mL/min, whichever is the greater

Calibration Limits

• Flow Measurement:  +/- 3% of measurement
• Pressure Measurement:  +/- 0.33% of full scale

Resolution

• Water Intrusion Test 0.01 mL/min
• Forward Flow Test
  • Measured Flow >10 mL/min: 0.1 mL/min
  • Measured Flow <10 mL/min: 0.01 mL/min
• Bubble Point Test 50 mbar (0.72 psi)

Electrical Data

• Mains Voltage: 90 – 230 Volts
• Mains Frequency: 50 – 60 Hz
• Power: 200 W
• Interface: 1 x RS232C, serial, asynchronous, DB9 auxiliary
• External Vent Valve: 24 V

Touch Screen Specifications

• Size: 238 mm (9.4 in.) 640 x 480 pixel
• Features: Black and white, illuminated background and adjustable contrast

Environmental Conditions

• Splash Proof: IP54
• Operating Temperature:  +5 °C to +40 °C (+41 °F to +104 °F)
• Storage Temperature: -20 °C to +70 °C (-4 °F to +158 °F)
• Humidity: 95% rh (no condensation)

Printer

• Type: Thermal
• Printout Lifetime: 10 Years
• Paper Width: 112 mm (4.4 in.)
• Paper Roll Diameter: 50 mm (1.9 in.)

Pneumatic Specifications

• Test Gas: Clean Dry Air or Nitrogen
• Maximum Inlet Pressure: 8000 mbar (116 psi)
• Minimum Pressure Above Testing Pressure Standard Flow Range: 
  • 0.01 – 60 mL/min: 1000 mbar (14.5 psi)
  • 61 – 120 mL/min: 1500 mbar (22.8 psi)
  • 121 – 200 mL/min: 2000 mbar (29.0 psi)
• Test Pressure Range: 50 – 6000 mbar (0.7 – 87 psi)

¹DIN 1.4404 element composition limits are comparable to 316L.
²DIN 1.4301 element composition limits are comparable to 304.

Accuracy and Reliability

In validation studies flow was measured at different environmental temperatures using a small filter with a typical water intrusion flow rate of 0.04 mL/min to represent worst case conditions. Even under conditions where the environmental temperature of the filter as 20 °C (36 °F) higher than water temperature, an accurate test result was obtained.

Validation work has also shown that accurate measurements can be performed using filter installations at a distance of at least 10 m (33 ft) and a height of 2.5 m
(8 ft) or more. Pall can assist in qualifying the Palltronic Aquawit XC system for individual purposes.

Hydraulic Bridge

The hydraulic bridge removes all air from the upstream filter system and tubing. Flow measurement is then performed in a more controlled environment within the Palltronic Aquawit unit. Stable results can be obtained even when environmental temperatures are changing by 10 °C (18 °F) or more. Direct flow and real time measurement further adds to the accuracy, speed and reliability of the test result.

Versatility

The Palltronic Aquawit XC system has been designed to test vent filters in positions with difficult access where environmental temperatures may be fluctuating. The hydraulic bridge permits the Water Intrusion test to be performed on:

• Filters in elevated positions, for example, product storage and WFI tanks
• Filters which are inside equipment, for example lyophilizers or sterilizers which are difficult to access
• Several different filter installations testing from a fixed point 

Palltronic AquaWIT XC System

• Part Number: AW02XC (Standard)
• Part Number: AW02XCH (High Flow)