Perfectly hygienic

The modular filters of the HF2-BF# series (here in complete combination HF2-BF/A/B/C/D) made of antibacterial, odor, and bacteria filters impress with high filtration and flow performance as well as flexible installation thanks to various connection sizes. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

Various applications in the medical/pharmaceutical sector or the food industry rely on different methods of compressed air. Depending on the application, the air used must be bacteria-free, odorless, or antibacterial – or a combination of these. To meet multiple requirements simultaneously, automation specialist SMC has developed the modular filters of series HF2-BF#. Available in four variants as antibacterial filters (HF2-BFA and HF2-BFB), odor filters (HF2-BFC), and bacteria filters (HF2-BFD), they ensure clean and hygienic compressed air thanks to different filter properties. Additionally, all materials are FDA-approved, external parts are antibacterial coated, and lubricated with NSF-H1 grease.

From air preparation at dental clinics to blow applications for opening packaging, or cleaning processes in the food industry, and even applications involving nitrogen backflow to prevent oxidation of food: In the medical field or food processing, a variety of applications depend on especially clean gaseous media such as compressed air, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide. These need to be filtered simply or even multiple times depending on the case to achieve a certain level of hygiene. To this end, SMC offers the modular filters of series HF2-BF#, which are not only compact, powerful, and flexible but also can be used as standalone solutions or in combination as modular maintenance units – allowing them to be assembled precisely according to individual requirements. Users thus benefit multiple times from high filter fineness and flow capacity, as well as materials that, thanks to lubrication with NSF-H1 grease, FDA compliance, and antibacterial coating, ensure optimal use in the food sector.

Convincing performance figures

The four individual filters excel in their respective application fields with high filtration or cleaning performance. The filter fineness for the two antibacterial filters is 5 μm (HF2-BFA) and 0.1 μm (HF2-BFB). Under SMC testing conditions, they achieve a filtered particle size of 90% and 99%, respectively, and thus have an antibacterial activation value of 4 or higher according to the Japanese industrial standard JIS L 1902, which corresponds to ISO 20743. The odor filter of series HF2-BFC ensures an oil concentration at the outlet of 0.003 mg/m³ or less, ensuring hygienic purity for food and air for medical applications. Lastly, the filter fineness of the bacteria filter of series HF2-BFD is 0.01 μm. With a filtered particle size of 99.99%, it achieves a bacteria removal efficiency of LRV (Log Reduction Value) ≥ 9.

In addition, users benefit from a maximum flow capacity of 800 l/min for all four modular filters at size 40 – at size 30, this is 400 l/min (each at ANR). Except for the bacteria filter of series HF2-BFD (5 to 45 °C), all other filters can be used at ambient and media temperatures from -5 to 60 °C (no freezing), covering a broad range of applications. All four variants have a test pressure of 1.5 MPa and a maximum operating pressure of 1.0 MPa.

Clean materials and flexible mounting

All media-contact components of series HF2-BF# comply with the strict regulations of the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Japanese Food Sanitation Act. Thanks to the antibacterial coating of external parts, the formation of bacteria on the product surfaces is also prevented. Additionally, they are lubricated with NSF-H1 grease approved for the food industry.

For mounting, sizes 30 are available with connection sizes 1/4 and 3/8, and additionally size 40 with connection size 1/2. If the filters are to be combined as modular maintenance units, users can use antibacterial intermediate pieces with or without fastening elements (series HF2-BY). They can also be connected with the equipment of the modular compressed air preparation unit series AC-D from SMC. As optional accessories, the bacteria filter series SFDA from SMC, which is free of grease, FDA-compliant, and offers a filtration fineness of 0.01 μm, can be used in straight design.

Overall, the modular filters of series HF2-BF# represent an optimal solution for a wide range of food and medical applications: from cooling cooked or baked foods and cleaning food, powder, or dough residues, to air preparation at dental clinics and blow applications for opening plastic bags or other packaging, to filling packaging with nitrogen to prevent oxidation of food, or performing mixing processes where air is needed for texture and smoothness.