Flame retardant for filter systems and method for improving flame resistance in filter systems

1. A method for improving the flame resistance in filter systems in which an air flow charged with flammable aerosols previously generated by a process is fed to a filter, wherein the filter retains the flammable aerosols from the air flow at least in a substantial proportion, said method comprising:

receiving, from a process, an air flow charged with flammable aerosols previously generated by said process;

introducing and distributing a granular flame retardant material into the air flow charged with flammable aerosols after said flammable aerosols are generated by said process and received into said air flow and prior to said air flow charged with flammable aerosols being fed to the filter, said granular flame retardant material consisting of non-flammable porous mineral granules including large surface area for interacting and binding with a large quantity of said flammable aerosols in said air flow, wherein said non-flammable porous mineral. granules introduced and distributed into said airflow interacts and binds with said flammable aerosols while still in said air flow, for reducing the reactive surface area of said flammable aerosols; and

providing a filter, disposed in said air flow charged with flammable aerosols and said granular flame retardant material, said filter configured for retaining the combination of said granular flame retardant material and interacted flammable aerosols introduced and distributed into said air flow.

2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the non-flammable porous mineral granules are expanded mineral perlite granules.

3. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the granular flame retardant material is comminuted before being introduced into the air flow charged with flammable aerosols.

4. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the flammable aerosols comprise hydrocarbons, particularly oils or fats.

5. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the air flow charged with flammable aerosols is a waste air flow from said process in a field selected from the group of fields consisting of food technology, food, chemical, thermal, mechanical processing technology and manufacturing technology.

6. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the filter is selected from the group of filters consisting of a cake filter, a cross flow filter and a depth filter.

7. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the air flow, as it passes through the filter, passes at least partially through a filter medium, wherein the filter medium is selected from the group of filter mediums consisting of a screen, a felt, an oriented-fiber nonwoven, a spunbond, a random laid nonwoven fabric, a packed bed, a porous solid, a sintered metal porous solid, a filter medium wound from yarns, a membrane, a monofilament fabric and a polyfilament fabric.

8. The method of claim 1 , characterized in that the granular flame retardant material is wettable by the flammable aerosol; and

wherein the flammable aerosols forms a contact angle of less than 90° with the granular flame retardant material.

9. The method of claim 1 , characterized in that the air flow occurs in a work area selected from the group of work areas consisting of a primary forming work area, a secondary forming work area, a separating work area, a joining work area, a coating work area and a work area that modifies substance properties.