System Maintenance
Industrial dust collection system maintenance contributes to longer life, better efficiency and lower operation costs. A critical component in system efficiency is properly maintaining its components. Have a look below for reasons why baghouse maintenance is important.
Increasing efficiency
With proper maintenance, the dust collection system as a whole will function more efficiently and have consistent air flow. That’s because it takes a greater amount of energy to pull air through dirty filters. Also, regular maintenance reduces the amount of compressed air used to clean the filters, thereby saving money.
Compliance
Regular filter cleaning will also help you maintain a dust collection system that functions correctly and that keeps you in compliance with regulations and permit standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, state Department of Natural Resources offices and the Department of Environmental Quality.
Improves Performance
You’ll know baghouse filters are beyond their use when the differential pressure across the filters changes dramatically or when a regulatory body dictates that a filter’s lifecycle is complete.
Clogged Filters
Some particulate build-up on the filters is preferred because the “cake” holds and filters contaminants more effectively. However, when there is too much cake buildup, air becomes more difficult to move through the filter and differential pressure rises. In this case, cleaning is required. If the differential pressure remains high after cleaning, the filters should be replaced.
Factors To Consider
Matching the bag type with the application, including:
Dust collector type
Material being collected
Hours of use
Operation temperature
Tube sheet dimensions
Using pleated filters that are shorter, providing more space under the filters for a larger drop out area. Pleated filters also may increase air-to-cloth ratio and filtration efficiency.
Leaky Filters
A simple test checks the differential pressure across the baghouse to determine whether it is operating inefficiently due to leaky filters. Holes can develop in a filter, as indicated by a sudden drop in differential pressure. A broken bag detector or particulate sensor can be installed to notify you when a leak develops.