Baghouse is a form of industrial dust collection system. It is also known as dust collector, fabric filter or a bag filter. Baghouses are often categorized under the broader category of Air Pollution Control equipment. Torch-Air designs and manufactures baghouse dust collector systems in different sizes for across industries.
This guide discusses what is a baghouse dust collector and how it works. It also discusses the types of baghouse dust collectors and common issues faced by the users.
What is a Baghouse Dust Collector?
A baghouse dust collector is an air pollution control device designed to filter and control particles and other contaminants from the industrial exhaust system. It utilizes fabric bags or cartridges to catch the dust particles while allowing purified flow to pass through. These baghouse dust collectors are utilized in different sectors, like metallurgy, the chemical industry, the concrete production sector, woodworking, and mining. These devices are often adopted in the energy sector.
How Does a Baghouse Dust Collector Function?
The dust collector systems usually leverage a metal housing or vessel that includes he filters. The housing is kept in two containers- one is the dusty side and the other is the clean side. This gap is often referred to as the tubsheet or cell plate. The open ends of the filters are linked to the tuebesheet at the gaps by different methods.
All the devices accommodate the dust-laden air or gas that flows through the dusty side and often upward through the filters. Whereas, the turbesheet flows through the cleaner side of the system. The filters capture the dust and are often removed from the filters by the dusting system. The dust captured from the filters is stored in a hopper. Based on the amount of the dust collected, it is then disposed of in a drum or dumpster.
The size of the baghouse dust collector varied widely. Some bag houses come with a single filter. While others come with multiple filters.They come in different types, sizes and shapes. Most of the dust collector filters remain between 5 inches the 6 inches. At the same time, the filter diameters vary between 2 inches to 12 inches. It is available in different shapes, including flat rectangular envelopes, oval-shaped tubular, pleated cartridge-type filters, and so on.
Several factors should be considered while selecting the baghouse dust collector. However, the main thing is the air-to-cloth ratio or filtration velocity. This is determined by the necessary air or the gas flowing through the baghouses by the total filter area.
Types of Baghouse Dust Collectors
There are mainly two common types of devices: process or nuisance dust collection. The former type is important for the production, and if it is not working effectively, the production process slows down. At the same time, the latter type captures the airborne particles created by the movement of the dust particles from one place to another.
Generally, the process baghouse dust collector is used for boilers, furnaces, kilns, dryers, separators, and mills. Whereas, the nuisance baghouse dust collector applies to the material handling equipment and product modification equipment. The material handling equipment, like belt conveyors, bucket elevators, sizing screens, and storage bins, utilizes the baghouse dust collectors. The equipment, like mixers, grinders, welding machines, saws, and paint booths, utilizes the collectors.
Types of Baghouse Cleaning Systems
There are three primary forms of baghouse filter cleaning systems. The different designs feature different cleaning approaches.
Pulse Jet Baghouse
This is the widely used cleaning system that uses high-pressure compressed air for clearing the filters. Dust collects from the surface of the filters in this type of baghouse. The key benefit of this baghouse is that the dust can be removed from the filters without blocking the air flow entering the baghouse. This is quite beneficial to determine stability of the system.
Reverse Air Baghouse
Reverse air baghouse is used in different segments, like high temperature and highly explosive dust. It consists of different filter bag media and is categorized for automated, consistent cleaning without blocking the baghouse.
Shaker Style Baghouse
Finally, the shaker style system uses the electric motor running on the mechanical system to clear out the system by shaking when the dust-laden air is blocked from entering the off-line baghouse.
Both shaker and reverse air baghouse leverage filters that collect dust on internal surface of filters.
Common Issues and Quick Fixes
There are some common issues that you must consider when using baghouse dust collectors.
High Differential Pressure
- There are chances of incorrect reading of the differential pressure. In that case, try cleaning the pressure measuring interface or check the air pipe for holes or gaps.
- There could be a wrong implementation of the blowing system. Hence, try increasing frequency of blowing and increasing pressure.
- Repeatedly clean the ash hopper and check the inlet baffle.
Small Air Volume
- There could be a backward fan and motor pulley, so you must check the structure and reverse the pulley.
- Try cleaning ducts and verifying gas flow rate
- Open baffle and cover the open position
- Monitoring gas circuit and open the valve plate
- Monitor static pressure at ends of fan
Dust Escape
- If the dust escapes from the dust collectors, try repairing the cracks or holes so that the dust does not pass through the point.
- Try adjusting the branch duct dampers
- Cover the open area around the dust-collecting points
Chimney Ashing
- The chimney ashing could cause problems. Hence, try replacing the torn filter bag.
- Oversee the installation of the spring ring
- Cover the gap or welding seam
- Try reducing the compressed air pressure and frequency of dust cleaning
Conclusion
Overall, baghouse dust collectors are important for cleaning dust and filtering the particles. These are largely applied in different industries like the chemical industry, the concrete production industry, the food processing industry, and so on. Hence, it is an important decision to choose an effective dust collector system.
