The first factor is dust type: If dusts are hygroscopic or sticky, it’s important that the equipment not clog under any operating condition. A bag house dust collector can clog when material is sticky, or when humidity rises, so these applications are better served with a wet dust collector. Fumes are often present in metalworking shops, and an industrial dust collector that can do “double duty” with dusts and fumes is an excellent answer.
The second factor is the particles themselves. Are there thin fibers, ragged edges (common with metal fines), something else? Some dust collection systems use fabric that can wear quickly when exposed to abrasive particulate.
Is the dust corrosive? This eliminates several types of industrial dust collectors. For corrosive dusts, a dust collector made of polypropylene may be the best alternative; if temperature is high, alternative steel alloys may be considered.
Fourth factor is micron size, and whether particle size is uniform. If any material entering the dust collector is in the submicron range, that affects the choice of the system, as well. Where there is a very broad range of micron size dust, a combined Ceramic Catalytic and Whirl / Wet system will capture virtually all dusts with efficiencies in the range of 99% and higher. Where there is a very broad range of micron sizes, a secondary filter following the Whirl / Wet may be required, depending on efficiency requirements.
System capacity is a fifth factor. Will the dust collection system capture 3 lbs. per hour, or 3 per day? The issue is maintenance: how often the equipment needs to be emptied. If weight and density are known, dump intervals can be calculated quickly. If loadings are high, one answer is an MCD-type industrial dust collector that operates without shutdown.
Will there be several processes ducted to a single unit? Some dust collector systems accommodate numerous sources of similar dusts, the only equipment limitation being a change in static pressure.
If the quantity of dust is large, how important is it that it operates continuously, even during maintenance? Many processes can’t accommodate shutdowns, even short ones. When this is the case, disposal can be automated with an MCD system.
Will the system need to operate at 99% efficiency or higher? If high efficiency is needed for OSHA or IAQ reasons, an industrial dust collector that uses very small quantities of water, but is consistently able to perform at exceptional efficiency levels, is recommended.
Is it mainly for regulatory or insurance reasons? Or, will the system be purchased to save on maintenance, or improve IAQ? Dry systems should not be used where dusts – or dusts that could be a factor in the future – are volatile. A wet dust collector eliminates the risks of sparks and spontaneous reactions. Wet and dry units both improve IAQ.
Will the collector be installed in an area where water is costly? If so, choose a system that minimizes water. The most efficient industrial dust collector consumes only enough water to compensate for drag-out and evaporation – both very small amounts.
Is it important the collection system be easy to maintain? If so, a unit that’s self-cleaning is helpful. Tri-Mer manufactures a low-water use system that has no internal moving parts and is self-cleaning.
Is it important that this industrial dust collector be inexpensive to maintain? If so, equipment that doesn’t use consumable parts is a better choice. The most common complaint about baghouses is … bags! – and the other maintenance parts that are involved with bag-changing. For many wet collectors, spray nozzles and pumps add costs to the operation of the dust collector.
Does the facility prefer to generate a compact filter cake or dense slurry, or bags of dust? Most plant managers prefer systems that minimize the volume of material that must be disposed of by generating a small filter cake. The cake or slurry is contained and manageable, and does not create fugitive emissions and IAQ issues.
Is it important that it operates quietly? Many companies require that new equipment meet low-noise standards, for reasons of employee health, and productivity. The Tri-Mer industrial dust collector operates quietly enough (a typical unit emits just 75 db at 3 ft.) to allow employees to work nearby.
Does the system being considered have a documented uptime performance record for similar installations? There are more than 1000 Whirl / Wet industrial dust collector systems working worldwide. No matter what the application, Tri-Mer can show you a system that’s doing the job you require.
Will material from the unit be recycled? Product recovery is important for applications such as titanium and other exotic metal dusts. Some systems designs facilitate recovery, producing substantial costs savings.
Are there space limitations? Where space is limited, an industrial dust collector that can be installed on a mezzanine or platform, or other small space, is recommended.
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For dry dust collection, see Tri-Flow