Dust collectors are vital parts of plants in the cement & lime, biomass, power, pulp & paper, iron and steel, textile, and mining industries. Without them, dust will accumulate and cause serious problems with your plant’s ID Fan equipment and the final product (if applicable).
Mechanical dust collectors in and of themselves are relatively simple pieces of equipment, with no moving parts – but even though the concept isn’t complex, there are still things plant operators must understand about these components.
Here, we’ll answer some frequently-asked questions about dust collectors.
What Are Dust Collectors?
Mechanical dust collectors are designed to remove particulate from airstream. They’re made of either square or rectangular housings that contain collecting tube assemblies that act as individual centrifugal dust collectors.
Why Are Dust Collectors Essential?
Airborne particulate can cause damage to other pieces of equipment, either through premature wear and tear or through erosion. A plant needs to pull as much of the particulate matter from the air as possible to avoid this damage.
How Do Dust Collectors Work?
The tubes in the housing do the work of removing particulate from the airstream (or gases).
The gases enter the collecting tube from the top at the tube’s inlet guide vanes. These vanes create a fast spiral to the gases, which produces centrifugal forces with minimal turbulence and erosion.
As the gas enters the inlet tube in a cyclonic pattern, the particulate is forced against the wall of the collecting tube and gravitates it to the bottom. It is then expelled through an opening at the bottom of the tube.
A vortex forms at the bottom of the inlet tube. The cleaned gas turns and makes its way through the outlet tube.
Does Tube Size Matter?
The size of the tubes does matter. Tubes tend to range in size from 9” in diameter to 24”, and the right size depends on air volume, particulate loading, and ash characteristics of the airstream.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sizing tubes for your plant. A professional evaluation of your plant’s operation is the only way you can get the right-sized tubes.
How Can the Dust Collectors Be Arranged?
There are two different types of arrangements for dust collectors: totally accessible (AU) and limited access (STD). Each has its own benefits:
AU Arrangement
- Easy access to all internal parts
- Lower velocities reduce internal wear
- Greater flexibility with the casing arrangement
- Reduced hopper recirculation problems
- Improved overall performance & balanced flow
STD Arrangement
- Uses the least amount of space
- Lower initial cost
- Lower unit weight requires less support steel
- Less insulation & lagging required
The right type of arrangement depends on your situation and needs. A skilled engineer can help you choose the best arrangement for your plant.
Finding the Right Dust Collectors for Your Plant
Mechanical dust collectors are relatively simple, but that doesn’t mean a standard solution works best for your facility.
ProcessBarron has a long history of designing, engineering, fabricating, and installing dust collectors. Whatever the need, ProcessBarron has probably designed a mechanical dust collector for it.
To learn more about what we can do, contact us or get a quote.