About Andy Biancotti

Andy has been working in the maintenance field for over a decade, continuing to learn the secrets of preventive maintenance in the ever growing field of dust collection. Editor and marketing manager.

Entries by Andy Biancotti

Purchasing Supplies Tips

Budgeting for Dust Collection Systems

In virtually every industry in the US, where air quality and worker well-being are crucial to the success of any business, industrial dust collection systems play an important role. These systems ensure smooth operations and employee safety. But, choosing the right components while staying on budget can be a complex puzzle. Let’s simplify this process, finding the sweet spot between wise investments and smart savings, all while building powerful and sustainable industrial dust collection systems.

5 Key Factors When Budgeting for Your Dust Collection System

1. Dust Properties: The Foundation for Filters and Collectors

Before diving into budget details, remember that dust properties set the stage. Understanding these properties guides filter media and collector choices, ensuring top-notch functionality.

Think About These Dust Properties:

Size: Are the dust particles small or large?
Density: Is the dust light, like wood dust, or heavy, like fine steel dust?
Chemistry: Does the dust have abrasive or corrosive qualities?
Temperature: Is your work area hot?
Moisture: Is there moisture or oil in the dust?

Knowing these dust properties helps you choose the perfect collector for your specific needs. Read more: Top 4 Reasons Why Baghouse Filters Fail.

2. Space Constraints: Finding the Right Size

Space limits define your collector’s size. These systems come in various heights, widths, and depths. Measuring the space and considering top-loading designs, which need overhead clearance for maintenance, are essential. It is also worth considering if you have an existing concrete pad, or if one must be poured to support the weight of your collector and fan. Watch the video: Intro Guide to Sizing and Design Your Baghouse.

3. Emissions Requirements: Navigating Legal Waters

Specific emissions regulations might apply based on your application. Emission limits differ by state and are expressed as efficiency percentages for cartridge collectors or emission limits (like lbs/hr or gr/dscf) for baghouses. These limits may impact the filter media required for your system, as well as the need for after-filters or additional equipemnt. Read more about regulatory requirements and compliance.

4. Volume: Sizing for Efficiency

Accurate airflow measurement is crucial for effective dust collection. Wrong volumes can disrupt production, air quality, and increase energy costs.

Airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), showing how much air moves per minute from a space.

Variables for Volume Calculation:

Dust collection method
Duct size
Workspace volume

Getting the airflow right ensures long-term collector efficiency. Want to know more? Read the following article: Why You Need to Properly Size Your Baghouse System.

5. Air-to-Cloth Ratio: Striking the Balance

The air-to-cloth ratio measures airflow efficiency through filter media. The right balance ensures optimal filtration.

Why Air-to-Cloth Ratio Matters:

Lower ratio for efficient dust removal
Higher ratio leads to increased energy costs and decreased suction

Calculating this ratio helps size the collector accurately, preventing pressure drops and maintaining air velocity. How to Select the Right Differential Pressure for My System?

Baghouse Styles: Picking Your System

The three most common baghouse styles are pulse jet, reverse air, and shaker style. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The right choice depends on factors like space, maintenance needs, and filtration requirements.

Pulse Jet: Bags cleaned while operating, low maintenance, flexible sizing.
Reverse Air: Gentle cleaning, divided sections, custom bag design.
Shaker Style: Easy operation, low initial cost, shaker mechanism for cleaning.

Dust Collector Design for Easy Maintenance

Choosing design features that simplify maintenance is a smart long-term investment. Things to look for:

On-demand filter cleaning for efficiency and durability (not all control panels offer this option)
Modular design for expansion and accessibility
Quick access filter covers
Standard filter sizes for cost-effective replacements

Combustible Dust Safety Equipment

Safety is top priority, especially with combustible dust, and there are specific equipment requirements for systems handling combustible dust. To ensure your system is safe and compliant, take the following steps:

Tailored Dust Collection Design

Each dust collection application is unique, needing a comprehensive approach. Partnering with an experienced dust collection design and engineering companies like Baghouse.com, ensures efficient and effective systems designed for your facility.

In conclusion, budgeting for industrial dust collection systems goes beyond finances. It’s an investment in health, safety, and efficiency. By considering dust properties, space, emissions, volume, and air-to-cloth ratio, while prioritizing maintenance and safety, you can build a system that’s cost-effective and high-performing. Remember, a well-designed system not only saves money but also ensures a cleaner, safer, and more productive work environment.

For more baghouse related training and information, be sure to check out our Baghouse Online Training page.

September 14, 2023/by Andy Biancotti

Baghouse Design

Top 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a Dust Collection System

You’ve invested in high-efficiency equipment and tools for your industry, but is your dust extraction system working at peak efficiency or is there waste in your system – wasted time, efficiency, or cost? In this article, we’ll explore the most common mistakes when designing dust extraction and collection systems and how to avoid them. A well-designed system not only ensures a clean and safe workspace but also maximizes the lifespan of your equipment.

Mistake #1: Incorrect Duct Diameters

Mistake: Using duct diameters that are either too small or excessively large can lead to problems. Undersize diameter ducts can quickly become clogged, or wear prematurely due to excess dust velocity. Oversize ducts reduce airflow velocity, which may lead to dust settling and clogging up your system.

Solution: Calculate the appropriate duct diameter based on your system’s needs to maintain optimal performance. You should know the minimum carrying velocity of your dust type, and pick a duct size to match the required air flow (CFM) for your dust. If you need assistance sizing your system, please watch this video Watch the video: Intro Guide to Sizing and Design Your Baghouse.

Start by understanding the required velocity for your dust and the CFM – then pick a duct diameter to match.

Mistake #2: Using Straight Tees

Mistake: Installing equal (straight) tees can lead to clogs, especially when dealing with soft and fine dust particles. These sharp corners cause turbulent flow, resulting in static pressure loss, and areas of low flow where dust will pile up and clog your system.

The tee joint on the right is very inefficient; the 45-degree union fitting on the right is a much better design.

Solution: Opt for reducing tees, Y-pieces, or lateral tees to ensure smoother airflow and prevent clogging.

Mistake #3: Using Short Radius Elbows

Mistake: Using short radius elbows can disrupt airflow and greatly increase static pressure drop, similar to the tee joints mentioned above.

This sharp elbow will result in a large static pressure drop.

Solution: Use larger radius elbows (1.5D is standard) to maintain smooth airflow throughout your system and ensure you have adequate static pressure at your pickups.

Mistake #4: Accumulating Fittings Near Equipment

Mistake: Placing elements like dampers, bends, tees, and reducers too close to equipment can hinder proper airflow and reduce system efficiency. Remember, velocity is key in keeping dust airborne – disruptions in airflow slow down the dust, and your system must expend energy to speed it back up after a sharp elbow, etc. If that elbow is right next to your pickup, there is insufficient “runway” to gain sufficient velocity and laminar airflow – resulting in uneven or reduced suction at your pickups!

Solution: Maintain a minimum distance of 2.5 times the nominal duct diameter between airflow-disrupting elements and your pickups to ensure the system operates efficiently (even better is to remove or reduce these elements altogether!)

Mistake #5: Overuse of Flexible Ducting/Hoses

Mistake: Flex hose is very convenient and easy to install, and is often used to connect the last few feet of ductwork to your pickups. However, they are extremely “expensive” in terms of static pressure loss. Excessive use of flex hose can create unnecessary airflow resistance (up to 3X that of a standard duct), significantly reducing system efficiency.

Standard flex hose

Solution: Limit the use of flexible hoses to the absolute minimum required.

Mistake #6: Using Incorrect Duct Materials:

Mistake: Choosing the wrong material for your duct system (like plastic pipes instead of steel) can be dangerous and lead to explosion risks, very early wear and failure, and other issues.

Rolled lip, clamp-together steel duct is standard for dust collection systems.

Solution: Prioritize safety by using metal duct with smooth inner walls to minimize resistance and ensure unhindered airflow. When in doubt, contact an expert to size and select ductwork for your dust collection system.

Mistake #7: Excessively Long Duct Runs

Mistake: Designing excessively long duct runs results in large static pressure drops across the system, meaning that the suction your fan generates isn’t available where it’s needed at the pickups. It’s all being lost in resistance across the long duct segments.

Solution: Install shorter main ducts with lateral discharge branches to individual machines for improved airflow and better static pressure where you need it.

Mistake #8: Incorrect Use of Gates and Dampers:

Manual cut-off gates are useful, but should be used in alignment with your system design.

Mistake: Incorrectly using cut-offs (also referred to as blast gates or dampers) in your system can lead to system imbalances (too much/too little air flow and velocity where you needed) and dust accumulation and blockages, as well as incorrect static pressure at your pickups.

Solution: If you plan to use manual gates to control flow (to turn specific equipment on/off, for example) ensure that is taken into account in the system design. Modifying your dust collection system then periodically “balancing” it to correct issues, although commonly practiced, is very inefficient and will result in sub-optimal efficiency. Generally blast gates should be fully open or fully closed. If balancing is required, contact an expert to help you with your system.