You’ll see dust collectors on almost every manufacturing site, from cement to flour and everything in between. They essentially do what it says on the packet: i.e. collect dust, but they are such an important part of the overall manufacturing process, that any inefficiencies can cause significant consequences for the manufacturer, including safety, financial, environmental and regulatory.
Used for well over a century
A Google search tells us that Wilhelm Beth is the father of dust collectors, with his designs patented in 1921, or perhaps it is John Finch who designed the Cyclone Dust Collector in 1885 for his Knickerbocker Company. Either way, dust collectors have been used for well over a century and continue to evolve.
Depending on what is being manufactured, dust, dirt, grease, oil, debris, chemicals or gases may be generated as a by-product of the production cycle. This by-product needs to be collected, typically by a vacuum, to ensure a safe working environment for the staff, and then treated such that the air is released into the atmosphere minus the collected particulates. In Australia, as in most countries around the world, we have a regulatory body which has the power to shut down manufacturing sites if they are not keeping their released particulates within prescribed levels.
Dust collection is simple process, right?
Dusty air comes in one side, suck it through a bag filter and clean air goes out the other – piece of cake. Well, not quite. So many factors need to be considered to ensure you have the most efficient dust collector: what sort of particulate do you need to collect? Is there moisture involved? Static charge being created? Does the dust cake into clumps? How quickly are you pulling the air through the filters? What is the differential pressure created? What sort of bag filters are you using? How often do the need to be cleaned? Yeah, perhaps not so simple.
In effect, the speed with which a dust collector operates may be the limiting factor for a manufacturer’s productivity. On most sites, when the dust collector stops working, production must stop.
Expedite the bag filter cleaning process
The aim of the game is to ensure that the bag filter can be cleaned as effectively, and frankly, as cheaply as possible so production can continue. This can be achieved with varying degrees of success by shooting a pulse of air into the bag filter to shake off the dust before the next lot is collected. A continual process, which if done well, can mean down time is reduced, safety is increased, costs are saved and in some instances, productivity can increase. It is worth pointing out now that a significant cost (and scope 2 carbon producer) on many manufacturing sites is the use of compressed air – it takes electricity to create compressed air.
There are a number of different sorts of valves on the market that have been installed in dust collectors that do the job of cleaning the bag filters, but there is a clear market leader in terms of repeatability and efficiency:
Stage Right: The MAC Pulse Valve: Swagger in like a Hollywood Movie Star!
The MAC Pulse Valve quite simply lasts longer than any other valve for this job, and the MAC Pulse Valve uses less air to do the job, saving manufacturers time and money – two things we regularly hear are pretty big concerns for most manufacturers!
Book in a demonstration with one of our Applications Engineers today by calling Pneutech on 1300 879 613 or you can get in contact with me directly on 0410 569 341 or via andrew@pneutech.com.au
Publication Date: Mon
Author: Dr Andrew Smith (Managing Director, Pneutech)