Keeping Industrial Dust Collection in Check During a Project
To properly maintain industrial dust collection, you need to achieve the optimum airflow through your dust collection system. This is done by balancing the system and adjusting dampers to establish the proper airflow to each pickup point. Understanding how your industrial dust collection operation performs is crucial, but so is understanding how to change with the effects of the system balancing.
Balancing your Industrial Dust Collection System
Plugged filters and changing weather patterns affect the airflow in a dust collection system. Ventilation in a facility with many pickup points and only one fan, each point may need adjustment to provide adequate airflow. Although industrial collection systems that are well-designed will have ideal airflow and high performance, adjusting dampers will maintain even the best-designed systems.
Make Sure Air Velocity Matches Range of Particulates
Air velocity also needs to be balanced. When you have air velocity that is too high, it may decrease filter life and erode ductwork. Too low air velocity will likely cause dust to fall and build up in your ductwork. Adjusting dampers is imperative. They ensure that the fan is pulling the necessary air volume. Creating resistance when you adjust dampers pulls air more easily from the different parts of the dust collection system.
Run your System on a Variable Frequency Drive
Using a variable frequency drive (VFD), will allow you to change the fan speeds with a button instead of having them run at a fixed speed with dampers. VFDs will also help you conserve energy and lower operating costs. You will be able to ensure that you are using the right amount of horsepower to run the system. They are also more flexible, allowing you to adjust your fan speeds. Maintenance needs are decreased when they lessen the wear on your system’s motors. VFDs monitor pressure across the baghouse and adjust fan speeds to maintain volume when the filter deteriorates, creating more resistance. Although installing VFDs is more expensive than dampers, you will save on operating costs.
By adjusting your dampers and making sure your air velocity is perfect, you won’t need a VFD. But if you plan on pushing your industrial dust collection system, a VFD will save you in the long-run. It is a question of choosing to upgrade, you need to maintain your system vigilantly either way.
For more information on industrial dust collection, contact the experts at Kramer Industries. We’ve been in business for over 100 years, and are committed to ensuring your finishing projects remain on par from beginning to end.