Benefits of Small Industrial Dust Collectors
Dust can clog motors and cause damage to equipment, making it important to keep air clean. Industrial dust collectors can help protect equipment, and they also provide a safer environment for workers.
When selecting a dust collection system, consider the size, power, and bag volume capacity. There are several different types of industrial dust collectors to choose from.
1. Ease of Installation
Using a simple PVC pipe system, you can build a dust collection network. Adding elbows, Y-fittings and blast gates allows you to channel the airflow away from specific tools or areas. This will reduce the amount of dust that is sent back to the tool or blown into open spaces, reducing hygroscopic material buildup and potential explosive hazards.
Depending on the answers to your first consideration, you will also need to decide how frequently you want the system to clean the bags. Do you generate enough dust to need to empty the hoppers on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? This will affect the number and style of hoppers you need.
Establishing a timeline for the installation process and clear communication at every stage will make the project as smooth as possible. Regular meetings on a weekly or biweekly basis work well for establishing milestones and deliverables. You will also want to incorporate safety protocols and a commitment to quality into the project. These will ensure the safety of everyone involved in the operation and longevity of your new equipment.
2. Efficiency
The size, volume and nature of the dust particulate that needs to be removed will play an important role in determining system cost and performance. If the dust is abrasive or corrosive, specialized filter media may be required. This could increase startup costs, but a properly sized and operated system can reduce long-term maintenance expenses.
The air to cloth ratio and rate of flow are also important factors in determining the size, type and number of filters needed for small industrial dust collectors a given application. Too high or low a rate of flow can result in restricted airflow and decreased efficiency, which can lead to excessive filter wear.
Capture hoods are another factor to consider. Are they sized appropriately for the load and shape of the materials you capture? Could a different nozzle configuration improve your flow rates?
3. Space Savings
Industrial dust collectors help facilities meet environmental and worker safety regulations, enhance productivity and protect against fires and explosions. They can also save money by recirculating clean air back into the facility.
Many of the components of a dust collection system are portable and can be moved as production needs change. However, some are permanently mounted to a machine or a structure. In these cases, the unit must be sized correctly to match its demands.
A well-sized system can ensure that the dust collector can handle its workload without overworking, causing premature wear and failure. This can reduce maintenance costs, improve performance and prolong the life of the equipment.
When looking for a dust collector that can perform well in a tight space, consider features like filter design and modular construction. Cartridge filters that provide more usable square feet of media per CFM allow for a smaller footprint than traditional cyclone designs. A pulsing system that automatically activates when the filters are loaded with heavy dust can increase efficiency, cut energy use and extend filter life.
4. Flexibility
A good dust collection system is highly flexible and customizable to the facility’s needs. This can include the use of multiple sizes and designs of ducting and filtering materials to suit specific machines, applications, and ambient conditions.
For example, many factories and warehouses will have blast machines that use abrasive materials to clean or coat products with chemicals and paint. As the material breaks down or is applied, it will produce a lot of dust that must be contained to maintain product quality and safety.
The point-of-use dust collection approach can also help facilities save money both initially and throughout the lifetime of the system. By adding a dust collector at the point of a machine’s discharge, you can reduce both energy costs and maintenance expenses.
For example, the Donaldson Torit RF baghouse design uses Ultra-Web filter media in unique pack symmetry to reduce both collector size and maintenance requirements. This can help your operation meet regulatory compliance and improve performance without sacrificing the integrity of your equipment. The resulting low particle release and long filter life also reduces airflow loss, further increasing efficiency.
5. Cost
Depending on the model chosen, energy costs vary. In general, systems with more filters and higher airflow capacity use more energy. Some manufacturers offer a variable frequency drive that automates air flow to save energy and reduce operating costs.
Another factor that impacts cost is the type of filter media used. Filter media must be replaced regularly, which adds to small industrial dust collectors factory the overall cost. Generally speaking, bag filter dust collectors have lower initial cost than cartridge and cyclone models.
The waste disposal method is also a major contributor to the system cost. Some dust collection systems have an air lock design that carries waste into an attached container for easy and efficient disposal. Dual drum models can double the time between emptying, reducing downtime and waste management costs.
Although the initial costs of a dust collection system can seem high, the long-term ROI is substantial. Improved employee health and safety reduces sick leave and boosts productivity. Regulatory compliance and reduced equipment maintenance costs further cut facility operational expenses. By taking the total cost of ownership into account, a facility can make a sound purchasing decision and save money in the long run.