The Benefits of a Small Industrial Dust Collector
Industrial dust collectors remove odors and particulate matter from the air to prevent health hazards and environmental concerns. They help you meet compliance regulations, increase productivity and ensure a safe working environment.
To determine the best industrial dust collector for your application, many factors need to be considered. The purchase price is just one of them.
Airflow
The system’s fan and motor supply mechanical energy to move dust-laden air through small industrial dust collector the ductwork. Properly sized ductwork allows the dust collector to process the required air volume and velocity while maintaining consistent differential pressure throughout the system.
A properly sized and functioning dust collection system operates between 127 and 132 mm (5 and 6 inches of water column pressure, WC). This range allows the system to maintain consistent differential pressure which greatly improves bag cleaning performance by lowering the velocity below the bags. It also prevents corrosion in ductwork and collection hoods by keeping the velocities below the abrasion threshold.
While many woodworkers can install and operate a basic dust collector, we strongly recommend hiring an experienced professional if you have a commercial or industrial application, allergies or other health concerns, a large shop, work with hazardous materials, are regulated by the government, or have employees. Professionals can provide detailed system design, engineering, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting services to meet the needs of your company.
One of the most common mistakes made by both hobbyists and small shop woodworkers is selecting a dust collector that is too small for their application. While a smaller dust collector may be less expensive, it will not be capable of processing the required airflow and could result in overworking your dust collection system. It is very difficult and costly to make a system larger once it is installed.
Filtration
Dust collectors transform contaminated air by filtering out dust and other solid particles, improving the quality of industrial workspaces. These systems also reduce hazardous fumes that can irritate and potentially harm workers. This equipment is necessary in workshops, plants, and manufacturing facilities to keep workplace health standards high. Some companies even require that these dust-control systems be used in order to maintain a high level of safety in the workplace.
The filtration system in a small industrial dust collector works in different ways depending on the model. Baghouse dust collection systems, for example, use a series of bags to trap dust as the air passes through them. Electrostatic precipitators and wet scrubbers remove particulates by encapsulating them in water droplets.
Cyclone dust collectors, meanwhile, utilize centrifugal force to separate contaminants from the air. The air intake moves the dirty air at an angle through a spinning chamber, which then flings heavier-than-air particulates against a helix-shaped baffle and the cyclone wall. This encapsulates them and drops them to the bottom of the unit, where they are then separated from clean air by a smaller vortex.
Portable collectors like the Camfil Zephyr have long extraction arms that can be positioned to capture dust from its source, and then draw the air through a cartridge filter. These units can be strategically positioned around the workplace for maximum efficiency, and have hoods to help minimize noise levels in the workspace. They can be used on their own or in conjunction with larger dust collection systems to extract fugitive dust.
Safety
Dust and fumes from industrial processes can pose health and safety risks for plant employees and the general public. To minimize these hazards, facility managers rely on industrial dust collectors to remove suspended particles from the airstream, keep combustible dust at bay and meet air quality standards. Choosing the right dust collector size and model is crucial for optimizing performance and safety.
Consider the following when choosing an industrial dust collector:
A railed or caged platform can prevent falls or injuries during maintenance or filter exchanges. Lockout/tagout doors help prevent accidental opening during a pulsing cycle and exposure to hazardous dust. A system with a high filtration efficiency is important, particularly if you plan to use the collector for collecting fine dust. Look for a two-stage design that separates larger, coarser particles in the first stage to reduce the load on the finer filters.
Since a primary cause of combustible dust fires is ignition from sparks or embers, you should position the dust collector away from areas where these sources of ignition are used. Moreover, you should identify and eliminate potential ignition sources, such as welding and grinding stations. You can also add protection devices, such as a backdraft damper or fast-acting valve, that slam shuts immediately when triggered to create a mechanical barrier. Alternatively, you can opt for a flameless vent that features a panel of high-temperature mesh that absorbs heat and flame in the event of an explosion.
Maintenance
Like any piece of industrial equipment, a dust collector requires regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Without a plan for routine inspections and maintenance, production can slow small industrial dust collector factory down and the system may need costly repairs, costing the company thousands per day.
A simple cleaning and maintenance regimen can keep a dust collector in top condition, saving facility managers time and money over the long term. The key is to understand the signs that indicate it’s time for a maintenance checkup.
If you notice the airflow reducing on your dust collection system, or if there are obvious problems with the fan, it’s important to call for maintenance right away. Buying a new machine may seem expensive and inconvenient, but it will likely save you from the costs of lost production.
Changing filter bags can be a messy and tedious process, but it is an essential part of the dust collection system. A worker’s lungs can be seriously affected by dust, so you want to make sure that the filters are clean and in good shape. Using a magnehelic gauge to monitor the differential pressure between dirty and clean air can help you determine when to change out the filters. This will allow you to avoid paying rush or expedite fees and schedule the filter changeout at a convenient time that doesn’t interfere with production.