Airvate Blog

  We did a Dye test for a customer in a newly installed baghouse. In this standard dye test procedure, green fluorescent dye powder was applied. No leaks were found in the clean plenum of the baghouse. All the bags were properly installed and no breach between the clean air and dirty air plenums was found either. View of Clean Plenum after Dye applied Per the request of our customer, we also got inside the dirty side of the baghouse through the inspection door on the hopper and visually checked dye powder distribution on the bags. From the picture below, it is apparent that the dye powder evenly distributed on all the bags, which means that the airflow was evenly distributed too. Customer was very happy about this visual check. Bottom View of Bags after Dye Applied

  There are four groups of variables that influence dust collector performance. They are variables regarding: 1.       dust, 2.       fluid, 3.       operation, 4.       Dust Collector. Variables regarding dust are size, shape, density of dust particles, and agglomerating tendency Variables regarding fluid are density and viscosity. These are functions of air or gas composition, temperature, and barometric pressure. The effect of dust and fluid variables can be simplified by using the terminal velocity theory. Terminal settling velocity, commonly called terminal velocity or "settling velocity”, is the velocity of a particle, falling in still air or another fluid, after it stops accelerating. So it is clearly determined by dust and fluid’s properties. Variables regarding operation are gas velocity through the collector, or capacity in cubic feet per minute, and dust loading, generally...

  In a dust collecting system, the duct, fan, and dust collector are all susceptible to abrasion from dust particles, high-velocity gas flow, and chemical corrosion. The elbows are most vulnerable to abrasions. Air leakage around an access-door or hopper and loose flange isn’t uncommon either. Many times, these holes on ductwork, fans, and dust collectors are not repaired and left alone, so they grow bigger and bigger and air leakage becomes an even worse problem. Airvate did some calculations to estimate sucked-in air volume through a hole based on available data regarding the hole’s area and gauge pressure inside of a duct or dust collector. The calculations are listed in the table below. Along with the sucked-in air volume, moisture volume is also listed in the last column for an 8-hour shift assuming that the sucked-in air is saturated with water vapor, like what would happen on a rainy day. 4 hole-sizes are selected: 3 round holes of sizes 7/16”, ½”, and 1” in diamet...