Dust is everywhere, especially in industrial environments. It’s essential to control and eliminate it for a given industrial process to run smoothly and work properly.
And the dust collectors used to do this are vital tools. But you may ask, “What are the different types of industrial dust collectors?” In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at them.
Fabric filters
These filters separate and eliminate dust particles from the gases that contain them, and they’re some of the most effective tools for purifying dusty gases. They get rid of over 99 percent of fine particulates, which makes them invaluable.
The gases in the dust enter a baghouse. It contains fabric bags that perform the basic function of filters. They have a pre-coating that allows them to collect a higher percentage of dust, which is part of why they’re so efficient. When you give them regular maintenance and repair, these filters can provide years of service and ensure a healthy work environment.
Inertial separators
These dust collection systems use a different combination of forces. These include gravitational, centrifugal, and, as their name implies, inertial forces. These three forces move the dust so that it can sit stored in a hopper. And after the dust reaches that part, the separators use either different types of chambers or centrifugal collectors to eliminate the dust to the greatest extent possible.
Unit collectors
These collectors are smaller and simpler than the dust collectors above, and they’re also self-contained. They only have two basic elements—a dust collector and a fan that works in conjunction with it.
Unit collectors also function for a specific type of application. They usually work near bins and silos that produce lots of dust. These kinds of operations are isolated and often move around. This makes unit collectors a great match for this particular application. When coarse dust is present, facilities use cyclone collectors. However, fabric collectors are better in applications where fine dust is an issue.
Wet scrubbers
Wet scrubbers use liquids to collect dust. They use a scrubbing liquid that touches the gas stream with the dust particles that need removing. To put it simply, the higher the level of contact, the more efficient the dust removal process is. There are three different types of wet scrubbers, one of which uses humidification. The other two rely on gas-liquid contact or separation.
Electrostatic precipitators
The last of the different types of industrial dust collectors are electrostatic precipitators, which use static electricity from the air. They often find use at power stations, where they excel at removing ash and soot. These facilities produce these particles because they burn fossil fuels to generate electricity.
