What is a dust collector and how to choose its proper type

What is a dust collector and how to choose its proper type - Air is an important part in human life. Air pollution in the form of smoke, dust or other impurities will affect human health, especially with regard to the respiratory system. Most of the air pollution comes from motor vehicles and industrial machines. Employees who are in the industrial environment is the first time will receive the impact of air pollution due to industrial machines, if the air-handling was not enough.

In this post we will explain how the air handling due to dust produced by industrial machinery. Most industries use a dust collector system to solve these problems. Dust Collector has many types so we can choose one of its kinds in accordance by the characteristics of the dust. Then we do the planning dust collector to find the air suction capacity, air flow, static pressure and power fan based on the amount of dust, the number of suction points and the size of the suction area. (read more: dust collector design) Finally we do the planning system in accordance by the type dust collector that we have set. This post will be limited to the process of selecting the type dust collector by first going to explain what is the dust collector according to the definitions, functions, principles and types.

What is a dust collector?

Dust collector is a system to keep the air quality in the room kept clean and free from dust or dirt as a result of industrial processes. The principle is to collect dust or dirty air from the source of dust through the process of exploitation by the blower, then do filtering dirty air so that the air coming out is clean, while the dust gathered in one place. Therefore, there are three principles of the dust collector such as collection, suction and separation.

Collection is the process of collecting dust from the dust source area. Dust Collection using the hood is capable of capturing dust scattered in the suction area and collect them in a ducting. If there are several sources of dust are far apart, it can use some hood with ducting continued. Ducting system must be designed in accordance by the place of the dust source to produce a good and effective process of dust collection. (Design of ducting system)

Suction is the process of sucking dust from each hood (suction area) to get into the dust collector through a ducting system. Suction of dust collector is using a blower system that is driven by an electric motor. Determining of blower capacity will greatly affect the suction ability of dust collector. Therefore, the blower calculation should be based on the air capacity from of suction area and the pressure loss (static pressure) of the ducting. (Design of blower system)

Separation is the process of separating the dust in the air. Dust entering through the hood and ducting system into the dust collector in a state mixed with air (dirty air). Separation system in the dust collector is using several types such as centrifugal systems, bag house system, electrostatic system and others. All these systems produce clean air out through ducting blower and dust collected in the dust bag (dust container).
Therefore, almost all the dust collector is using the same collection and suction system or similar. Dust collector is distinguished by its type of separation system.

How to choose a dust collector type?

There are so many manufacturing industries that use various types of dust collector to neutralize the air from industrial dust. Determining the types of dust collector depends on several aspects such as the type of dust, the dimensions of dust, measure of dust, ambient conditions, costs and others. In general we can distinguish the types of dust collector based water filtration system or separation system including inertial system, wet filtration system, dry filtration system and electrostatic filtration system.

Dust collector with inertial system is a dust collector that uses a force combination of centrifugal, gravity and inertia moment in the separation process of dust and air. Dust collector uses the concept of differences in specific gravity of dust and air. The principle works is dirty air (water and dust) streamed centrifugal that causes dust moves down and clean air moves up. There are two dust collectors type who use this system are settling chamber and cyclone dust collector. Dust Collector this type is suitable for coarse dust, because it has a greater density making it easier and effective in its separation process.

Dust collector with wet filtration system is a dust collector that uses a wet media (such as water or a wet cloth) as a filter to separate the air with dust. Dust collector uses the concept of water filtration is the water ability to dissolve the dust or the water ability to clean the dust trapped in the media. Its working principle is to drain the dirty air filter area so the dust will stick to the filter (scrubber). Then the filter is rinsed by water, so dust off will be dissolved and carried away by the water. Dust collector type is very suitable for dust or gas that comes from hazardous chemicals that dissolve in water.

Dust collector with cleaning filtration system is a dust collector that uses a dry media (dry cloth) as a filter to separate the air with dust. Dust collector uses water filtration concept is the filter ability to withstand dust and emit clean air. The principle works is supplied to the dirty air filter area so the dust will stick to the filter bag while the clean air out through blower. Then dust off the filter bag is cleaned by vibration or air pressure, so the dust will fall into dust container. There are several types of dust collectors that use this system include shaker bag filter dust collector, pulse jet bag filter dust collector and filter cartridge dust collector. Dust Collector is a very common type used for various types of dust is not harmful either fine or coarse dust.

Dust collector with electrostatic filtration system is a dust collector which uses electrostatic force to separate the air with dust. Dust Collector uses the concept of electrostatic precipitator is a technology for separating dust by giving an electric charge to him. Its working principle is to offer a negative charge on the dust through the electrodes, and then the dust is passed into a column made of plate that has a more positive charge, then naturally the dust will be attracted by the plate and separated by air. Dust Collector this type is suitable for combustion in boiler dust containing oxide compounds are toxic.

Types of dust collector that has a level of efficiency that is different from low-level to high level, therefore we need to know and understand the characteristics of each type dust collector so that we can select or specify the type dust collector that fits our needs. Based on the above classification, we can choose some type dust collector that usually are used by the industry include:

1. Settling Chamber Dust Collector
2. Cyclone (Centrifugal Dust Collector)
3. Wet Scrubber Dust Collector
4. Shaker Bag Filter Dust Collector
5. Pulse Jet Bag Filter Dust Collector
6. Cartridge Filter Dust Collector
7. Electrostatic Precipitator Dust Collector

That is a description about what is a dust collector and how to choose its proper type. If you find misconceptions in this post, please give correction in the comment box.