Industrial and manufacturing businesses everywhere are utilizing dust collection systems and air pollution control systems to improve the air quality of their facility. When you invest in an efficient dust collection system for your company or workplace, you’re not only providing clean air for your employees to breathe, you’re also improving the lifespan of your industrial equipment, which can save you money on maintenance and repairs down the road. At  Bisco Enterprise, we’re proud to be a leading provider of air pollution control systems and dust collection systems throughout the Midwest. In this blog, we’ll discuss the different kind of dust collectors available and how they can benefit the unique needs of your business.

Types of Dust Collection Methods

Industrial dust collectors are used in a variety of processes to recover and remove harmful pollutants from work environments. While there are a variety of different methods of dust collection systems, below are some of the most common.

Cyclone Separation

Cyclone separators use the power of gravity and a vortex to efficiently separate particles from gas streams. Industrial cyclones are often used in pollution control applications as they provide a lower cost method for removing particulate matter from effluent gas streams. These sturdy and rugged systems have essentially no moving parts, also meaning they require little to no maintenance to upkeep and maintain. While they are not the best at capturing fine particulate, they have moderate efficiencies (over 90 percent) to successfully collect larger particles. This dust collection system can handle a wide range of temperatures and materials, although sticky or adhesive items don’t tend to work well because they stick to the interior walls. Often seen to be used in a range of large industrial gas streams and small workshop environments, below are some advantages and disadvantages of Cyclone Separators.

Advantages of a Cyclone Separator Dust Collection System

• Low capital cost compared to most dust collection systems 
• Can handle liquid mists or dry materials 
• Ability to operate at high and low temperatures 
• No moving parts means low maintenance requirements 
• Requires a relatively small space to operate

Disadvantages of a Cyclone Separator Dust Collection System

• Due to their pressure drop, these systems can have a high operating cost 
• Low efficiencies for smaller particles 
• Inability to process sticky materials

Electrostatic Precipitators

Electrostatic Precipitators, also known as ESPs, are particulate collection systems which utilize electrostatic forces to separate particulate matter from exhaust gases. In the laymen’s terms, particles move through a region where electrodes induce an electric field to charge the dust particles, which then attach themselves to a collection surface. Once dust particles and other air contaminants have been collected, the surface is washed or vibrated to dislodge the particles and collect them in a hopper. This highly efficient dust collection systems can remove dust and smoke from the air stream of your workplace by minimally interfering with the flow of gases through the device. The collection efficiency of this dust collection system is largely dependent on the electrical properties of the particles being collected and can reach efficiencies above 99.9 percent. While these systems normally quite expensive, they cost very little to operate and maintain.

Advantages of an Electrostatic Precipitator Dust Collection System

• This dust collection system can handle corrosive materials and wet materials at high temperatures 
• Maintains a very high collection efficiency, even for small dust particles 
• Can handle large volumes of gas and heavy dust loads with a low pressure drop 
• This system is very durable and requires little to no upkeep 
• Low operating costs at a high efficiency rate

Disadvantages of an Electrostatic Precipitator Dust Collection System

• This dust collection system has a large footprint and takes up a lot of space 
• Inability to control gaseous emissions 
• Dependent on the electrical resistivity of particulates 
• High capital cost of equipment

Medial Filtration

Media filtration devices use screens or filters to separate particles from gas streams. Specifically designed to provide efficient, cost-effective control of dust particles, mist, smoke, fumes and gas contaminants, this type of dust collection system can be used in a variety of manufacturing and processing applications.

Advantages of a Media Filtration Dust Collection System

• These systems are extremely versatile and flexible for a variety of applications 
• They offer high efficiencies for particulate matter collection, especially for smaller particles 
• Offers the ability to collect other pollutants by applying specific coatings to the filters 
• Modular and compact design

Disadvantages of a Media Filtration Dust Collection System

• Operational use may be limited by high temperatures and corrosive chemicals 
• May require frequent maintenance with filter changes

At Bisco Enterprise, our Vertical Media Filtration Collection Systems offers a modular design that provides the ultimate in-unit filtration flexibility to handle a variety of airborne contaminants. With the simple integration of additional filter modules, you can customize this system to meet the exact needs of your company’s unique filtration requirements. If contaminants change due to operational shifts, existing filter modules can be easily integrated to alter or adapt to the new contaminants being generated.

Wet Scrubbing

Wet scrubbers are air cleaning devices that utilize a liquid to capture and remove pollutants such as particulate matter or gases in the air. The atomized liquid being used is often water, and through agglomeration, adherence or encapsulation, wet scrubbers merge dust particles with the scrubbing liquid to increase the size and mass of the particles, making collection easier. While there are a variety of wet scrubbers available on the market today, including impingement and venturi scrubbers, they tend to have very high particulate collection efficiencies, making them an ideal option for several industries.

Advantages of a Wet Scrubbing Dust Collection System

• This dust collection system can handle flammable and explosive dust with little risk 
• Can provide the cooling of hot gases 
• Corrosive gases and dust can be neutralized in the dust collection process 
• Provides both gas absorption and dust collection in a single unit

Disadvantages of a Wet Scrubbing Dust Collection System

• Collected particulates may be contaminated and unrecyclable 
• Disposal of waste can be expensive 
• Higher potential for corrosion issues 

At Bisco Enterprise, our Wet Type Dust Scrubber was specially designed to provide efficient and cost-effective control of all flammable and nonflammable metal dust contaminates. Perfect for a variety of manufacturing processes and applications, this dust collector offers control of moderate to heavy concentrations of contaminants.

Baghouses (Fabric Dust Collectors)

Baghouses, also known as fabric dust collectors or fabric filters, are filtration devices used to capture or separate dust particles and other contaminants found floating in the air. As gas streams are directed through these bags, they provide multiple fabric layers the gas must pass through which is responsible for a majority of the filtration process. Bags can be intermittently or continually cleaned by shaking them, reversing the airflow in the dust collector, or by pulsing air through the filer. 

In comparison to other types of air pollution control equipment, baghouses are an incredibly efficient and versatile option for dust collection. If you’re looking for baghouses or bag filters for your dust collection system, browse our large selection of filters online today!

Industrial Vacuums

Industrial vacuums are dust collection systems that utilize a vacuum suction to pull outside air in for filtering. During their operation, a powerful air stream with dust and other contaminants is forced through the media filter and pushed out through a discharge outlet. Industrial vacuums can incorporate the use of fabric bags, envelopes or cartridges as filters, depending on the pollutants you wish to collect.

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Bisco Enterprise Dust Collectors

If you’re looking for an affordable and efficient solution to your company’s dust collection problems,  contact the experts at Bisco Enterprise today. We offer a wide range of premium central and portable dust collectors and air filtration systems and we would be more than happy to help you find the perfect dust collector for your industrial or manufacturing business!