What is the Purpose of a Dust Collector?

Last updated on March 25th, 2023 at 03:43 pm

Are you tired of battling dust and debris in your workshop or industrial space? If so, you’ve likely pondered the purpose of a dust collector and whether it’s worth the investment. In this informative blog post, we’ll delve into the world of dust collectors. We look at their functions and why they are essential for maintaining a safe and clean environment. By understanding the purpose of a dust collector, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision for your workspace. So, let’s clear the air and uncover the secrets behind these powerful machines.

What does a dust collector do?

Safety

A dust collector is about safety as much as it keeps your workplace clean and it keeps the user safe from dust-related illnesses.

A dust collector removes the contaminants from the air, making the air cleaner. See our post about the Best Dust Collector.

Increase Productivity

Dust and debris can slow down your machines, resulting in minimized productivity. Dirt, dust, and debris enter your equipment, compromising the mechanics. 

Besides slowing things down, they can also break equipment, requiring frequent maintenance and repair. Dust collectors reduce this risk, allowing optimal performance from your machinery.

Creates a better product quality

As the dust fills in the air, the dust collector collects on products throughout the manufacturing process, harming the finished product’s quality. Dust collectors do not stop dust production but reduce the dust, smoke, and fumes in the air. That keeps those away from finished products and thus improving their quality and increasing customer satisfaction.

Help you meet compliance regulations

After setting up your workspace, you still have rules and regulations to follow from the ministry. They have certain expectations and standards to be observed, which are associated with the environment and air quality. 

Poor air quality is costly, not just in fines but by creating a potential danger to your factory or affecting your employees. Factory dust collectors help you comply with governmental regulations, keeping everyone and the machinery inside the building safe.

Keeps your employees safe

Prioritizing your workers’ health is one thing that keeps them happy and healthy. When the air quality is poor, employees suffer and do not enjoy the workplace. The absence of a dust collector drives away your workers since that makes them unhappy. 

Unsatisfied employees do not work well, and high employee turnover is costly. Keeping the air clean and healthy with a factory dust collector improves the morale of your employees and you to retain great.

What are the different types of dust collectors?

Inertial Separators

Inertial separators clean the air by separating dust particles from the gas stream. It combines inertial, gravitational, and centrifugal forces. These forces work on the gas stream by moving the dust particles to an area where such forces are minimal. There are three types of Inertial Separators: settling dust collectors, baffle dust collectors, and centrifugal dust collectors.

Settling Dust Collectors.

A settling dust collector separates dust from a dirty air stream using a settling chamber. That is a box in a dust collector. The gravitational force working on the dust particles settles them down from this slow air stream, separating dust particles from the air stream. It is popular in the cement industry and requires more space for the particulate matter to settle and distill properly.

Baffle Dust Collectors

A baffle dust collector is a flat or baffle plate forced to move downwards as the dusty air stream strikes a baffle plate. It changes direction, and the redirected air stream turns upward at a 180 degrees angle. There is a change in direction as it slows down the air stream. The gravitational force acts upon heavier dust particles, settling down or striking the baffle plate.

Centrifugal Dust Collectors

These are also known as cyclone dust collectors. They purify the air by creating a centrifugal force like a cyclone, similar to a whirlpool. The process involves a force when air enters at the top of the collector. 

If the dusty air stream enters at an angle, it spins with great force, in a downward direction, and dust particles are thrown towards the collector’s walls, and these particles go downwards into the hopper.

Fabric Filters

It is also known as a baghouse, which removes small particulate matter in the air for some time. It goes into the lungs when inhaled, making it difficult for the human body to eject.

It uses a screen filtration system to remove dust particles from the air. It uses a minimum of 6 felt bags or 900 baghouses.

Wet Scrubber

A dust collector uses liquid to separate dust particles from an air stream. The water comes into contact with the dusty air stream, and more contact means greater dust removal efficiency.

Electrostatic Precipitators [ESP]

An electrostatic precipitator is a filter that uses static electricity to remove suspended dust particles from the air stream. It is used at power stations and also removes ash and soot. The air passes through two electrodes in metal bars, plates, or wires, and the dusty air travels through a pipe.

Unit Collector

It handles dust at the source, and there are two types of Unit Collectors: Fabric and cyclone collectors. A fabric collector deals with small dust particles, whereas Cyclone Collectors handle the coarser ones.

How do dust collectors work?

A dust collection system sucks air in from a saw machine, then processes the air through a filtering system so that particulate is deposited into a collection area. The cleaned air is returned to the facility or passed out to the environment.

Why do dust collectors have two bags?

The first bag collects all the dust and debris, and the second bag is for fine dust. The dust is first trapped then filtered into the second bag.

How can I reduce dust in my room?

• Keep a mat outside the door.
• Change your AC unit filters. 
• Use your shop vacuum.
• Clean out your air ducts.
• Use a dust collector.
• Invest in an air purifier or a dehumidifier.

Noise Concerns

Dust collectors make lots of noise, especially the industrial ones, which interferes with productivity since it affects workers. To avoid noise, identify if the system is closed-loop or open exhaust, identify the associated blower and motor of the collector system, and the vibration of cyclone casing.