How Dust Collection Systems Can Improve Your Workplace

Several manufacturing processes generate by-products in the form of dust and other fine particulate matter. These applications need reliable dust collection solutions to ensure safe working conditions and improved air quality. Before choosing a dust collection system to install, it’s important to know how these systems work, the different types available, the benefits they offer, and their specific applications.

What Are Dust Collection Systems?

Dust collection systems feature designs that allow for efficient filtering of airborne dust particles and other types of debris that may pose a risk to nearby equipment and workers and negatively affect plant production. Installing new dust collection equipment or expanding your existing system offers numerous benefits, including improved maintenance, waste collection, product quality, production, and plant efficiency. While these systems may involve a long installation process, the advantages make them a worthwhile investment.

Plants frequently require dust collection systems to mitigate the production of dust particles caused by various industrial manufacturing processes. Regulations at the federal, state, and local levels require facilities to maintain clean environments devoid of contamination. To make sure businesses maintain compliance, facilities often require dust collection equipment to eliminate contaminants such as dust, mist and fumes. Failure to remove dust could negatively impact equipment performance and contribute to hazardous work environments.

Businesses can select from many types of dust collection equipment, making it important to take the specific application and environment into consideration when choosing the right system.

Types of Dust Collection Equipment and Systems

Depending on the needs of each facility, multiple dust collection systems are available:

Shaker Dust Collection Systems

These dust collection systems feature a baghouse or cartridge design that shakes filters, releasing dust and other particulates into collection hoppers or bins. They use one of two designs: compartmentalized or air flow-responsive.

Cyclone Dust Collection Systems

Cyclone dust collection equipment comprises an inertial separator that relies on centrifugal force to separate particles. A self-contained chamber generates the cyclone, in which cyclonic action purifies the air. The centrifugal force in these systems forces the heavier particulate against the chamber walls, where the particulate then travels down the sides of the chamber and into a collection hopper.

Baghouse Dust Collection Systems

These systems use fans to generate vacuums that push contaminants in a bag through a filter. They use either shaker or pulse-jet methods to clear filters.

Cartridge Dust Collection Systems

This is the most popular dust collection system, largely because it’s the most efficient. These systems work similarly to baghouse systems, only they use a cartridge filter in place of bags. The pleated filter design gives these systems a greater total filtering surface area per cubic feet per minute (CFM). This allows for a reduced dust collector size and air-to-cloth ratio.

Downdraft Table

These self-contained dust collection systems draw particulates into a filtration system from a table. They’re portable and serve as workstations for completing small tasks, and they typically feature steel construction with a strong suction motor.

Advantages of Proper Dust Collection Systems

Reliable dust collection systems offer several benefits, such as:

Cost-Effective

Even smaller amounts of dust reduce operational efficiency and may present hazards to employees and equipment. Dust collection systems remove any dust present to optimize equipment and worker performance, making operations more cost-effective.

Improve Health and Safety

Dust and other types of particulate affect workers’ lungs, potentially leading to health issues. Combustible dust also poses a safety risk. A good dust collection system will remove these materials to maintain a safer workplace.

Increase Productivity

Dust often causes machinery to operate with less efficiency as it interferes with equipment mechanics. Proper dust collection prevents this to allow for optimal performance.

Meet Compliance Regulations and Standards

Facilities of all types must maintain compliance with certain regulations and laws, some of which pertain to air quality. Dust collectors will help keep the air consistently clean to ensure compliance.

Better Product Quality

Dust may collect on products if systems don’t remove it during the manufacturing process. By eliminating dust and other elements, dust collectors can improve product quality in the long run.

Applications of Dust Control Systems

There are several applications for dust control systems, including those in the following industries:

• Chemical Industry — Chemical processes such as mixing, material conveying, packaging, and storing require dust collection for removing arsenic dust, carbon, bromine, and other materials.
• Food Industry — Food manufacturing often requires dust collection to remove dust and other materials in facilities handling flour, sugar, dry goods, and grains.
• Metals Industry — Shredding, melting, conveying, and other metal manufacturing processes need dust collection when working with various metals.
• Woodworking — Dust collectors help remove everything from fine sanding dust to bigger woodchips for disposal or reuse in woodworking applications.
• Plastics Industry — Processes such as crushing and mixing often need dust collection systems to control levels of plastic dust, pellets, and coloring additives.
• Pharmaceutical — Facilities in this industry rely on dust collection systems to remove dust that could otherwise pose a health risk to workers or contaminate high-purity products.

Dust Control Solutions from Dawson-Macdonald Co.

A wide range of applications requires dust collection equipment to effectively remove dust and other particles. If you need reliable systems for your facility, Dawson-Macdonald Co., Inc. offers a wide selection of dust control solutions to fit your needs.

To learn more about our products and find the right solution for your facility, contact us today or request a quote.