Sunday, November 29, 2015

FAQ: What preventive maintenance steps can we follow to keep our dust collector operating efficiently?

Verify that dampers are in position, valves are working and pulse cleaning systems are functioning properly. Check pressure drop on filters to make sure it has not exceeded the manufacturer’s recommended limit.  Check compressed air pressure and purge the compressed air header, looking for signs of moisture. If you are located in a cold climate, make sure that your compressed air has a dew point that is below the lowest temperatures your equipment will be exposed to. An integrated control panel can monitor key functions and alert you when critical set points are reached, ensuring that preventive maintenance is performed when needed.

If you are conducting preventive inspections and basic maintenance but your system is still not performing efficiently, most likely the collector is undersized or inadequately designed for the dust challenge. Bring in an air pollution control supplier who has application expertise; who is knowledgeable about OSHA, NFPA and EPA requirements; and who has dust testing capability and other technical resources to develop an engineered solution to the problem.