FAQ: What is a "gold cone."

In the industrial dust collection business, a "gold cone" refers to a unique filter cartridge manufactured by Farr Air Pollution Control in Jonesboro, AR. It refers to an inner cone of filter media within the outer, cylindrical pleat pack. This inner cone of media provides expanded capacity, uniform dispersion of back-pulsed air and opens up more usable space for airflow in the dust collector.

This additional use of wide-spaced media pleats also permits collected dust to be dislodged easier from between the pleats during the cleaning cycle, unlike typical industry packed media pleats. The Gold Cone® media has the same filtration efficiency as the outer media pack at 99.999% separation efficiency down to 0.5 micron by weight. Data sheets on the various Gold Cone filters offered can be requested/downloaded here.

FAQ: Are dust collector filters washable?

In reference to pleated filter media cartridges for industrial dust collectors, the answer is yes...and no! It mostly depends on the filter media that is used or required for a given application. Filters cartridges that are made of spun bond polyester can be washed - that is, removed from the dust collector and washed down with low pressure water. Once completely dry, they can be reinstalled in the collector. Filter cartridges that are made of untreated (cellulose) paper should not get wet at any time.

So when would you use washable filters in a dust collector? These are ideally suited to tough applications including heavy dust loading conditions, hot/moist air streams, high levels of fine particulate, and/or hygroscopic dust properties which may limit performance of cellulosic type filters. In many food/beverage applications, equipment is often required to be washed - inside and out - periodically. Of course, if a filter cartridge is claimed to be washable, be certain that the end caps and any integral metal components are treated to be in contact with water as well. Be sure to ask the filter cartridge supplier (you'd be surprised). Learn more about pleated cartridge filter media types here.

FAQ: How often will I need to change my cartridges?

The frequency of filter cartridge replacement in industrial dust collectors is affected by many factors and is different for every application. So, this frequently asked question is a tough one to answer. A properly sized collector with careful consideration to the type of dust and the appropriate air volume per cartridge for the application is crucial to long filter life.

If a dust collector is poorly designed, the dust hitting the filter will abrade it in a short amount of time, ultimately resulting in a leak. This happens frequently with horizontal cartridge designs. Vertical cartridge designs prevent the uneven build-up of dust on a cartridge, which blocks usable filter surface area and increases the likihood of the filters plugging sooner. Continuous pulse cleaning of the cartridges also contributes to wear, typically causing a rip at the edge of a pleat on some inferior quality filters. Smart 'on demand' cleaning systems that only pulse the cartridges when they reach a predetermined 'dirty' point (measured by pressure drop) greatly extend the cartridge life.

All filter cartridges will eventually plug up beyond a usable point, again, for a given application. Operating conditions, dust loading, the physical properties of the dust particles and the velocity at which they hit the filter media all play a role in the life expectancy of a filter cartridge. The bottom line is that your dust collector supplier should be able to give a good estimate of cartridge life, whether it be months or years. Ask for a documented performance guarantee. If the dust collector supplier won't give you one, take your business elsewhere.