Our clients often ask themselves which filter to choose Electro or Bag filter?
This article builds on two pillars, including Filcon’s vast experience and publicly available information.
Electrostatic precipitator – equipment often used in industries where there are huge volumes of gases from 500,000 m3 / h and more, this is due to economic feasibility. The lower the productivity of the installation, the more expensive it is, this is due to the fact that the installation of an electrostatic precipitator requires much more time and money, in comparison with a bag filter.
One of the limitations that narrow the field of application of electrostatic precipitators is the impossibility of achieving in them a stable residual dust content below 50 mg / m3, insufficient collection efficiency with a high electrical resistivity of dust, as well as the inapplicability of the electric cleaning method in an explosive environment, especially at such enterprises as elevators, grain terminals and oil extraction plants. From this point of view, Filcon bag filters have certain advantages over electrostatic precipitators. When using them, residual dust content of up to 10 mg / m3 can be STABLY ensured, which in turn is a requirement of environmental legislation, regardless of the properties of the captured dust and fluctuations in the technological regime.
Compared to electrostatic precipitators, the installation time, cost and commissioning of the baghouse filter are significantly less.
Setting up an electrostatic precipitator is a long and laborious process that requires highly qualified engineers, and therefore the cost per hour of work of such an employee is much higher.
To supply the electrostatic precipitator with high voltage direct current, power units are used that convert alternating current into direct current. Rectified high voltage current (80-110 kV, 400-1600 mA) from power units is supplied by high-voltage cables through current leads, buses, resistors to the corona electrodes of the electrostatic precipitator. Power units are very often installed in a separate room – a converter substation. Often, the costs of overcoming the hydraulic losses of bag filters are compensated by the power consumption of such power sources at the electrostatic precipitators, since they are installed on each electric field.
Another disadvantage of the electrostatic precipitator, along with their high cost, is the high dependence of the ash collection process on deviations from the specified technological regime, as well as mechanical defects of the internal equipment, for example: the inability to achieve stable residual dust content due to the strong dependence on the dispersed composition of ash, specific electrical resistance, which in turn depends on the temperature and humidity of the flue gases and the specific type of raw material burned. Low efficiency electrostatic precipitators for capturing high-resistance dust. High requirements for the quality of the supplied equipment and the qualifications of the installer, for example, the permissible deviation of the discharge distance is only 5 mm (the requirement applies to the entire plane of the electrodes, the dimensions of which are 2.5-4 m in length and 6 to 15 m in height). High requirements for the technical level of operating personnel. Continuous monitoring of the alignment of the electrode system, the state of the support insulators, shaking mechanisms, etc. The established resource before overhaul is about 7 years, while, as a rule, the maximum efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator can be achieved only with a complete replacement of the internal mechanical equipment and precise alignment of the electrode system.
Electrostatic precipitators were quite common in the past, but today, as a result of the emergence of a large number of high-tech fabrics used for the manufacture of filter bags, bag filters are used in many technological segments as more efficient, less expensive and reliable installations.
As a result, many requests have appeared for the reconstruction and alteration of old electrostatic precipitators into bag filters – to improve the quality and efficiency of cleaning dust and gas mixtures.
Based on the foregoing, the following conclusion can be made: Bag filters are much more efficient, cheaper, more convenient to operate and more reliable than electrostatic precipitators. However, it would be unfair not to note the competitive advantage of an electrostatic precipitator over a bag filter, its indisputable advantage is the ability to operate at temperatures above 300 ° C, where bag filters can simply burn out.
Filcon is the only manufacturer of filter bag type, thanks to which innovative solutions can work with industries where temperature range exceeds 300C*, this is achieved by special heat-resistant handle sleeves, as well as the multi-level insulation of the filter, with supplementary spark quenching and preobladanie.
For the safety of the environment research team “Filcon” is constantly improving their solutions filtering to reduce operating and maintenance costs.
“Filcon” works according to the requirement of the quality of emissions and has a proven international TUV certificate. Design, installation and commissioning shall be carried out in accordance with ISO 9001 quality control and requirements.
The company’s policy is based on an individual approach to each partner.
Our goal is to provide reliable and efficient operation of the aspiration system and to create a good working relationship with partners.
