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Dust Control Handbook for Industrial Minerals Mining and Processing

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Electrostatic precipitators normally have a higher initial cost than local exhaust ventilationsystems, but a number of advantages that make them worth considering. Once installed, ESPsrequire very little maintenance because there are no moving parts. The installation time <strong>and</strong> theoperating costs are also lower than <strong>for</strong> a local exhaust ventilation system. One last advantage isthat the product is easily recovered <strong>and</strong> recycled right back into the process.There are four basic types of ESPs: plate <strong>and</strong> wire (dry), flat plate (dry), wet, <strong>and</strong> two-stage.ESPs provide a large air volume, operate favorably in various temperatures, <strong>and</strong> require littlemaintenance. Their limitations include their physical size, operation expenses, <strong>and</strong> inconsistentcollection efficiencies. A more thorough discussion of electrostatic precipitators, includingdistinctions between single-stage <strong>and</strong> two-stage types, is available in the ACGIH h<strong>and</strong>book,<strong>Industrial</strong> Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice <strong>for</strong> Design [ACGIH 2010].COLLECTOR DISCHARGE DEVICESThe dust collected in a baghouse falls into a hopper below the bags. This hopper must have adischarge device that not only releases the accumulated dust, but ensures a seal between thebaghouse <strong>and</strong> outside air to maintain negative pressure within the unit. Common hopper wastedischarge devices available <strong>for</strong> baghouses are the rotary airlock valve, double dump valve (flapvalve), tilt valve, <strong>and</strong> vacuum valve (dribble valve). Each of these is readily available in variousdesigns from several manufacturers.Rotary Airlock ValvesRotary airlock valves are normally used in applications where both an active airlock <strong>and</strong> materialmetering are required. Although they are used in many baghouse installations, such common usemay not be the best application <strong>for</strong> this valve. The initial cost is high, <strong>and</strong> maintenance costsmay also be high in abrasive applications.Double Dump ValvesDouble dump valves are dual flapper valves mounted in t<strong>and</strong>em off the discharge of thebaghouse <strong>and</strong> can be either automated or weight-based. For automated double dump valves, anautomated rotating cam briefly opens the normally closed spring-loaded door to each valve. Thedual valves are opened individually in a sequence that allows the top door to open, dump, <strong>and</strong>close be<strong>for</strong>e the lower door follows the same sequence. This allows a negative pressure to bemaintained in the discharge hopper. The weight-based valve is very similar except that the valveopens based upon the weight of the product <strong>and</strong> not on an automated basis (Figure 1.24). Bothtypes of double dump valves require sufficient vertical room below the baghouse hopper. Somewear can be expected at the actuator cam lever of each door.Fundamentals of <strong>Dust</strong> Collection Systems 43

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