What Is a Baghouse Filter? Components, Types & Applications

Baghouse filters are large, industrial filtration systems used to collect, capture, and separate a variety of air particles. Essentially, they remove dirty air which can be harmful to both humans and the environment and replace it with clean air. They are commonly used at production and manufacturing plants. In these environments, using the right baghouse filter is essential for developing a reliable dust collection system.

The components of a baghouse are designed to manage the numerous stages of the filtration process. Although each baghouse is slightly different depending on the filter design, most baghouse filters consist of the following parts:

The housing is the main structure that encloses the filter bags. This provides a sealed environment for filtration to occur.

Not all baghouses have a filter cage, but it is an essential part for those that do. The filter cage consists of support frames that hold filter bags in place. This is important for keeping the filter bags open, which allows air to pass through.

The dirty air inlet brings polluted air into the filter bags, while the clean air outlet releases clear air back into the environment.

Collection hoppers are where dust and other contaminants collect after the filters are cleaned.

The discharge unit releases collected dust from the hopper, preparing it for the next cleaning cycle.

Baghouses are important components used in various industrial environments such as factories and warehouses. These filtration systems are classified by the methods used to clean them. There are three main types of baghouses: shaker, reverse air, and pulse jet.

Each of these baghouse types are suitable for industries producing anywhere from fine to coarse particles such as woodworking, cement manufacturing, metalworking, mining, and more.

Although baghouse filter bags are highly durable, they are not recommended for applications involving moist or wet materials. Moisture can cause the particles to clump together, causing the filters to clog and reduce airflow.

In shaker baghouses, filter bags are hung from the top of the unit and attached to the base of the baghouse with their bottom open. Polluted air enters from below the bags and rises upwards, resulting in the contaminates collecting on the inner surface of the filter bags.

During the cleaning phase, the filter cages are shaken, which causes the accumulated dust to fall through the bags into a collection hopper placed at the bottom of the baghouse. Clean air is released near the top of the collector.

Shaker baghouse filters are relatively cost-effective to operate and maintain. They do not require compressed air for cleaning, which reduces energy consumption and costs.

In reverse air baghouses, particles enter from the bottom and collect on the exterior of the filters.

The baghouse removes the particles collected by blowing clean air in the opposite direction of normal airflow. This causes the collected dust to fall into the collection hopper. Clean air is then released near the top of the collector.

Reverse air baghouse filters offer a cost-effective solution for particle collection. Their cleaning cycle is gentle, which allows for a longer lifespan of the filter bags and minimizes wear and tear on the system. This helps reduce maintenance costs over time.

In pulse jet baghouses, particles enter from below and collect on the outside of the filter bags, which are typically supported by internal wire cages.

The baghouse then uses high-pressure bursts of compressed air to dislodge the collected contaminates. Clean air is released through the clean air plenum at the top of the collector.

Pulse jet baghouse filters can be cleaned without stopping airflow entering the baghouse, which results in a more stable dust control system. They are also space-efficient which, in result, requires fewer filter bags.

Leak detection powder is an effective method used to locate issues such as bag failures, structural leaks, cracks, or bad bag seals. Fluorescent power travels through the baghouse and can be identified by using black light technology. This saves time by eliminating the task of hand inspection.

Pre-coats can be used to improve the performance of baghouse filters. This helps increase airflow and improve dust collection efficiency. Using pre-coats for dust filtration can lower equipment maintenance costs and prolong the fabric filter bag lifespan.

The Cary Company understands the importance of choosing the right baghouse filter bags for your application. If you have a sample, sketch, print or verbal description of the replacement you need, we can recommend the best OEM baghouse filter bag that meets your specifications at competitive pricing.

Have any questions? Contact one of our product specialists available to answer any questions and recommend products for you. -- Just give us a call at 630.629.6600 or email us at sales@thecarycompany.com!