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cement operation has many systems the solution is to make minor changes to several
working together. When problems arise, components.
detailed troubleshooting usually pinpoints
several areas to address. So why is it Collection hoods (the entrance to the dust
whenever there is an airflow problem, a dusting collector system)
problem, or an emissions problem, the dust collector It is very easy to tell if you do not have adequate
alone is blamed? Is the system bottleneck just the airflow at a collection hood, because there is dust
dust collector or the dust collector filters? In most everywhere. However, a collection hood can be
cases the answer is no. designed and located to deliver too much airflow or
In a cement plant, the dust collection system has suction, resulting in heavier than desired dust loading
five major components: collection hood(s), ductwork, into the dust collector system. To design an efficient
dust collector, fan, and material handling or discharge collection hood, capture velocity and duct velocity
equipment. If any of these areas are poorly designed must be understood.
or operating inefficiently, the entire system will not l Capture velocity is the speed of the air at any
perform properly. Instead of making major changes point in front of the hood or at the hood opening
to one component (often the dust collector), usually necessary to overcome opposing air currents and
elevators, air slides, vessel loading and crushing and
grinding, the goal is to de-dust the area without
moving material off the conveying equipment.
If the capture velocity is too high at the collection
hood, excessive particulate will be introduced
into the hood, ductwork and eventually to the
dust collector. Inside the dust collector the filters
will be subjected to heavier than designed dust
loading. This leads to the dust collector operating at
higher than desired differential pressure, requiring
accelerated filter cleaning. Under these conditions,
the filters wear out faster and require more cleaning
energy.
The solution to this problem is to make sure all
collection hoods are designed and located properly.
The area around the collection hood should be
enclosed as much as possible. This prevents excessive
outside air being pulled into the system, requiring
greater air flow to de-dust the area. The hood
area needs to be large enough to maintain capture
velocities of 200 ft per minute (fpm) to 250 fpm
(1 m/sec to 1.3 m/sec).
By correcting the poorly designed and located
Poorly designed collection hood: Small area, high hoods you will improve the dust collector system by
capture velocity. reducing the grain loading.
Once the collection hoods are designed and located
properly, blast gates need to be installed to achieve
system balance. Due to changing airflows through
the system, adjustments are needed to ensure proper
capture velocity at each hood.