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Technical Tip
Best Practices for Baghouse Inspections and Maintenance

As with any type of air emission control equipment,

baghouses benefit from regular inspections as part of
routine and preventative maintenance. Although by
their very nature baghouses are less finicky than
electrostatic precipitators when it comes to collection
efficiency, problems not caught early can and do
explode into crises when left unchecked.

Yet, baghouses tend to get inspected rarely--until

something goes wrong.

"As long as the baghouse is running well, there's a

tendency to not bother with inspections," says Jim
Parsons, Senior Engineering Consultant at
Neundorfer. "It's common for nothing to be seen as a
problem needing investigation until there's a
disaster."

Because small issues can build up over time and

create crises--like de-rate level opacity excursions--
baghouse maintenance on a daily, weekly, quarterly and annual basis should include keeping an
eye on some key parameters. Recommended inspection points and maintenance tasks are
outlined below.

Daily Walk-Through and Maintenance Weekly Check-In and Maintenance

• Take pressure drop readings
• Check cleaning system
performance (including
compressors, dryer, filter)
• Check valve and damper
operation
• Check dust removal system
operation
• Check emission levels
• Check diaphragm and solenoid operation
• Take differential pressure and Magnehelic
line readings
• Check moving parts for wear/malfunction
• Take differential pressure (delta P) readings
after a cleaning cyle (if increasing over time,
indicates
bags becoming blinded)
Check compartment interiors visually for
leaks

Neundorfer, Inc . 4590 Hamann Parkway, Willoughby, OH 44094

Phone: (440) 942-8990 Fax: (440) 942-6824 www.neundorfer.com
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Quarterly Inspection and Maintenance Annual Inspection and Maintenance

• Remove sample bags for
permeability flow testing
• Check fan operation
• Replace any failed bags
• Lubricate high wear parts
• Clean tubesheets
• Perform dye testing of each compartment
to check for leaks
• Inspect access door gaskets
• Inspect ductwork and hopper baffles
• Adjust dampers or valves
• Calibrate instrumentation

When inspecting baghouses, the goal

of gathering information is to look for
signs indicating three key problems
and the timing of their occurrences:
high opacity, high differential pressure,
and short bag life.

For high opacity, early warning signs

are mechanical leaks (e.g. tube sheet
holes, bypass dampers not sealed) and
broken bags (visibly see holes during
inspection, dust on clean side of
baghouse).
For high differential pressure, early
warning signs are blinded filter bags
and needing excessive fan power.
For short bag life, early warning signs
are opacity spikes, dust on clean side
of the baghouse (indicates broken
bags) and need for excessive fan power early in bags' service.

The daily, weekly, quarterly and annual inspection and maintenance program outlined earlier
will uncover signs of impending baghouse problems and give the operator time to make
corrections.

Neundorfer, Inc . 4590 Hamann Parkway, Willoughby, OH 44094

Phone: (440) 942-8990 Fax: (440) 942-6824 www.neundorfer.com