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Dust Collector Ducts and Ductwork |
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  Dust Collector Ducts and DuctworkDuctwork is used to transport air and dust. It is used to connect a dust collector to a machine or workstation. For a single dust collector used on a single machine, ducting travels directly from the dust collector to the machine enclosure. The blower in the dust collector pulls air from the machine, through the ducts and into the dust collector where it is filtered. For a centrally ducted dust collector system, a complex network of dust collector duct work connects several workstations to the centrally located dust collectors. Air BalancingAir balancing calculations are essential for choosing a blower whenever dust collection duct work is used. When pulling air through duct work, there is a certain amount of resistance. We call this static pressure. More twists and turns and greater distance equate to higher static pressure. Furthermore, in order to maintain air velocity throughout the duct system, the diameter must change where ever drops branch off or an opening is made. At these points, you lose airflow, velocity and static pressure. To compensate, the duct must reduce in diameter. It works like a bottle neck effect, air speeds up as it is squeezed into a tighter space. This is called the "Venturi Principal". Your duct supplier should provide air balancing for their industrial ducts system. Types of DuctworkCommon dust collector ducting systems are generally rigid and inflexible networks of metal tubing or vents. Once air balanced and constructed, the network is permanent. Though there are some forms of flexibility. There are hoses, spiral ducts, flex ducts and even snap-together modular ducts. Flexible DuctworkFlex Ducting can be manually bent into a desired shape. Flex duct comes in various materials such as fabric, plastic coated fabric, steel, aluminum, fiberglass, etc. Often spiral like wire helix is used to reinforce the walls of fabric flex duct.
Flex ducting can make installation easy. Little planning is needed. Although it has serious downfalls. Irregular wall texture and lack of stiffness does not allow air and dust to travel easily. Flex ducting aerodynamic resistance can greatly decrease static pressure, making a harder job for the blower. Smoother more rigid inner surface can help minimize static pressure and the likelihood for debris to clog. Modular Do it Yourself DuctWorkIf you take the benefits of flex ducting in a rigid product, you get what is called Quick-Fit, made by Nordfab. This is modular ducting that can be quickly assembled and disassembled in the field. Smooth, laser welded, modular ducting clamps together in seconds. DustCollectorExperts.com has chosen to spotlight this do it yourself ductwork product for its balance of effectiveness and user convenience.
Automated Dust Collection Sensors and ControlsHere is why air balancing flexibility can be a major issue. Duct systems use what are called blast gates. These, along with dampers, adjust, open or close air flow. Dampers are usually located in the duct just upstream from every workstation. The entire system is pre-designed to offer the right amount of airflow for every workstation with all blast gates open. Dampers are used to fine tune the system's balance and are set by air balancing technicians. Many times workers will take the liberty to open their own dampers to allow more airflow. Or they may close a blast gate while the system is running. Unfortunately, this effects airflow at all other workstations. Dust collection systems are generally designed to run with all dampers set and blast gates open. Any field adjustments, with whatever intentions, throws the system off balance.
For more information on Ecogate:
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A
relatively new product brought to market by Ecogate, is the first to
automatically optimize blower power and control blast gates. This
technology has been used in other fields for facility sensing, automation and
control, but this is it's first adaptation to dust collection. The Ecogate
systems use sensors to determine if workstations are in use, and accordingly open or close blast
gates and modulate blower speed. When workstations are not in use, the
blast gate for that station is closed and the blower slows down.
If no workstations are being used, the Ecogate system closes all blast gates and
turns off the dust collector blower. This revolutionary sensing and
control system creates substantial energy
savings over traditional systems that are full throttle on or off. Ecogate
will calculate your facilities saving and return on investment to demonstrate
the system's effectiveness.