Dust Collection Performance of Bag Filters in Rice Processing Facilities

Abstract

HighlightsThe rice dust collection performance of bag filters was investigated.The pressure drop and rice dust collection efficiency were measured with various parameters.Correlation equations are suggested for the pressure drop across a clean filter medium and across the dust cake.Abstract. Because rice dust constitutes a form of air pollution, bag filters are widely used in rice processing facilities. Rice dust has various particle sizes, and the dust concentration in air is low with rice dust. Research on the rice dust collection performance of bag filters is necessary for effective dust collection in rice processing facilities. The objective of this study was to investigate the rice dust collection performance of bag filters. The pressure drop and rice dust collection efficiency were measured with various face velocities, dust concentrations, and fabric filter media. The dust collection efficiency decreased slightly with increases in the face velocity and in the maximum pressure drop in normal conditions. In addition, correlation equations of the pressure drop across a clean filter medium and across the dust cake are suggested to predict the pressure drop in overloaded conditions in rice processing facilities. The average error was 20.2%, and it decreased with increasing pressure drop. Using the correlation equations, bag filters can be managed to remove the deposited dust before the pressure drop significantly increases or reaches its maximum value. Keywords: Bag filter, Dust collection efficiency, Pressure drop, Rice dust.