Filter systems with dirty air chamber spacer elements and methods of using the same

A filter system comprising:

• a tubesheet separating a housing into a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber;
• a plurality of spacer elements attached to the tubesheet, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements comprises a clean air inlet and a clean air outlet, and wherein the clean air inlet of each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements is located in the dirty air chamber;
• a plurality of apertures in the tubesheet, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements is positioned over an aperture of the plurality of apertures in the tubesheet;
• a plurality of filter elements in the dirty air chamber between the tubesheet and an end wall panel located across the dirty air chamber from the tubesheet, wherein each filter element of the plurality of filter elements is attached to the clean air inlet of one spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements;
• a dirty air inlet configured to deliver a dirty air stream into the dirty air chamber;
• and
• a pulse-jet cleaning system comprising a blowpipe oriented to direct a pulse of air into the clean air outlet and toward the clean air inlet of each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements;
• wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements comprises an element length measured along an element axis extending though the clean air inlet and the clean air outlet of the spacer element, and wherein the dirty air inlet defines a width measured parallel to the element axis that is greater than the element length of each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements;
• and wherein the dirty air inlet comprises a perimeter where the dirty air inlet enters the dirty air chamber, and further wherein a projection of the perimeter parallel to the dirty air flow axis through the dirty air chamber intersects one or more filter elements of the plurality of filter elements.

A filter system comprising

• a housing comprising a tubesheet separating the housing into a dirty air chamber, a clean air chamber, an end wall panel located across the dirty air chamber from the tubesheet, and a hopper located below the dirty air chamber, wherein at least a portion of particulate matter entering the dirty air chamber falls into the hopper under the force of gravity;
• a plurality of spacer elements attached to the tubesheet, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements comprises a clean air inlet and a clean air outlet, and wherein the clean air inlet of each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements is located in the dirty air chamber;
• a plurality of apertures in the tubesheet, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements is positioned over an aperture of the plurality of apertures in the tubesheet such that air passing from the dirty air chamber into the clean air chamber through each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements passes through the aperture,
• a plurality of filter elements, wherein each filter element of the plurality of filter elements is attached to the clean air inlet of one spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements and the filter element attached to each spacer element are positioned above the hopper, and wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements and the filter element attached to each spacer element extend from the tubesheet towards the end wall panel;
• and
• a dirty air inlet configured to deliver a dirty air stream into the dirty air chamber along a dirty air flow axis, wherein the dirty air flow axis extends through the hopper.

A filter system comprising

• a housing comprising a tubesheet separating the housing into a dirty air chamber, a clean air chamber, and a hopper located below the dirty air chamber, wherein at least a portion of particulate matter entering the dirty air chamber falls into the hopper under the force of gravity;
• a plurality of spacer elements attached to the tubesheet, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements comprises a clean air inlet and a clean air outlet, and wherein the clean air inlet of each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements is located in the dirty air chamber, and wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements defines an element axis extending though the clean air inlet and the clean air outlet of the spacer element, wherein the element axes of the plurality of spacer elements do not extend through the hopper;
• a plurality of apertures in the tubesheet, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements is positioned over an aperture of the plurality of apertures in the tubesheet such that air passing from the dirty air chamber into the clean air chamber through each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements passes through the aperture,
• a plurality of filter elements, wherein each filter element of the plurality of filter elements is attached to the clean air inlet of one spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements, wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements and the filter element attached to each spacer element are positioned above the hopper, and wherein each spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements and the filter element attached to each spacer element;
• and
• a dirty air inlet configured to deliver a dirty air stream into the dirty air chamber along a dirty air flow axis.