Method and apparatus for controlling the cleaning cycle of air filter elements and for predicting the useful life thereof

Apparatus for cleaning bag filters in a plurality of parallel ducted baghouses and for predicting a useful life thereof, comprising:

• means for determining an actual volumetric flow rate of a gas stream discharged from each of the baghouses;
• means for sensing a temperature of the gas stream;
• means for selectively cleaning the bag filters in each baghouse;
• means for determining an adjusted flow rate set point based on a density factor correction in accordance with the sensed temperature and for comparing the determined volumetric flow rate for each baghouse and the adjusted flow rate set point, wherein when the actual volumetric flow rate for a given baghouse is below the adjusted set point, said cleaning means is activated for the given baghouse and when the actual volumetric flow rate is at least equal to said set point, said cleaning means is deactivated;
• and
• means for accumulating a total daily time said cleaning means is in an activated condition for each baghouse, including means for graphically displaying said total daily times for each baghouse, whereby, an end of the useful life of the bags in each baghouse may be predicted.

A method for cleaning filter elements in a plurality of parallel ducted modules housing a plurality of filter elements, each of said modules having cleaning means to dislodge accumulated particulate matter from the filter elements when the cleaning means is selectively activated, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) measuring an impact pressure and a static pressure in a gas stream being discharged from each module;
• b) calculating an actual volumetric flow rate of said gas stream from each module;
• c) measuring a temperature of said gas stream and calculating a density factor for said gas stream based on said measured temperature;
• d) calculating an adjusted flow rate set point based upon said density factor;
• e) comparing said actual volumetric flow rate from each module and said adjusted set point;
• f) activating the cleaning means for a given module when the actual volumetric flow rate is less than the adjusted set point for said given module;
• and
• g) deactivating the cleaning means when the volumetric flow rate for the given module is at least equal to the adjusted set point.

A method of cleaning filter bags and for predicting the useful life of such filter bags in a plurality of parallel ducted baghouses, each of said baghouses having pulse means for selectively delivering bursts of compressed air to clean particulate matter from the filter bags, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) measuring an impact pressure and a static pressure in a gas stream being discharged from each baghouse;
• b) calculating a volumetric flow rate of said gas stream;
• c) measuring a temperature of said gas stream and a density factor for said gas stream based on said measured temperature;
• d) calculating an adjusted flow rate set point based upon said density factor;
• e) comparing said volumetric flow rate and said adjusted set point;
• f) activating the cleaning means when the volumetric flow rate is less than the adjusted set point;
• g) deactivating the cleaning means when the volumetric flow rate is at least equal to the adjusted set point;
• h) accumulating a total daily time said cleaning means is in an activated mode for each baghouse;
• and
• i) predicting an end of the useful life of the filter bags in each baghouse when an accumulated daily cleaning time exceeds a predetermined level.