Baghouse, long filter assembly and method of installation

A filter assembly for use in a baghouse and adapted to hang in a substantially vertical direction, the baghouse being divided into first and second plenums by a substantially planar tubesheet having a plurality of openings, the first plenum having a first dimension taken normal to the tubesheet, the second plenum having a second dimension taken normal to the tubesheet and being greater than the first dimension, said filter assembly comprising:

• a first filter portion open at opposite first and second ends in which said first end is adapted for fluid communication with the first plenum, said first filter portion including a tubular member, a pleated filter element disposed about said tubular member for support, and a first attachment at said second end of said first filter portion fixed to said tubular member, said tubular member is fixed to said first and second attachments with sufficient strength to support the weight of at least one other filter portion;
• a second filter portion open at a first end, said second filter portion including a second attachment at the first end of said second filter portion, a tubular member extending from said second attachment, a pleated filter element disposed about said tubular member for support, and a plate at one end of said second filter portion to define a closed second end of said second filter portion;
• and
• a clamping mechanism to sealingly connect said first and second attachment portions together of said first and second filter portions and permit fluid communication between said first and second filter portions, said clamping mechanism capable of supporting the operational weight of said second filter portion.

A method of installing a relatively long filter assembly in a baghouse that is divided into first and second plenums by a substantially planar tubesheet having a plurality of openings, the first plenum having a first dimension taken normal to the tubesheet and the second plenum having a second dimension taken normal to the tubesheet greater than the first dimension, and at least one filter assembly is adapted to extend into the second plenum, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first filter portion with a first attachment at a first end, a tubular member fixed to and extending from the first attachment, a pleated filter element disposed adjacent to the tubular member for support and a second attachment fixed to and extending from the tubular member at a second open end of the first filter portion through which fluid may flow;
• providing a second filter portion with a third attachment at a first open end of the second filter portion through which fluid may flow, a tubular member fixed to and extending from the third attachment, a pleated filter element disposed adjacent to the tubular member for support and a plate at a second end of the second filter portion to define a closed end of the filter assembly;
• and
• connecting together the second attachment of the first filter portion with the third attachment of the second filter portion with a clamping mechanism having sufficient strength to support the operational weight of filter portions located on a side of the clamping mechanism opposite the first attachment of the first filter portion.

A baghouse comprising:

• a housing divided into first and second plenums by a substantially planar tubesheet having a plurality of openings therethrough, the first plenum having a first dimension taken normal to the tubesheet and the second plenum having a second dimension taken normal to the tubesheet and being greater than the first dimension;
• and
• a plurality of filter assemblies supported by the tubesheet to each hang in a substantially vertical direction, each of said plurality of said filter assemblies including:
• a first filter portion including a first attachment for mounting to a tubesheet at a first end of said first filter portion, a tubular member fixed to and extending from said first attachment, a pleated filter element disposed about and supported by said tubular member, and a second attachment fixed to said tubular member at a second end of said filter portion and which defines an opening through which fluid may flow, said tubular member fixed to said first and second attachments with a strength sufficient to support the operational weight of at least one other filter portion;
• a second filter portion including a third attachment at a first end and which defines an opening through which fluid may flow, a tubular member fixed to and extending from said third attachment, a pleated filter element disposed about and supported by said tubular member, and a plate at a second end of said second filter portion and which defines a closed end of said filter assembly;
• and
• a clamping mechanism to sealingly connect said second attachment of said first filter portion with said third attachment of said second filter portion to permit fluid communication between said first and second filter portions, said clamping mechanism having sufficient strength to support the weight of filter portions located on the side of said clamping mechanism opposite the first attachment of said first filter portion, at least one of said filter assemblies having a length greater than the first dimension of said first plenum when said first and second filter portions are connected together.