Apparatus and method for separating dust constituents out of an explosive dust-air mixture

A method for separating dust constituents out of an explosive dust-air mixture comprising,

• a) flowing the dust-air mixture through a filter housing, the filter surfaces of which are cleaned down from time to time,
• b) dropping dust produced during the cleaning of the filter surfaces into an exchangeable dust container, which contains inert additive particles, where it is mixed with the additive particles,
• c) applying, before the start of a separation operation which uses the contents of a dust container for the first time, additive particles from the dust container to the filter surfaces,
• d) determining the weight of the dust container,
• e) commencing the separation operation, in which the dust constituents from the dust-air mixture settle on the filter surfaces covered with additive particles and when the filter surfaces are cleaned drop into the dust container as process dust, thereby increasing the weight of the dust container,
• f) monitoring the increase in the weight of the dust container occurring in method step e), and
• g) terminating the further use of the dust container when the increase in weight recorded in method step f) compared to method step d) has reached a defined value or when a defined service life of the dust container has been reached.