A TWENTY FIRST CENTURY TOOL FOR IMPROVING BAGHOUSE PERFORMANCE

摘要

For most of the Twentieth Century QA/QC programs for filter fabrics and baghouse bags have consisted primarily of specifying and testing fabric strength and permeability. The key parameter, filtration performance, lacked a standard method and therefore was normally not part of most QA/QC programs. In recent years, as part of EPA's Environmental Technology Verification program (ETV), a filtration test method and protocol was evolved from a European filtration testing device & procedure. Subsequently an ASTM method was formalized based on this ETV Baghouse Filtration Products test. Currently an ISO method is being developed largely based on this same method. The commercial implications of this test procedure being standardized are that current QA/QC programs are including the filtration performance test requirement. In the case of at least one DEQ code, baghouse operators are being allowed less frequent baghouse emissions testing if an ETV verified product is employed. In addition to describing the test method and providing test results, this paper also describes the employment of this new filtration test method in both QA/QC programs and the enforcement of baghouse emission requirements. It also discusses the potential uses and benefits of the test method as a tool for improving baghouse performance.