The Importance of Filtration in Industrial and Aeration Blowers

Please note that this article is based on Episode 4 of What Floats Your Bubble?, our aeration blowers podcast. Listen to Episode 4 here.

Have you ever considered the importance of filtration in blowers? When thinking about a new equipment purchase, it’s typical to immerse yourself in understanding nuances of different technology types; what’s less common is to consider the consumable parts that are essential to this equipment’s operation, including filters. In fact, filtration is typically an afterthought, even though filters are key in ensuring high air quality, reducing pressure drop, and keeping your application on track! That’s why we’re covering a few topics regarding filtration in blower technologies: washable filters, filtration's role in energy efficiency, and the importance of using high-quality filters.

• What are Washable Filters in Blowers? Washable filters are a popular option on the market, and the concept sounds great in theory! These types of filters, as their name would suggest, are washable; when the filter is showing signs of age (or your pressure gauge is showing signs of pressure drop), you simply rinse the filter off, let it dry, and put it back. However, by washing the filter, you’re moving the dirt, dust, and other contaminants from the dirty side to the clean side. When you add water to these contaminants, you get mud; when the mud dries and a vacuum is created (by the suction motion from the air movement), the mud is pulled through the filtration element. This means the filter loses the effectiveness and is pulling the contaminants into your system!
• Filters Help with Energy Efficiency. We know that the main purpose of filters is to keep particles out of your equipment, but that doesn’t mean that this is their only job! Filters play a huge role in the energy efficiency of your system. For example, the pressure drop across a clean filter has a minimal impact on your system; however, each psi added in pressure drop equates to a significant increase in blowers’ energy consumption. This means that the pressure drop across a dirty filter in a blower is going to cost you enough in energy in one month to pay for the cost of the filter itself! Make sure to keep your blower system’s filters clean, check them at least once a month, and certainly replace after 2,000 hours of use (or more often if your application is in a dirty environment).
• High-Quality Filters Improve System Performance. When determining the filters to use for your blower system, consider the upfront cost versus the long-term quality. The higher quality filter you use, the less you must worry about the cost of it damaging your equipment further down the line. It’s simple: you might pay more upfront for a quality filter, but by investing in one, you’re helping to prevent catastrophic damage to equipment’s airend or element.

Listen to the full version of the podcast here, and learn more about Atlas Copco’s portfolio of industrial and aeration blowers by visiting us at www.atlascopco.com/blowers-usa!