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A baghouse born again – part three

World Cement,


Shorter filter bags? Really?

To incorporate the idea above, shortening the bag length is required. This proportionally reduces the filtration area and increases the A/C ratio, something that is generally not considered because this specification is often seen as the one and only baghouse sizing parameter. When analysing the total package, however, creating this dead space provides a low can velocity and proves to be an excellent way to increase bag life, even with its slightly increased A/C ratio. The decision was made to include it.

Extended bag skirts also were added to absorb remaining lateral flows, which is an inexpensive enhancement to protect filter bags and increase their life.

Refurbish and upgrade execution

During one of the harshest American winters on record, IAC’s crews completed the repair work and installation of upgraded components, including new tubesheets, blowpipes, bags and cages.

The IAC crew planned and coordinated work with other contractors on site to meet the shutdown schedule, working through snowy days with temperatures far below freezing. Even with the difficult working conditions and the typical jobsite challenges, the job was finalised on schedule without a single accident or safety violation.

Conclusion

The solution for upgrading equipment can be determined by listing, evaluating and then eliminating options or alternatives. This, however, is not an easy task because the right option is probably not the simplest, the cheapest, the most elaborate or even the most expensive.

Every option can have positive and negative outcomes when considering initial investment, shutdown schedule, available space, operation costs, resulting performance, maintenance requirements and long-term reliability.

This project demonstrates that close collaboration between a solutions supplier and the end user is necessary during the project definition stage because the right decision cannot be made by one person or even a group of people in an organisation. It takes unbiased design knowledge and a thorough list of offerings to be presented and discussed with the equipment users at the plant – the only ones that are intimately aware of their issues, needs and budget.


This is part three of a three-part article written for World Cement’s May issue and abridged for the website. Subscribers can read the full May issue by signing in, and can also catch up on-the-go via our new app for Apple and Android. Non-subscribers can access a preview of the April 2016 issue here.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/02052016/ash-grove-iac-baghouse-refurbish-project-3/

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