Baghouse Air Modelling

Client: Outotec Pty Ltd
Year: 2007-2008
Project Reference: 07078
WRL Technical Report: Optimising Bag Filters Inlets- Test Results (2008/13)

In 2007 WRL was commissioned to undertake model investigations of a baghouse. Baghouses consist of a number of compartments that contain screens and many vertically supported bags in bundles that extract particles from the flue gas. Baghouses are used in many industrial processes such as coal fired power generation. The baghouse has a number of elements which need to be carefully designed based on model result. The screens that direct the incoming flue gases require gases to evenly distributed, whilst not causing erosion to the bags or creating high velocities that may affect the particle trapping process.

A 1:10 scale model of the baghouse was constructed at WRL. Air is drawn through the model by a large fan and the flow rate is monitored at the inlet by a standard conical device tapped to a inclined manometer. The model pressure in the inlet compartments and outlet is monitored by a network of manometers. Detailed mapping of the velocity distribution is undertaken with hot wire anemometers.

The investigation determined the optimum screen porosity and the configuration of the inlet compartment.