Performance Evaluation of Gas Cleaning Industrial Filters using a Bi-Modal Test Aerosol for Dust Loading Studies

Typical size distribution of emission particulates is bi-modal in shape with particles in the fine mode (< 2.0 $\mu\textrm{m}$) and the coarse mode. An experimental study of pressure drop across the industrial gas cleaning filters has been conducted using particle mixture of fine alumina and coarse Arizona dusts with a rotating aerosol disperser to generate the bi-modal test aerosol. Pressure drop increased linearly with increasing mass loading. The pressure drop was found to be strongly dependent upon the mass ratio of fine to coarse particles. The smaller the mass ratio of fine to coarse particles and the higher face velocity are, the faster pressure drop rises. The fine particles and the greater inertia of the particle moving fast would cause a denser cake formation on the filter surface, resulting in a greater specific resistance to the gas flow.