Pulse Jet Baghouse Calculator
Determine continuous compressed air supply demand (SCFM), free air volume per pulse, manifold header surge tank volume, and air compressor horsepower.
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Tested hardware and components for high reliability
Reverse Pulse-Jet Cleaning Aerodynamics & Air Delivery
Pulse-jet dust collectors clean rows of filter bags using short, supersonic bursts of compressed air (typically 80 to 120 milliseconds in duration) injected through engineered venturis mounted in the bag tops. The shockwave dislodges the accumulated dust cake from the outer surface of the bags.
Compressed Air Formulas
- Free Air Consumption per Pulse (SCF):
SCF = C_v × [ (P_psig + 14.7) / 14.7 ] × (Duration_ms / 60,000) × Constant
Typical 1.5" valves consume approximately 3.0 to 4.5 SCF per 100 ms pulse at 90 psig. - Continuous CFM Demand:
Continuous SCFM = (SCF per pulse × 60 seconds) / Pulse Interval (seconds) - Manifold Header Sizing:
The compressed air header pipe mounted directly above the valves acts as a local pressure reservoir. It must be sized large enough so pressure does not drop by more than 10% to 15% during a pulse blast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why must compressed air for pulse-jet baghouses be extremely dry?
Moisture in pulse air condenses when discharged into the baghouse, mixing with hygroscopic dust to form a cementitious "mud" on the fabric that causes irreversible blinding.
What is the optimal pulse duration for cleaning filter bags?
The optimal pulse duration is between 80 and 150 milliseconds. Longer pulses waste massive amounts of compressed air without providing additional cleaning shock energy.
How does on-demand pulse cleaning save compressed air?
On-demand cleaning fires pulses only when the tubesheet differential pressure exceeds a set threshold (e.g. 4.5" w.g.), reducing air usage by 50% to 80% compared to continuous timer pulsing.