Sand Dust | Pulse-Jet Baghouse | Cartridge Dust Collectors | Cyclone Pre-Separators

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Advanced Dust Collection System for Air Purification in the Sandblasting Zone
https://torch-air.com/news/2017-11-07

Cartridge Dust Collectors for Purifying Air of Industrial Dust
https://torch-air.com/products/cartri...

Cheat Sheets for Environmental Engineers
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Case Studies of Industrial Air Purification
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BagHouse:
https://torch-air.com/products/baghouse

Scrubber:
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Host and Author: Michael Klepik.

Michael Klepik is an expert in the field of air purification. Mr. Klepik specializes in dust collectors, baghouses, scrubbers, and other equipment and technologies for industrial air pollution control.
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🏜️ Sand Dust
Filtration Challenges & Best Dust-Collection Systems

Sand dust is one of the heaviest, most abrasive, and most destructive dust types handled in industrial environments.
It appears in foundries, mining, concrete batching, sand blasting, glass production, construction materials, and aggregate handling.

Because sand dust destroys filters, erodes ductwork, and presents a serious air-quality hazard (silica exposure), it requires robust, abrasion-resistant dust-collection systems.

🔍 What Sand Dust Is

Sand dust may consist of:

silica dust (SiO₂)

crushed mineral fines

quartz particles

aggregate fines from crushing & screening

sand blasting media

refractory sand

masonry dust

foundry sand

dry beach sand fines

Particle size

Coarse: 50–300 microns

Medium: 10–50 microns

Fine respirable silica:10 microns (most dangerous)

Properties:

extremely abrasive

dense and heavy

high wear on filters and ducting

dangerous for lungs (crystalline silica - silicosis)

non-combustible, but still harmful

Because sand dust is usually not explosive, the engineering focus is abrasion resistance and respiratory safety.

⚠️ Hazards of Sand Dust
1️⃣ Silica Exposure (Respiratory Hazard)

Fine crystalline silica causes:

silicosis

lung scarring

respiratory failure

cancer risk

OSHA exposure violations

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 (Silica Standard) applies.

2️⃣ Severe Abrasion

Sand destroys:

filter media

duct elbows

fans

rotary valves

screw conveyors

baghouse hoppers

Abrasive wear is the #1 engineering challenge.

3️⃣ Heavy Material Loading

Sand dust loads equipment quickly — airflow must be maintained.
⭐ 1. Pulse-Jet Baghouse (BEST OVERALL SOLUTION)

Perfect for fine silica dust and high loads
Torch-Air models: Blizzard, Blizzard BIG, Blizzard RS, Blizzard 50, Blizzard NEW

Pulse-jet baghouses are the industry standard for sand dust, especially silica and abrasive mineral dust.

Why baghouses work best:

Handles high dust loading

With PTFE bags, captures fine silica 5 microns

Very durable with heavy-gauge steel construction

Continuous duty — no downtime

Works with abrasive materials

Compatible with abrasion-resistant inlet designs

Withstands harsh outdoor aggregate environments

Recommended filter bags:

Polyester felt with PTFE membrane (best for silica)

Aramid for high temps (glass & foundry sand)

Polyester antistatic if mixed with other combustible dusts

Important engineering note:

A primary cyclone should be used before a baghouse for heavy abrasive sand.

⭐ 2. Cartridge Dust Collectors

Best for fine, dry sand dust in lighter-duty environments
Torch-Air models: FOEHN Modular, FOEHN Push-Pull, FOEHN Vent Tower

Use cartridges for:

sand blasting cabinets

small foundry booths

shot-blast rooms

laboratory sand testing

packaging of silica sand

sand dryers (low dust volume areas)

Limitations:

Pleats erode quickly in abrasive environments

Not ideal for high dust load

Must use abrasion-resistant inlet baffles

Recommended media:

Nanofiber with PTFE

Strong pleats

Antistatic optional

Use cartridges only when dust is fine, constant, and moderate in volume.

⭐ 3. Cyclone Pre-Separators (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for Sand)

Torch-Air models: Vortex Cyclone, Torch Cyclone Baghouse Combo

Cyclones are critical because sand dust is:

heavy

abrasive

large in particle size

destructive to bags and cartridges

What a cyclone does:

removes 70%–95% of coarse sand particles

protects the baghouse bags from abrasion

reduces filter wear

decreases pulse-jet frequency

prevents hopper overloading

stabilizes system airflow

For sand dust, a cyclone is not optional — it's necessary.

Cyclones are installed:

before baghouses

before cartridge collectors (rare but possible)

🏭 Best Dust Collectors for Sand Dust

Because sand dust is dense and abrasive, the system must be rugged and abrasion-resistant.
Below is the correct equipment for each application.