Pleated Filters for Dust Collector Applications
The BCE pleated filter element has a nominal 6″ outside diameter, fits into the same tube sheet as a bag, and consists of a filter medium folded into numerous pleats around a central perforated core. Pleated filters can be top or bottom removal and, like bag filters, are cleaned by reverse pulse jet.
Depending on pleat spacing, a 36″ long pleated filter can have two to four times the filter area of an 8-foot long bag, offering significant performance benefits.
Advantages of BCE Pleated Filters
- Larger filter area per element allows for smaller housings and lower air-to-cloth ratios.
- Surface filtration is easier to clean and operates at lower pressure drops than depth filtration in bags.
- Reduced dust penetration through pleated elements compared to typical filter bags.
- Less dust is deposited on adjacent bags during cleaning pulses due to reverse air flow.
- Pleated filters can retrofit existing bag collectors on the same tube sheet.
- Can resolve high pressure drop, bag blinding, or process changes requiring higher air volume capacity.
Considerations & Limitations
- Not suitable for dusts that pack or agglomerate.
- High-temperature pleated elements can be expensive.
- Limited material choices compared to filter bags: typically spun-bond polyester.
- High-temperature or specialty options include Nomex and Ryton (up to 375°F), PTFE membranes, and oleophobic finishes for sticky or oily dusts.
- Retrofit analysis is recommended to ensure pulse system compatibility (valve size, blowpipe orifices, venturis).
Expert Consultation: BCE filtration specialists can evaluate your system and determine whether a pleated filter retrofit can improve performance, reduce pressure drop, and extend filter life.