Dust Collection and Safety: Learning the Fundamentals

Todd Smith

Todd helps lead K-State's Advanced Manufacturing and Bulk Solids Technology Center and serves as a board member for several industry organizations. Previously, Todd spent 38 years in the industry, first at four different DuPont plants, then as engineering manager at MAC Equipment (now Schenck Process), and then general manager of Coperion K-Tron Salina and vice president of the company’s Global Systems Group.

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Jonathan McPherson

Jonathan McPherson is the director of K-State's Advanced Manufacturing and Bulk Solids Technology Center. Jonathan comes from industry having spent 11 years designing and commissioning material handling projects as a project engineer and developing business relationships in the markets of performance materials, battery and general industry as an account executive. His project backgrounds include plastics, PVC, paint, lead-acid battery, food and confectionary.

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Engineers, technicians, maintenance and operations personnel who work with dust collection systems. Sales and management personnel who work for companies using or selling this type of equipment or systems.

Participants are encouraged to bring their specific questions and issues for discussion.

This course provides practical explanations on sizing each component of a dust collection system and explains the importance of dust collection. 

A variety of industries and processes that require dust collection will be addressed. The basic theory of each topic will be explained along with a description of various equipment options.

Relevant formulas and example calculations also will be covered to provide an even better understanding.

• Overview of sizing and design information for dust collectors, ducting, hoods and fans.
  
• Why dust collection is important.  
• Industrial hygiene and cleanliness, recommendations and practices, government rules and guidelines. 
• Basics of dust collection at the source: Hood design and airflow requirements.
• Introduction to ducting design and balancing. 
• Testing material properties relevant for dust collection and duct design.  
• Testing material properties relevant for dust collector and filter design.
• Basics of cyclone design and performance. 
• Particulate air filtration basics and how it works.
• Air filter/dust collector selection and sizing.
• Filter media selection, for both filter cloth bags and pleated cartridges.
• Fan selection and sizing.
• Dust explosion prevention, hazard analysis and testing.
  
• Dust explosion mitigation: isolation, suppression, containment, vent panels, flameless quenching.
• Filter maintenance recommendations.
• Extending filter media life and filter media testing.
• Filter efficiency: Emission calculations for air permit purposes.