Baghouse operating as a product collector downstream of flash dryers handling high concentrations of platinum group metals concentrate (application in South Africa).
The plant experienced numerous problems including emissions of valuable platinum and filter bag blinding after two years of service. The plant suffered a decrease in production and there were often shortages of dry concentrate to feed the matte smelting furnaces.
Installed GORE® membrane/acrylic felt filter bags and guaranteed an emission rate of 10 mg/Nm³ and a bag life of three years. At the same time, the tube sheets in all compartments were rewelded to eliminate leaks.
Gore completed the bag change and rewelded in 48 hours to minimize downtime. The visible emissions from the stack were eliminated. Weekly bag changeouts were also stopped. The plant was able to eliminate the production bottleneck, while the filter operated at a low pressure drop of 100 mm (3.94") w.g. After successful installation of GORE® membrane filters in the first flash dryer baghouse (containing 1440 bags), Gore was subsequently asked to fit the next flash dryer baghouse with 1440 membrane bags. The customer has since built a new baghouse with 3000 bags for which GORE® membrane filter bags have been specified.
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