When a large midwestern grain processor complained about the short life of his 12-oz polyester filter bags, we suggested trying our new “twice the life” Donaldson® Torit® Dura-Life™ filter bags. Dura-Life is designed to operate at a lower pressure drop, improving pulse cleaning and extending filter life.
The grain processor installed Dura-Life filters in its Kice dust collector, shown mounted atop the grain elevator in the photo at left. This collector filters the corn dust generated as the material goes into storage after grinding and milling. The dust particles are 1.0 micron and larger, and the dust loading is considered to be moderate to heavy.
The collector runs 24/7, and standard polyester bags only lasted 2-4 months. If they really “babied it,” they could get the bags to last 5 months. Now, with Donaldson Torit Dura-Life filter bags, they get 12 months of operation -- 4 times the life! (See table below.)
The initial cost difference of the Dura-Life bags was recouped in 32 days. This savings resulted from fewer bag changouts and the lower operating pressure drop, reducing annual fan & compressor operating costs.
The maintenance director noted that since the Dura-Life bags were “softer and slicker,” installation time was reduced by 1.5 hours, further reducing labor costs.
| Clean Bags |
3.5-4.0 "wg |
1.0-1.5 "wg |
| 1-2 weeks |
6.5-7.0 "wg |
3.5-4.5 "wg |
| 2-4 months |
8" change |
3.75"-4.75 "wg |
| 8 months |
2nd set of bags dead |
4.5 "wg |