Dust collector with monitor air filter

Abstract

A dust collector having a monitor air filter and method for filtering are provided. In one embodiment, a dust collector includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a main air filter access port sealable by a main air filter door, and a monitor air filter access port sealable by a monitor air filter door. A first tube sheet and a second tube sheet are disposed in the housing. The first tube sheet separates a dirty air plenum from a clean air plenum, and has at least one first filter aperture. The second tube sheet separates the clean air plenum from an exhaust air plenum, and has at least one second filter aperture.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for filtering air, comprising:
 flowing air into a housing and through a main air filter, the housing having a collection hopper positioned below the main air filter from which particulate separated from the air by the main air filter may be removed;   flowing air exiting the main air filter through a monitor air filter; and   monitoring the monitor air filter for a change in pressure drop indicative of a leak in the main air filter.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 flowing air exiting the monitor air filter out of the housing and through an air mover. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the air mover is coupled to a top of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein monitoring comprises:
 flowing air through a plurality of main air filters disposed in the housing;   flowing air exiting the plurality of main air filters through a plurality of monitor air filters and out of the housing; and   detecting a change in pressure drop across at least one of the monitor air filters.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting the change in pressure drop comprises:
 separately monitoring pressure drop across each of the monitor air filters.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein flowing air exiting the plurality of main air filters through the plurality of monitor air filters and out of the housing comprises:
 maintaining the air exiting the housing at a reduced pressure relative to an environment outside of the housing.   
     
     
         20 . A dust collector comprising:
 a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a hopper;   a first tube sheet disposed in the housing, the first tube sheet facing and exposed to the hopper, the first tube sheet and hopper bounding a dirty air plenum defined inside the housing, the inlet open to the dirty air plenum,   a second tube sheet disposed in the housing and separating a clean air plenum from an exhaust air plenum, the exhaust air plenum open to the outlet, the second tube sheet exposed to the first tube sheet and defining the clean air plenum therebetween;   at least one first filter aperture formed through the first tube sheet and fluidly coupling the dirty air plenum to the clean air plenum;   at least one second filter aperture formed through the second tube sheet and fluidly coupling the clean air plenum to the exhaust air plenum; and   a sensor configured to detect a pressure differential across a second tube sheet.   
     
     
         21 . The dust collector of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 an air mover mounted to the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The dust collector of  claim 21 , wherein the air mover is mounted to a top of the housing. 
     
     
         23 . The dust collector of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a first mounting mechanism adapted to retain one or more main air filters to the first tube sheet; and   a second mounting mechanism adapted to retain one or more monitor air filters to the second tube sheet.   
     
     
         24 . The dust collector of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a door formed at a bottom of the housing and operable to remove collected particulate from the collection hopper.   
     
     
         25 . A dust collector comprising:
 a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a hopper;   a first tube sheet disposed in the housing;   a second tube sheet disposed in the housing and exposed to the first tube sheet;   an exhaust air plenum defined in the housing and open to the outlet;   a dirty air plenum defined in the housing between the hopper and first tube sheet;   a clean air plenum defined in the housing between the first and second tube sheets, the clean air plenum communicating with the dirty air plenum through the first tube sheet and communicating with the exhaust air plenum through the second tube sheet;   a first mounting mechanism adapted to retain one or more main air filters to the first tube sheet in a position exposed to the hopper;   a second mounting mechanism adapted to retain one or more monitor air filters to the second tube sheet;   a sensor configured to detect a pressure differential across a second tube sheet; and   a filter cleaning system operable to direct at least a portion of dust cake formed on the one or more main air filters into the hopper.