P. Bächler, J. Meyer, A. Dittler

Aerosol Science and Technology, 2022, Vol. 56, No. 4, 394-402, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2022.2027335

Baghouse filters are used in a variety of gas cleaning applications in order to lower dust emissions and protect the environment and human health. Regarding health aspects, nanoparticle emissions of pulse-jet cleaned filters are of great interest. Due to the transient emission behavior of the filters, conventional SMPS measurement is not suitable (high sample times). A potential method for the detection of transient particle emission peaks after filter regeneration in the nanometer region is the application of an engine exhaust particle sizer (EEPS). In this study, the size resolved particle emission of pulse jet-cleaned surface filters in a test rig according to DIN ISO 11057 (different filter media) and a small scale baghouse filter measured with an optical spectrometer/particle counter (OPC) (Palas® Promo®2000 with Welas®2100 sensor - measurement range: 200 nm – 10,000 nm) is compared to that measured with an EEPS (TSI® EEPS 3090 - measurement range: 5.6 – 560 nm). Significant nanoparticle emissions could be measured after filter regeneration, which are outside of the OPC measurement range. The size fraction with the highest emission detected by both devices differs greatly and is lower than previously shown by optical detection methods (approx.. 200 nm for the EEPS and 300 nm for the OPC measurement). In the overlap region between the two devices above 200 nm, the particle size distributions are in good agreement.