Bag filter and pleated filter are two types of filtration equipment widely used in industrial and commercial fields. They have their own characteristics in design, filtration efficiency, applicable scenarios, etc. The following is a comparison of them in many aspects:
Structure and working principle
● Bag filter: It is usually a long bag made of textile fiber or felt fabric, such as polyester, polypropylene, etc. Some are also coated to enhance performance. It has a large filtration area and can capture larger particles and high particle loads. It uses the pores of fabric fibers to intercept solid particles in dust-laden gas. As the filtration process proceeds, dust accumulates more and more on the outer surface of the filter bag to form a dust layer, which further improves the filtration efficiency.
● Pleated filter: Pleated filter is usually composed of a thin sheet of filter medium folded into a pleated shape, such as a pleated paper or non-woven filter. Its pleated design increases the filtration area. During filtration, air flows through the pleated gaps and particles are intercepted on the surface of the filter medium.
Filtration Efficiency and Airflow Performance
● Filtration Efficiency: Pleated filters generally provide higher filtration efficiency, effectively capturing particles from 0.5-50 microns, with a filtration efficiency of up to 98%. Bag filters have a filtration efficiency of about 95% for particles from 0.1-10 microns, but they can also effectively intercept some larger particles.
● Airflow Performance: Pleated filters can provide better airflow distribution due to their pleated design, usually with a pressure drop of less than 0.5 inches of water column, which helps reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs. Bag filters have a relatively high pressure drop of about 1.0-1.5 inches of water column, but bag filters have a deeper filtration area and can handle higher particle loads, allowing longer operating time and maintenance intervals.
Durability and Lifespan
● Bag Filters: When handling abrasive or abrasive particles, bag filters are generally more durable and can withstand the impact and wear of particles, and have a longer service life. Some brands such as Aeropulse have proven to have a long service life.
● Pleated filter: In an abrasive environment, pleated filters may wear out faster and have a relatively short lifespan.
Maintenance and replacement
● Maintenance: Pleated filters generally do not require frequent cleaning, but cleaning may be difficult due to the presence of pleats. Bag filters are easy to clean, and the filter bags can be directly removed for knocking or cleaning, which is convenient for maintenance.
● Replacement: Bag filters are easy and quick to replace. Usually, the old bag can be directly removed and replaced with a new bag without other tools or complicated operations. Pleated filter replacement is relatively troublesome. The filter element must be removed from the housing first, and then the new filter element must be installed and fixed. The whole process is relatively cumbersome.
Applicable scenarios
● Bag filters: Suitable for capturing larger particles and high particle loads, such as dust collection in industrial production processes such as cement plants, mines, and steel plants, as well as some occasions where the filtration efficiency is not particularly high but a large flow of dust-containing gas needs to be handled.
● Pleated filter: More suitable for places that require efficient filtration of fine particles, limited space, and low air flow resistance requirements, such as clean room air filtration in the electronics, food, pharmaceutical and other industries, as well as some ventilation systems and dust removal equipment that require high filtration accuracy.
Cost
● Initial investment: Bag filters usually have a lower initial cost. In contrast, pleated filters have a higher initial investment cost than bag filters due to their complex manufacturing process and high material costs.
● Long-term cost: When dealing with fine particles, pleated filters can reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs, and have lower long-term costs. When dealing with large particles, bag filters have more advantages in long-term costs due to their durability and lower replacement frequency.
In practical applications, many factors such as filtration requirements, dust characteristics, space limitations, and budget should be considered comprehensively to choose bag filters or pleated filters.
Post time: Jun-24-2025