Hi All,
I wanted to share what I hope is an idea that will improve efficiency for my single stage dust collector. I have recently finished a new shop and built my DC outside the tool area. As part of that I wanted to get the most CFM from the 2-1/2 HP Penn State Single Stage DC. I had this unit in a smaller shop and it performed well, but my piping system layout may have had too many corners. One of the biggest challenges I believe these units have is that for a overhead central collection system with the blower near the ground where the manufactures have put them one has to starts out with two 90 degree corners just to connect to the vertical pipe. The cyclones have a big advantage with the blower mounted near 8′ in height. To get away from this I removed my blower and mounted it to the ceiling of the DC Cabinet. I spoke with Penn state and they indicated that the blower should be able to handle this as long as the blower is mounted level. My application also required that the motor be mounted up-side down. The help support the weight of the motor is used some 1-1/4 steel strap around the motor. The framing is just 1-1/2 inche square steel and some angle iron bolted together. My blower now connects to my overhead ducting at a 9′ height. I will try and get some photos of the new shop up as soon as possible.
The photos show the install but I didn’t photo my motor support. Hope this is useful to others.
Aaron
Replies
Good thinking.
You could have also flipped the entire unit upside down and just turned over the "bag ring". If it is mounted high enough you can cut the bottom out of the lower bag and clamp it to the top of a suitably sized keg or barrel. Then you only remove the barrel to empty and the machine is a bit more efficient because the sawdust isn't reducing the surface area of the bags as it fills. If you forget to empty the barrel, and the bag fills too, then unclamp from the top of the bag and take out the bag and barrel together.
If you already considered this then...never mind. ;-)
Edited 3/13/2006 3:12 pm by QCInspector
Thanks for the ideas, my next step was to try and figure out a way to get rid of the bags or modify it so it would be easier to empty.
Aaron
I understand the "easier to empty" bit - or rather, "harder to reinstall". I made two changes to my Penn State unit: I bought some gummed, foam insulation stripping and applied it to the rim so that I get a better seal around the top of the bag; it really cuts out ALL leaking dust at the top.Then I installed several of the small office spring clamps (black u-shaped spring, wire, fold back handles) around the rim. I will use these (haven't filled a bag since I installed them) to support the bag-top at the proper height while I apply the band clamp.Hope it works.Jerry
My plan is to screw down a few small pieces of the rough side of velcro to help hold the bag.
Aaron
Hey, when you get this all finished and working would you care to post additional pictures of the complete system setup for the machine and bags? The overhead piping I wouldn't need to see, just the machine setup. I have a system like yours, and installed it like I was 'supposed' to and it works ok, but sure could use a boost here and there. If your setup works better, I am going to try it. If you don't see any real improvement then I'll wait for more ideas. I can't imagine this not working though. Mine also was used in a smaller shop and worked well, but growing pains make us do things different sometimes.
Things are sort of up and running, I turned on the system to discover that my "Vue Through" bag on the bottom had a rip in it. I will be fixing that and putting it to use the end of this week. From my initial quick start up, there did seem to be a significant increase in suction. But remember I also changed my entire DC pipe configuration. I had turned it on to clean out my table saw which had about 6" of dust built up on the bottom. By watching the dust through the 10' run of clear pipe none of the dust built up in the bends and I was throwing fist fulls of dust in by hand to clean out the saw.
I don't recall the exact figures but but after reading some of Bill Pentz's figures I think that a single 90 degree elbows as equivalent to about 15 feet of straight pipe. When I figured that I had two 90 degree elbows just to get me overhead, I was fighting the equivalent of roughly 30' of pipe, which is just about as long as any one leg of my DC system. For a system like mine or any of these single stage collectors, anything over 40' is probably pushing the limits.
This was a no brainer for me to try since I had the ceiling height available to do this.
I will post a few more photos after I get the bag fixed. Good luck
Aaron.
Perfect timing for your post - thanks for the ideas. I noticed the same problem - the blower being at floor level while my ductwork is overhead, and am contemplating something similar. Curious as to your mention that per Penn State it is ok as long as the blower is "level". It is a motor and impeller ... and the air passing through certainly does not know wh ich way is up. Why should it matter if it is level, and what do you mean by level in the first place?
Hello aaronb
I am very nterested in your idea.
I appreciate your sharing your idea and the results of your research with us.
I wont attack you or inferr that you are not telling the truth when you stated in your thread the following statement, (I spoke with Penn state and they indicated that the blower should be able to handle this as long as the blower is mounted level)
This reason is logical why not mount the blower level.
Any way thanks again please post results.
JayMac
When i said level, my intent was to say that the there are two motor bearings Penn State indicated should bear the weight equally. I guess the bearings are on the motor shaft. The motor is mounted so that the motor is in a level horizontal plane, just inverted (up side down) from the way Penn state mounts them on their bases.
Aaron
by the way after connecting it to my DC pipe there appears to be a significant improvment in performance.
Edited 3/20/2006 9:34 am ET by aaronb
"as long as the blower is "level"My guess is that they really meant "as long as the blower is HORIZONTAL".Jerry
I was more worried about the weight of the motor and providing adequate support to that. I placed two steel straps around the motor which I bolted to my steel frame rather than relying soly on the four mounting bolts that Penn State had installed between the motor and the steel base. I will post a few more photos as soon ASAP.
Aaron
Here are a few more photos of the finished ducting and the straps i used around the motor for additional support.
Aaron
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