The Cyclone (AMT255) filter needs cleaning regularly… but it is a pain to take all the way down and blow out. And every time we do it takes some damage. I had this idea to run an experiment.
Hypothesis: We can clean it in place almost as well as take it apart using a shop vac in a clever way to “push the dust out of the heppa filter stack and suck it up at the same time.
People and equipment needed
- 2 people
- A phone that can take video
- A ladder
- An empty shop vac with a new or very clean filter
- Air flow meter (can be borrowed from Laser, it is in the desk in the back of the left hand drawer.. way back). Be sure to return it. (optional)
- N95 Masks or respirators for all participants. Fine dust is dangerous
The experiment
- Choose a gate to take a base measurement from, and close all but 1 of the other gates.
- Turn on the Cyclone and take a measurement with the meter and write it down.
- Turn off the cyclone and close all the gates
- Take one good shop vac with a new/clean filter in it, make sure it is empty. Good idea it to take a photo for comparison.
- Attach one hose to the intake and pop in the bottom of the cyclone (see this youtube clip)
- Get a long hose on the other side of the output/blow side
- Use the blow side and start at the top and gently tap/pat with your hand and blow with the hose from the outside of the filter all around, working your way down. You will need to start on a ladder.
- During this part, somebody should be at the bottom with a phone taking video to see if we are getting a reasonable amount of material
- When finished open up the shop vac and document how much material was collected out of the filter.
- Next, go to the port where you took the base measurement from open that and close all but 1 of the other gates.
- Turn on the Cyclone and take a measurement with the meter and write it down.
I think this would be a two-person thing with somebody keeping things aligned on the bottom and seeing if we are even pulling material. We could check after a little bit at first by looking inside the shop vac. If it had a good result we could swap this into the AQM monthly cyclone care for the less effective thing that is there now.
How we will know if it is a success
- There will be significant material captured in the shop vac
- We will see significant material in the video as we do this at the bottom of the filter
- The draw will be improved significantly (see start and finish meter readings)