Size collectors using airflow and cloth area data. Compare total, net, and online operating ratios. Make faster construction decisions with cleaner, safer plant performance.
Use direct cloth area or build the area from bag dimensions.
This sample shows how different assumptions change gross, net, and effective air-to-cloth ratios.
| Scenario | Airflow | Total Cloth Area | Unavailable Cloth | Compartments | Offline | Effective Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulse-jet plant collector | 80,000 CFM | 24,000 ft² | 5% | 8 | 1 | 4.010 : 1 |
| Shaker unit | 24,000 CFM | 10,500 ft² | 4% | 4 | 1 | 3.048 : 1 |
| Reverse-air collector | 36,000 CFM | 20,000 ft² | 3% | 10 | 2 | 2.320 : 1 |
Gross air-to-cloth ratio = Airflow ÷ Total cloth area
Net cloth area = Total cloth area × (1 − Unavailable cloth % ÷ 100)
Online cloth area = Net cloth area × (Active compartments ÷ Total compartments)
Effective air-to-cloth ratio = Airflow ÷ Online cloth area
Design ratio = Design airflow ÷ Online cloth area
Area per bag = π × Diameter × Length
Total cloth area = Area per bag × Number of bags
This calculator uses cylindrical side area for the fabric surface.
Units are converted internally to feet and square feet before the ratios are calculated.
It is the airflow passing through each square foot of filter media. Lower ratios usually mean gentler filtration. Higher ratios can reduce collector size, but they often increase pressure drop and cleaning demand.
Gross ratio ignores unavailable cloth and offline compartments. Effective ratio reflects real operating area during maintenance or isolation. That makes it a better design and reliability check for multi-compartment collectors.
No. Dust loading, particle size, moisture, stickiness, and media type still matter. Use this calculator as a sizing and review tool, then confirm final values with process-specific performance data.
Use bag dimensions when you know the bag count, diameter, and length but do not have a verified total cloth area. Direct area is better when vendor data already gives installed filter area.
An airflow margin tests how the collector behaves if process demand rises later. It helps you judge whether future changes may push the unit outside your preferred operating band.
It is the portion of cloth you do not want to count as active area. Examples include blinded bags, blanked positions, damaged media, or conservative deductions used in design reviews.
No. They are common screening ranges. Real acceptable ratios depend on dust properties, collector geometry, cleaning intensity, temperature, humidity, and pressure-drop limits.
Yes. It is useful for checking temporary or permanent dust collection sizing on construction and industrial projects. Pair it with fan, duct, capture, and emissions review before final selection.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.