* Metal processing plants
* Recycling facilities
Dust collection systems consist of blowers, dust filters, filter-cleaning systems, dust-containment receptacles, and dust-removal systems. For dust collectors to operate most efficiently, dust containment receptacles--which store the contaminants removed from the air--must be isolated from the outside so that these contaminants cannot leak back out. To ensure this is the case, these receptacles must be connected directly to the rest of the machinery, or airlocks must be used.
The Importance of Airlocks
When looking at how industrial dust collection systems work, it's clear why airlocks are an essential part. Without an airlock, dust would simply escape via the discharge valve, essentially negating the whole system. For systems under vacuum--which are more commonly used--this lowers removal efficiency, as much of the dust returns to contaminate clean air. For pressurized systems, this allows air to blow dust everywhere, creating additional and unnecessary maintenance costs.