Filtration

Examples of gas filtration are common in everyday life. For example, every time a vacuum cleaner runs, it passes a stream of dust-filled air through a filtering bag inside the machine. Solid particles are trapped within the bag, while clean air passes out through the machine.

The removal of solid particles from air and other gases is a common problem in society. Air conditioning and heating systems today not only change the temperature of a room, but also remove dust, pollen, and other particles that may cause respiratory problems for humans.

The cleansing of waste gases is also a significant problem for many industrial operations. Effluent gases from coal- and oil-burning power plants, for example, usually contain solid particles that cause air pollution and acid rain. One way to remove these particles is to pass them through a filtering system that physically collects the particles leaving a clean (or cleaner) effluent gas.