Category
Dust Monitors for Ducts and Stacks
Continuously track dust levels in ducts and stacks and get alarms when they rise.
A dust monitor measures dust in a duct or stack continuously, so you can track trends and act before a rising reading becomes an emission. The Auburn PM-1 and PM-1Pro use charge-induction sensing rather than opacity, sensitive at the low dust levels typical after a bag filter. See stack dust monitoring for emissions reporting.
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Selection guide
Dust Monitors for Ducts and Stacks Guide
Dust monitor or opacity monitor?
- Opacity monitor: shines light across the duct or stack and measures how much of it is blocked by dust, which suits large stacks carrying higher dust loads.
- Charge-induction monitor: the PM-1 or PM-1Pro instead measures the electrical charge that dust particles induce as they pass a probe, making it more sensitive at the low dust levels found downstream of a bag filter, where an opacity beam would barely be attenuated.
Choosing a dust monitor
- Sensitivity needed: both models detect from 0.1 mg/m³. Choose the PM-1Pro when you need to see small changes for trending, and the PM-1 when a simple alarm threshold is enough.
- Output for your control system: the PM-1Pro gives a 4 to 20 mA analogue output plus two relay outputs, so it integrates directly with a DCS or PLC. The PM-1 offers relay or 4 to 20 mA outputs depending on version.
- Location: install on a straight section of duct or stack after the dust collector, where dust is well mixed across the cross-section. Avoid bends, dampers and points close to a fan.
- Trending versus alarm-only: the PM-1Pro's graphic display and Modbus, USB and Bluetooth connectivity suit sites that want a logged trend of filter performance over days or weeks. The PM-1 is built for a straightforward high-dust alarm.
- Regulatory reporting: where the reading feeds an emissions record, see Stack Dust Loss Monitoring Device for the compliance detail.
For leak detection at a specific baghouse, see Broken Bag Leak Detector. For powder flow detection in conveying lines using the same sensors, see Solid Flow Monitoring Device.
FAQ
Common questions
Is the PM-1 an opacity monitor?
No. It's a charge-induction particulate monitor. It measures the electrical charge that dust particles induce as they pass its probe, rather than blocking a light beam, which makes it more sensitive at the low dust levels found downstream of a bag filter than an opacity monitor would be.
Can a dust monitor connect to my DCS or PLC?
Yes. The PM-1Pro has a 4 to 20 mA analogue output and two relay outputs, so it wires directly into a standard DCS or PLC analogue input and digital alarm channels. Tell us what your system accepts and we'll confirm the wiring for the PM-1 as well.
Where should a duct dust monitor be installed?
On a straight section of duct or stack after your dust collector, where the dust is well mixed across the duct rather than settled to one side. Keep it away from bends, dampers and fan inlets, which disturb the flow and skew the reading.
What does a rising dust trend actually mean?
A steady climb over days or weeks usually points to a filter media slowly deteriorating or a seal starting to fail, well before the reading is high enough to trigger an alarm. Logging the trend, which the PM-1Pro does, lets you schedule filter maintenance before a sudden leak occurs.
What is the difference between a dust monitor and a stack emissions monitor?
Often it's the same PM-1 or PM-1Pro instrument used differently. A dust monitor gives you a general trend and alarm for process or maintenance purposes. A stack emissions monitor is set up and, where required, logged specifically to demonstrate compliance with your consent to operate. See our stack dust monitoring page for that detail.
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