EPA/600/ETV-10/023
April 2010
Environmental Technology Verification
Baghouse Filtration Products
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
L3650 Filtration Media
(Tested November-December 2009)
Prepared by
RTI International
HRTI
INTERNATIONAL
ETS Incorporated
Under a Cooperative Agreement with
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
wEPA
ET/ ET/
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THE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION
PROGRAM
E
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The Air Pollution Control Technology Center (APCT Center) is operated by RTI International* (RTI), in
cooperation with EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL). The APCT Center
evaluates the performance of baghouse filtration products (BFPs) used primarily to control PM25
emissions (i.e., particles 2.5 urn and smaller in aerodynamic diameter). This verification statement
summarizes the test results for W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.'s L3650 filtration media.
VERIFICATION TEST DESCRIPTION
All tests were performed in accordance with the APCT Center draft Generic Verification Protocol for
Baghouse Filtration Products, available at http://www.epa.gov/etv/pubs/05_vp_bfp.pdf The protocol is
based on and describes modifications to the equipment and procedures described in Verein Deutscher
Ingenieure (VDI) 3926, Part 2, Testing of Filter Media for Cleanable Filters under Operational
Conditions, December 1994. The VDI document is available from Beuth Verlag GmbH, 10772 Berlin,
Germany. The protocol also includes requirements for quality management and QA, procedures for
product selection, auditing of the test laboratories, and the test reporting format.
Outlet particle concentrations from a test fabric were measured with an impactor equipped with
appropriate substrates to filter and measure PM2s within the dust flow. Outlet particle concentrations
were determined by weighing the mass increase of dust collected in each impactor filter stage and
dividing by the gas volumetric flow through the impactor.
Particle size was measured while injecting the test dust into the air upstream of the baghouse filter
sample. The test dust was dispersed into the flow using a brush-type dust feeder. The particle size
distributions in the air were determined both upstream and downstream of the test filter fabric to provide
accurate results for penetration through the test filter of PM25. All tests were performed using a constant
18.4 ± 3.6 g/dscm (8.0 ± 1.6 gr/dscf) loading rate, a 120 ± 6.0 m/h (6.6 ± 0.3 fpm) filtration velocity
[identical to gas-to-cloth ratio (G/C**)], and aluminum oxide test dust with a measured mass mean
aerodynamic diameter maximum of 1.5 um (average of three impactor runs). All BFPs are tested in their
initial (i.e., clean) condition.
Each of the three test runs consisted of the following segments:
• Conditioning period—10,000 rapid-pulse cleaning cycles
• Recovery period—30 normal-pulse cleaning cycles
• Performance test period—6-hour filter fabric test period with impactor.
VERIFIED TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. provided the following information about their product. The L3650 is a
membrane / fiberglass fabric laminate with a weight of 22 oz/yd2 (746 g/m2) and used in both GORE®
Filtration Products and PRISTYNE® Filter Media Type 6250. Figure 1 is a photograph of the fabric.
Sample material was received as nine 46 x 91 cm (18 x 36 in.) swatches marked with the manufacturer's
model number, year and month of manufacture, and cake side. Three of the swatches were selected at
random for preparing three test specimens 150 mm (5.9 in.) in diameter.
* RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.
"Filtration velocity and gas-to-cloth ratio are used interchangeably and are defined as the gas flow rate divided by
the surface area of the cloth.
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W.L Gore
PC# L3650
Gore™ Membrane Fiberglass
Figure 1. Photograph of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.'s L3650 filtration media.
VERIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE
Verification testing of the W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.'s L3650 filtration media was performed during
the period of November 30, 2009, to December 8, 2009, for standard test conditions at the test facility of
ETS Incorporated, 1401 Municipal Road NW, Roanoke, VA 24012. Test conditions are listed in Table 1.
The overall test results summarized in Table 2 represent the averages of three individual tests.
The APCT Center quality manager has reviewed the test results and the quality control (QC) data and has
concluded that the data quality objectives given in the generic verification protocol and test/QA plan have
been attained.
This verification statement addresses five aspects of filter fabric performance: filter outlet PM2s
concentration, filter outlet total mass concentration, pressure drop, filtration cycle time, and mass gain on
the filter fabric. Users may wish to consider other performance parameters, such as temperature, service
life, and cost when selecting a filter fabric for their application.
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Table 1. Test Conditions for Baghouse Filtration Products
Brand/Model: W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.'s L3650 Filtration Media
Test Parameter
Dust concentration
Filtration velocity (G/C)
Pressure loss before cleaning
Tank pressure
Valve opening time
Air temperature
Relative humidity
Total raw gas stream flow rate
Sample gas stream flow rate
Number of cleaning cycles
During conditioning period
During recovery period
Performance test duration
Value
18.4 ± 3.6 g/dscm (8.0 ± 1 .6 gr/dscf)
120±6m/h(6.6±0.3fpm)
1, 000 ±12 Pa (4 ±0.05 in. w.g.)
0.5 ± 0.03 MPa (75 ± 5 psi)
50 ± 5 ms
25 ± 2 °C (77 ± 4 °F)
50 ± 1 0%
5.8 ± 0.3 m3/h (3.4 ± 0.2 cfm)
1.13 ± 0.06 m3/h (0.67 ± 0.03 cfm)
10,000 cycles
30 cycles
6h±1 s
Table 2. Baghouse Filtration Product Three-Run Average Test Results
for W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.'s L3650 Filtration Media
Verification Parameter
Outlet particle concentration at standard conditions3
PM25, g/dscm
(gr/dscf)
Total mass, g/dscmb
(gr/dscf)
Average residual pressure drop (A P), cm w.g. (in. w.g.)
Initial residual A P, cm w.g. (in. w.g.)
Residual A P increase, cm w.g. (in. w.g.)
Filtration cycle time, s
Mass gain of test sample filter, g (gr)
Number of cleaning cycles
At Verification Test
Conditions
<0. 0000167°
(<0. 0000073)
<0. 0000167
(<0. 0000073)
2.72(1.07)
2.64(1.04)
0.21 (0.08)
180
0.08(1.29)
120
a Standard conditions: 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) and 20 °C (68 °F). One or more of the impactor
substrate weight changes for these results were near the reproducibility of the balance.
b Total mass includes the mass of PM2 5 and larger particles that passed through the fabric.
meter. The detection limit is for a 6-hour test and based on VDI 3926.
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In accordance with the generic verification protocol, this verification statement is applicable to filter
media manufactured between the signature date of the verification statement and 3 years thereafter.
signed by Sally Gutierrez 5/7/2010 signed by Jason Hill 4/5/2010
Sally Gutierrez Date Jason Hill Date
Director Director
National Risk Management Research Laboratory Air Pollution Control Technology Center
Office of Research and Development RTI International
United States Environmental Protection Agency
NOTICE: ETV verifications are based on an evaluation of technology performance under specific, predetermined
criteria and the appropriate quality assurance procedures. EPA and RTI make no express or implied warranties as to
the performance of the technology and do not certify that a technology will always operate as verified. The end user
is solely responsible for complying with any and all applicable federal, state, and local requirements. Mention of
commercial product names does not imply endorsement.
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