What Is a Pleated Filter Bag in a Pulse-Jet Baghouse?
A pleated filter bag is a flexible filter bag manufactured with a pleated geometry to increase the effective filtration area within your standard baghouse dust collector. Unlike pleated filter cartridges, FiltEdge pleated bag filters retain the traditional bag-and-cage structure and are supported by a conventional bag cage during operation.
By increasing effective filtration area without changing your dust collector, bag pleated filters offer you a practical solution for emission improvement and airflow optimization in your selected baghouse applications.
Pleated filter bags are not self-supporting and must be used with a properly designed bag cage.
FiltEdge Pleated Filter Bag Options and Surface
FiltEdge pleated filter bags can utilize most of the same filter media and processing techniques as your standard baghouse filter bags. However, due to the pulse-jet cleaning mechanism and the pleated structure, rigid materials and certain finishing processes are unsuitable or can significantly reduce your dust collector pleated bag filter service life. Your quality pleated filter bags require pleated filter media with high flexibility and good fatigue resistance.
Although a wide range of baghouse filter media is available, their applicable operating conditions are often limited. Polyester needle felt and membrane-laminated materials are the most commonly used and proven options for you, and are generally suitable for dry, free-flowing, non-sticky dust applications. Other filter media types typically require increased pleated type bag filter pleat spacing and carefully controlled cleaning intensity to ensure you stable operation and acceptable pulse pleat filter bags service life.
Pleated Filter Bags-Part of the FiltEdge Filtration
Pleated filter bags are one of several dust collector filtration solutions offered by FiltEdge.
Depending on operating conditions, standard filter bags or pleated filter cartridges may provide you a more suitable baghouse solution.
As a pleated filter bag manufacturer with in-house production facilities in China, FiltEdge focuses on helping you select the most appropriate filtration solution for your specific application—rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all product.
Click the image below to explore the relevant page, or reach out directly to FiltEdge, your trusted pleated filter bag supplier served customers from over 50 countries, for assistance.
Standard Filter bags
Pleated Filter bags
Pleated Filter Cartridges
How Pleated Filter Bags Work in Pulse-Jet Baghouse Systems
Pleated filter bags operate under the same fundamental principles as your standard filter bags:
Dust-laden gas passes through the pleated bag filter media from the outside to the inside.
Particles are captured on the surface and within the bag pleated filter media structure.
Accumulated dust is periodically removed by pulse-jet cleaning.
The key difference lies in the pleated geometry. In practice, this geometry increases the effective filtration area and reduces the system air-to-cloth ratio within the same housing size. However, these advantages come with additional sensitivity to operating conditions.
Key Baghouse Benefits of Pleated Filter Bags
- Increased effective filtration area, typically 1.5–2.5 times under suitable designs
- Lower effective air-to-cloth ratio(0.6-1.0m/min)contributing to improved emission control under suitable operating conditions.
- Reduced initial pressure drop(by 10-20%) in suitable applications, promoting the formation of a more uniform and stable dust cake
- Lower stable operating pressure drop (by 10-20%)in many pulse-jet systems for you energy saving
- Retrofit-friendly solution for existing baghouses with less downtime and lower cost
- Compatible with membrane-laminated and advanced surface-treated media
Pleated filter bags are often selected where your emission limits must be tightened but system modifications are limited.
Why Do You Choose FiltEdge?
- One-stop solutions for filtration and separation application.
- Serving customers in over 50 countries, over 1 million filter bags annually.
- Over 20 years of professional manufacturing and application experience.
- Exceeding 100,000 M2 of production base rooted in China
- 3 European imported and 3 domestic filter media roll production lines with an annual capacity of xxx M2.
- 10 automated filter bag processing lines and 30 flexible filter bag production equipment with over 2000 standard filter bags daily.
- Customization supported, with sample bags and small batch adaptive production.
- Localized in the USA, with a self-built local warehouse for fast delivery of some standard products.
How Your Pleated Filter Bags Differ from Standard Filter Bags
Key Differences Between Pleated Filter Bags and Standard Filter Bags
- Filtration area: Pleated filter bags increase the effective filtration area(1.5-2.5 times), allowing higher system capacity or lower operating air-to-cloth ratios(suggested 0.7-0.9 m/min) within the same baghouse
- Cleaning system: Pleated bag filters are suitable only for pulse-jet cleaning
- Filter media: Polyester needle felt (with membrane) is most commonly used
- Operating performance: Under comparable conditions, pleated filter bags operate at lower stable pressure drop with reduced cleaning pressure and longer cleaning intervals
- Dust suitability: Recommended for dry, free-flowing, low-oil, non-sticky dust to avoid bridging
- Application tolerance: Pleated bag filters are more sensitive to dust and cleaning conditions, while standard filter bags offer greater robustness in heavy-duty or unstable applications
Pleated Filter Bag vs Pleated Filter Cartridge
Although often confused in the market, pleated filter bags and pleated filter cartridges are fundamentally different products.
Unsure which solution suits your application? Evaluate your system design and dust characteristics, and contact the filtration experts at FiltEdge, your filter bag supplier with broad industry experiences and know-how from Chinese diverse industrial markets, for customized technical guidance.
- Flexible soft structure
- Bag cage is a Must.
- Designed for pulse jet baghouse systems only.
- Rigid, self-supporting structure
- Do not require bag cages
- Typically used in cartridge-style dust collectors
Recommended Baghouse Applications for Pleated Filter Bags
Pleated filter bags are most commonly used in the following situations:
- Upgrading emission performance of existing baghouse dust collectors with minimal or no system modification;
- Installations with limited available space;
- Dry, free-flowing, non-sticky dust with no oil or low oil content;
- Stable operating conditions, including temperature, airflow, and dust concentration;
- Dust cleaning systems with adjustable pulse pressure, duration, and frequency.
When properly applied, quality pleated filter bags can significantly improve filtration performance without major equipment changes.
This information is provided for reference only. Reach out to FiltEdge, your pleated filter bag manufacturer with 3 European imported filter media roll production lines, to discuss your application in detail.
Pleated Filter Bags Applications Requiring Your Careful Evaluation
Pleated filter bags require careful evaluation before use and are not recommended for the following applications:
- Sticky dust
- Oily dust > 0.3%
- Fine dust < 5 μm
- High humidity or near the dew point
- High inlet dust loading ≥ 15 g/Nm³
- Unstable operating conditions
- Dust Mohs hardness ≥ 6
- Uneven airflow distribution
- Non-adjustable cleaning control systems
- Pulse valve orifice diameter ≥ 1.5″
- Nozzle-to-bag top distance <150mm
- Inlet face velocity > 15m/s
Under these conditions, dust bridging between pleats and incomplete dust release may occur, potentially reducing filtration performance and shortening service life.
These guidelines are for reference only and may not apply to all situations.. Reach out to FiltEdge, your pleated filter bag supplier with over 20 years expertise, for a personalized evaluation of your application.
Pleated Filter Bag Installation and Cleaning Considerations
To ensure your pleated filter bag reliable operation, attention should be given to:
- Proper pleat spacing≥12-16 mm and pleat depth 15-20mm
- High-quality, smooth bag cages with correct alignment
- Optimized pulse pressure (0.25-0.4 MPa), cleaning interval (60-180s), pulse duration (40-80ms), system differential pressure (ΔP=800-1300Pa)
- Avoidance of excessive filter cleaning intensity
Because pleated structures introduce additional geometric complexity, cleaning system compatibility is critical.
The installation of pleated bag filters follows the same procedures and precautions as standard filter bags.
The above guidelines are provided for your reference only and are not exhaustive, please contact FiltEdge experts for detailed discussion.
Pleated Filter Bag Technical Support and Application Evaluation
FiltEdge provides comprehensive engineering technical support as professional pleated filter bags supplier, including:
- Dust and operating condition assessment
- Emission target evaluation
- Filter media and surface treatment selection
- Cleaning parameter optimization
- Trial and sample testing where applicable
Unsure whether pleated filter bags suit your application? Reach out to FiltEdge for expert guidance and evaluation.
No.
In addition to increased filtration area, pleated filter bags can reduce effective air-to-cloth ratio, lower stable operating pressure drop, and extend service life when properly applied. However, they also require you stricter control of cleaning intensity and media flexibility.
No.
The core advantage of your pleated filter bags is their ability to increase effective filtration area within the same housing space, thereby reducing the effective air-to-cloth ratio. However, this does not mean they deliver superior performance under all your baghouse operating conditions.
In applications involving sticky, oily, or high-humidity dust, unstable operating conditions, or non-adjustable cleaning systems, standard filter bags typically provide greater stability, durability, and operational tolerance.
No.
Although both feature pleated structures, they differ significantly in pleat geometry, structural design, and application requirements.
Pleated Filter Bags:
- Classified as filter bags made from flexible filter media
- Require an internal support filter bag cage
- Designed exclusively for pulse-jet baghouse dust collectors
Pleated Filter Cartridges:
- Feature a self-supporting structure using rigid or resin-impregnated filter media
- Do not require a support cage
- Require a dedicated tube sheet and cleaning system
- Typically used in purpose-designed cartridge dust collectors, mainly pulse-jet cleaning systems, with limited reverse-air cleaning applications
These two products are frequently confused in the market, but they are not interchangeable in engineering applications.
Still unsure? Contact FiltEdge experts for technical guidance and personalized support.
This is a common point of confusion. Many customers have similar questions – FiltEdge experts are here to provide the answers you need.The main reasons include:
- Localized airflow concentration at pleat peaks and valleys
- Higher system filtration velocities, which increase abrasion and wear at pleat peaks
- Dust bridging that can easily form between adjacent pleats
- Non-uniform cleaning energy distribution, making pleated structures more vulnerable to mechanical damage
- Uneven airflow distribution, which further increases localized stress on pleats
As a result, the same pleated geometry that provides you performance advantages also introduces new structural and operational vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of premature failure.
No. In engineering practice, pleated filter bags should not be considered a direct replacement without evaluation.
Structurally, replacement might seem straightforward, but functionally, it cannot be done without affecting performance.
They may be used only under certain conditions, but you should not consider a true “direct replacement.”
The following factors must be carefully evaluated:
- Dust properties
- Dust concentration and load
- Pulse valve diameter
- Nozzle-to-bag distance
- Stability of operating conditions
In addition, pulse-jet cleaning parameters must be properly adjusted to match the pleated geometry.
Using pleated filter bags without system modification or parameter optimization is feasible only in limited cases and must be approached with caution; otherwise, performance and pleated filter bag service life may be negatively affected.
Have questions about your baghouse operating conditions? Contact experts at FiltEdge for technical guidance.
Common failure modes include:
- Abrasion, wear, or mechanical damage at pleat peaks
- Dust bridging between adjacent pleats
- Insufficient localized cleaning, leading to a rapid increase in pressure drop
- Premature failure of membrane layers at pleat peaks
These failure modes occur far less frequently in standard filter bags, which have a simpler cylindrical structure and more uniform cleaning behavior.
Pleated bag filters are designed to solve space limits issues for specific operation conditions, standard filter bags are more common.
Unsure which solution is more suitable for you? Contact FiltEdge experts for your specific application consultation.
The installation procedure is generally similar to that of standard filter bags and should be carried out with even greater care. However, commissioning is more critical for pleated filter bags.
Typically, the following steps are still required:
- Proper installation of the filter cage
- Leak detection (e.g., fluorescent powder leak testing)
- Pre-coating with dust, depending on dust characteristics
In addition, pulse-jet cleaning parameters must be re-optimized to accommodate the pleated geometry.
No.
They are rarely used, as they have specific engineering application requirements and are typically employed to address particular operational challenges.
Whenever possible, standard filter bags are preferred, as they remain the most economical and reliable solution for a wide range of baghouse applications.
There is no inherently good or bad option—both can perform well under the right dust collector operating conditions.
There is no universally “better” solution, only the one that best fits your application.
In practice, baghouses are more common and widely used, while pleated filter solutions are typically better suited for installations with limited space.
After a careful evaluation, choose the option that best matches your dust collector system requirements. Contact FiltEdge experts for further discussion.
Absolutely.
FiltEdge has a dedicated technical team and in-house testing capabilities to analyze pleated filter bag media and structures based on your samples or technical drawings. According to your dust collector design and actual operating conditions, we can also develop and propose customized pleated filter bag media and structural solutions for your evaluation.
In addition, our flexible manufacturing capabilities allow us to support prototype development, small-batch trials, and full-scale production of pleated filter bags.
