What Does the “On-Time” Setting on a Control Board Mean?

By Omela Filtration — Industrial Filtration Experts

Industry Background and Common Challenges

In every industrial dust collector, maintaining consistent cleaning performance is crucial for system stability and filtration efficiency. One key component that determines how effectively a baghouse filter operates is the control board — specifically, its “on-time” setting.

While many plant operators understand the basics of pulse-jet cleaning, the technical meaning of “on-time” is often misunderstood. Incorrect settings can lead to excessive compressed air usage, reduced filter life, and uneven dust buildup across compartments — all of which impact performance in industries such as power generation, steel production, cement manufacturing, and chemical processing.

Working Principle and Technical Explanation

In a pulse-jet baghouse dust collector, compressed air is released in short bursts to clean the baghouse filter bags by dislodging accumulated dust from their outer surfaces. The control board governs this cleaning cycle through two key parameters:

• On-Time (Pulse Duration): the length of time the solenoid valve stays open, releasing compressed air into the blowpipe.
• Off-Time (Interval): the waiting time between two consecutive pulses.

The “on-time” is typically measured in milliseconds (ms). In most systems, the optimal range is 100–200 ms, depending on the size of the baghouse, number of bags per row, and system pressure.

• If the on-time is too short, the air pulse may not fully expand the bag or dislodge compacted dust near the bottom.
• If the on-time is too long, it wastes compressed air, increases energy consumption, and can damage filter bags or cages through over-pressurization.

The goal is to achieve efficient cleaning with minimal air use — ensuring stable differential pressure and consistent filtration efficiency throughout the operating cycle.

Omela Filtration Solutions and Advantages

At Omela Filtration, our engineering team uses advanced diagnostic tools to fine-tune pulse-jet control parameters for each application. We evaluate factors such as air-to-cloth ratio, dust loading rate, and media permeability to determine the ideal on-time and off-time balance.

Our key advantages include:

• Optimized Pulse Duration: precisely calibrated on-time settings reduce air consumption by up to 25% without compromising cleaning performance.
• Enhanced Filter Life: stable pulse control minimizes mechanical stress on PTFE, PPS, and aramid filter bags, extending service intervals.
• Consistent Filtration Efficiency: balanced cleaning prevents over-cleaning and under-cleaning cycles, maintaining low pressure drop and high efficiency.
• Energy Efficiency and Automation: Omela’s smart control systems automatically adjust cleaning parameters based on real-time differential pressure readings.

Applications Across Industries

The correct on-time setting is vital in all industrial filtration environments:

• Power Plants: managing fly-ash filtration in high-temperature flue gas.
• Steel Mills: optimizing baghouse cleaning in furnace off-gas systems.
• Cement Plants: maintaining low emissions in kiln and clinker cooler operations.
• Chemical Industry: handling sticky or fine particulate with precision pulse control.

In each of these industries, the integration of optimized control board settings with advanced baghouse filter bags ensures reliable, low-emission operation.

Conclusion and Contact

The “on-time” setting on a baghouse control board is far more than a timer — it’s a fundamental tuning parameter that determines how effectively your dust collector performs. Properly optimized, it leads to stable pressure, extended filter life, and reduced operating costs.

Omela Filtration’s engineers specialize in dust collection system optimization, combining precise airflow control with high-performance PTFE, PPS, and aramid filter bags for every industrial environment.