Common Types of Industrial Dampers & Their Applications

The damper is also known as duct damper or volume balancing damper, it is one of the components in the heating and cooling system / HVAC. It is a movable plate that is used to control the flow of air within the duct, air handler, chimney, or other air handling equipment. HVAC systems are equipped with balancing dampers that can close parts of the duct system. The damper is located nearer to the central unit of the HVAC system which is around four to six feet from the main duct trunk. Since it is closer to the center, you can close the part that is nearer to the source of air and redirects the air to other directions. That means you can get the right amount of cold or hot air according to your need. Damper plays an important role in regulating the temperature within the property, preventing the spread of smoke or fire, and making the overall environment comfortable. In addition, some of them are used within the HVAC system but some other types can be used for pressure release. Air damper is essential in the industries usage where gases or liquid channel through the pipes and ducts that require the control over the flow of materials. The industrial ventilation system requires the dampers have the capability to control waste heat, particulate discharge, and other byproducts of the industrial process.

Dampers can be operated manually or automatically. A manual damper will have a control handle set up on the outside of the duct to control it. An automatic damper controls the airflow continually with the electrical or pneumatic engines. Dampers are available in a wide variety of designs including circles, squares, rectangles which allow you to choose the type that is most suited to your industrial processing system. A right damper selected for the factory can ensure a safe working environment and steady operation over the long term. Malfunctioning dampers can negatively affect multiple aspects of the plant environment and increase operational risk.

Here we will introduce a few common types of industrial dampers and their uses.

1. Butterfly Dampers

Butterfly dampers are also known as single-blade dampers or wafer dampers. They are the most commonly used damper for industrial applications. Butterfly dampers are available in multiple sizes and shapes such as round, square, etc. Round-shaped butterfly dampers are popular as they fit perfectly to the common vent pipes. Common purposes of single blade dampers are for flow control or isolation application which make them an ideal choice for wastewater treatment and environmental control. Gas-tight dampers are also available for controlling the pressure within a closed environment. They are designed to withstand extreme temperature and pressure.

2. Multi-blade Control Dampers

Multi-blade control damper is also called rectangular damper or multi-blade louver damper. This type of damper is suitable for both dry and wet environments. Multi-blade control dampers can be divided into two varieties according to the blade action which is the direction the blade rotates in the damper.

- Parallel blade action: All the blades open and close at the same direction and angle. They can offer better control of airflow when it is in a fully-opened or fully-closed position. Parallel blades are commonly used to direct the air to one side. The common applications of parallel blade dampers are in gas turbines, atmospheric exhaust, fan inlets, etc.

- Opposed blade action: Adjacent blades rotate in opposite directions. They provide better airflow control throughout the whole operating model and can offer us a more laminar airflow. The common applications of opposed blade dampers are for fast power generation, fan discharge outlets, metal tempering systems, etc.

3. Inlet Vane Dampers

Inlet vane damper is also referred to as variable inlet vanes or inlet vane controls. It is used to regulate the airflow from the inlet side and is suitable for you if you want to manipulate the volume of gas entering the space. This type of damper is not gas-tight and can not effectively resist the flow like other types of dampers. As a result, they are durable over a long period of time.

4. Backdraft and Pressure-Relief Dampers

Backdraft dampers are also known as gravity dampers. They can do a good job at allowing the air to flow in one direction and restricting the air from flowing backward. But it only can be operated according to the natural flow of air or gas. We normally see the backdraft damper on fans to avoid back pressure that could make the fan backspin. They also do well at shutting down the airflow completely. The pressure-relief dampers operate under the same functions but at a higher operating pressure. They are usually used to prevent over-pressurization of the system. These types of dampers can be used in utility mills, steel mills, and refineries.

5. Face and Bypass Dampers

Face and bypass dampers are normally referred to as tee dampers or diverter dampers that have a tee-pipe configuration to divert the airflow to different directions. This type of dampers is often used for pollution control applications for heat recovery or gas power exhausts setup as it can effectively redirect the high-temperature gasses from turbines to heat recovery units. It can combine with pressure-relief dampers to stabilize the pressure quickly.

6. Isolation Dampers

Isolation dampers are like gas-tight dampers which can provide you with a leak-proof environment that isolates the room and environment completely from the outside. They can be divided into two categories which are guillotine dampers and bubble-tight dampers. Both are available in round and rectangular designs. The key function of the guillotine dampers is for shutting off the ductwork system and equipment for maintenance. They are used for flue gas clean-up, precipitator isolation, in-outlet isolation, or stack isolation. Whereas, bubble-tight dampers provide the most reliable seals and ensure no leaking when it is closed. They can prevent the leakage of internal air while keeping the pressure within. Bubble-tight dampers are normally used in wastewater treatment facilities.

Various types of dampers are available for different types of operation. It is important to have a clear understanding of these types of dampers before choosing the right one for your business. MecHero Malaysia provides a variety of HVAC elements and hardware that meet your requirement. You can always contact us at +6011-7000 7687 or email us at my.mechero@gmail.com for an inquiry about HVAC supplier and contractor in Malaysia. As a steel and online hardware store in Malaysia, we also supply a wide range of steel materials, general hardware, or mechanical components. Tell us your requirements now and we can advise you accordingly.

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