This article examines how industrial facilities can quantify the return on investment associated with disciplined filter change scheduling. By connecting pressure drop, energy consumption, maintenance costs and equipment longevity, facilities can move from reactive maintenance to measurable operational control.

In 2019, the City of East Peoria, IL, began a comprehensive modernization of its wastewater infrastructure, including a $68 million upgrade covering two operating facilities, Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 1 and Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3. The project addressed aging equipment, regulatory pressure and the need for improved process control.

From managing complex wastewater streams to protecting stored grain and sustaining fish health, effective airflow is essential to maintaining product quality and operational stability. How advances in blower technology, diffuser materials and automated controls are helping facilities improve efficiency, reduce energy use and meet increasingly strict environmental requirements.

An aging 103 acfm oil-free rotary claw vacuum system was replaced with a skid-mounted duplex configuration featuring two 5.4 hp pumps, automated lead/lag controls and an inlet purge system to handle increased laboratory demand and prevent chemical contamination. The upgraded system delivers up to 106 acfm and 28”Hg, providing higher vacuum capacity, redundancy and improved operational stability within a constrained mechanical room footprint.