---
title: "Fabric filter"
description: "A fabric filter is an air-pollution-control device that removes particulate from a gas stream by passing the gas through woven or felted fibre media — usually in the form of cylindrical filter bags — collecting dust as a cake on the bag surface and periodically releasing the cake into a hopper below. Fabric filters are the dominant particulate-control choice on cement plants, waste-to-energy plants, biomass boilers, metallurgical off-gas, food and chemical process exhaust."
canonical_url: "https://sylio.co/glossary/fabric-filter"
last_updated: "2026-06-28T02:29:24.652Z"
---

A **fabric filter** is an air-pollution-control device that removes particulate from a gas stream by passing the gas through woven or felted fibre media — usually in the form of cylindrical [filter bags](/glossary/filter-bag) — collecting dust as a cake on the bag surface and periodically releasing the cake into a hopper below. Fabric filters are the dominant particulate-control choice on cement plants, [waste-to-energy](/glossary/waste-to-energy) plants, [biomass](/glossary/waste-to-energy) boilers, metallurgical off-gas, food and chemical process exhaust.

## Why fabric filters compete with ESPs

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Attribute
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Fabric filter
    </th>
    
    <th>
      <a href="/glossary/electrostatic-precipitator">
        ESP
      </a>
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      Outlet particulate
    </td>
    
    <td>
      < 5 mg/Nm³ typical, < 1 mg/Nm³ achievable
    </td>
    
    <td>
      10–30 mg/Nm³ typical
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Insensitivity to dust <a href="/glossary/resistivity">
        resistivity
      </a>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Yes
    </td>
    
    <td>
      No (back-corona risk)
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Energy consumption
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Higher (ΔP overcomes filter resistance)
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Lower (electrostatic field only)
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Sensitivity to moisture / dew point
    </td>
    
    <td>
      High
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Lower
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Footprint
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Typically smaller
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Typically larger
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Where sonic horns fit

[Sonic horns](/glossary/sonic-horn) installed on a [baghouse](/glossary/baghouse) supplement the primary cleaning system ([pulse-jet](/glossary/pulse-jet-baghouse), [reverse-air](/glossary/reverse-air-baghouse) or [shaker](/glossary/shaker-baghouse)) by reaching dust the primary cleaning misses, reducing [differential pressure](/glossary/differential-pressure-baghouse), extending bag life and dislodging cake bridging in hoppers below the bags.

## Related terms

- [Baghouse](/glossary/baghouse)
- [Pulse-jet baghouse](/glossary/pulse-jet-baghouse)
- [Filter bag](/glossary/filter-bag)
- [Differential pressure (baghouse)](/glossary/differential-pressure-baghouse)
- [Sonic horn](/glossary/sonic-horn)