---
title: "Pulse-jet cleaning cycle"
description: "The pulse-jet cleaning cycle is the firing pattern of brief compressed-air pulses that clean the filter bags of a pulse-jet baghouse. The cycle is controlled by a sequencer (often a baghouse PLC) and is tuned through three primary variables."
canonical_url: "https://sylio.co/glossary/pulse-jet-cleaning-cycle"
last_updated: "2026-06-28T02:29:25.120Z"
---

The **pulse-jet cleaning cycle** is the firing pattern of brief compressed-air pulses that clean the [filter bags](/glossary/filter-bag) of a [pulse-jet baghouse](/glossary/pulse-jet-baghouse). The cycle is controlled by a sequencer (often a baghouse PLC) and is tuned through three primary variables.

## Cycle parameters

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Parameter
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Typical range
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Effect of increasing
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      Pulse duration
    </td>
    
    <td>
      100–300 ms
    </td>
    
    <td>
      More cleaning per pulse; more bag flex / wear
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Pulse interval (continuous mode)
    </td>
    
    <td>
      10–120 s per row
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Less <a href="/glossary/filter-cake">
        filter cake
      </a>
      
       build-up; more compressed-air use
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      ΔP set-point (on-demand mode)
    </td>
    
    <td>
      12–18 mbar
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Cleaning fires only when ΔP rises; minimum bag wear
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Pulse pressure
    </td>
    
    <td>
      4–7 bar
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Stronger pulse; deeper penetration into the bag
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Continuous vs on-demand cleaning

**Continuous cycling** runs the cleaning sequence on a fixed schedule regardless of dust load. Simple, but wastes air and bag life on lightly-loaded periods.

**On-demand cleaning** fires only when [differential pressure](/glossary/differential-pressure-baghouse) crosses a set-point. Minimises wear and air use but can fall behind when dust load spikes.

Most modern baghouses run a hybrid: on-demand control with a maximum-interval limit to prevent indefinite skipping.

## How sonic horns interact with the pulse cycle

[Sonic horns](/glossary/sonic-horn) running continuously between pulse events keep cake from consolidating, which lets the pulse-jet system run a less aggressive cycle for the same ΔP. The combined OPEX saving (lower compressed-air use, longer bag life) is the headline argument for retrofitting horns onto an existing pulse-jet baghouse.

## Related terms

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