American Vacuum offers a wide range of separators to suit any applications need. Our separators range from an 18-gallon portable unit to mounted stationary separators on a central vacuum system. The separators can be configured for wet/dry applications as well as critical filtration such as HEPA. Our industrial vacuums can collect a variety of materials. Click here to view a full list of the material types that we can move.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an industrial vacuum separator and how does it work?
An industrial vacuum separator sits between your vacuum source and the collection point to remove bulk material or wet material from the airstream before it reaches the main filters. Using cyclonic or primary separation principles, it drops heavy particles into a collection vessel, so your filters handle only fine dust. This extends filter life, reduces maintenance intervals, and protects your vacuum system from premature wear.
What size separator do I need for my operation?
It depends on your material volume and whether the application is portable or stationary. An 18-gallon separator works well for mobile or smaller-scale jobs where you’re moving the system around a facility. A 55-gallon unit is better suited for high-volume industrial cleaning tasks where large quantities of material need to be collected before filter changes become necessary. For central vacuum systems or continuous operations, roll-forward hopper separators and pulse-jet receivers are typically the right fit. If you’re unsure, American Vacuum’s engineering team can spec a unit to your exact operational requirements.
Can industrial vacuum separators handle both wet and dry materials?
Yes. Separators can be configured for wet/dry applications depending on the model and setup. This makes them viable across a wide range of industries. If your process involves a mix of wet and dry materials, or if you're dealing with critical filtration environments like pharmaceutical or clean room settings, that configuration should be confirmed before purchase.
What is the difference between a cyclonic separator and a pulse-jet receiver?
A cyclonic separator uses centrifugal force to spin material out of the airstream, dropping it into a collection vessel below. It's a passive, low-maintenance design well suited for continuous bulk material separation in applications like shot blast, mining, or grain handling. A pulse-jet receiver uses short bursts of compressed air to knock material off a filter media and back into the collection zone. This makes it more effective in high-dust-load environments where filter blinding is a concern and continuous operation is required without shutting down to clean filters manually.