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Both fumes and dust particulates can be extracted using the same system because of the similarity in their size but also the
difference in quantities usually produced. With different industrial processes producing many different potential hazardous and
dangerous substances, it is important to understand the potential hazards:
Explosive - In a situation where waste materials are at a high risk of combusting or perhaps even exploding when coming into contact with other materials or surfaces, it
is important to remove these materials as quickly and as safely as possible. It is sometimes a temperature isssue when extracting waste materials such as these because high temperatures
and explosions go hand in hand.
Oxidizing - These materials tend to yield oxygen and whereas they are not strictly combustible, they can contribute to the combustion of other materials. This makes them
just as dangerous as any other hazardous material and if these are present when a waste material explodes they will only fuel the combustion.
On their own, flammable liquids and materials are not strictly dangerous, however several factors can be responsible for igniting these flammable materials (e.g. temperature, friction ). In a
situation where the flammable waste product is constantly being given off, a fire will continue to burn if it is not extracted safely.
Toxic - Are one of the most dangerous substances because they are poisonous and can be liquid, solid or even gas which means they are ingestible into the bloodstream more easily
than other substances. The use of the correct safety equipment is not always enough to ensure the safety of the entire workforce and so these materials need constant monitoring and controlling. If there is even a
slight possibility of toxic materials being released into a working environment, a dust or fume extraction system is necessary!
Harmful/Irritating - Whereas these materials are not as dangerous as Toxic or Explosive materials, they can still do a considerable amount of damage if not removed safely.
Corrosive - Have the ability to eat through both organic and synthetic materials (imagine a blowtorch cutting through butter) and need to be handled with extreme caution. A lot of industrial
processes we design dust or fume extraction systems for don't necessarily discharge corrosive substances however we need to consider all possibilities when developing a solution.
Dangerous For The Environment - In all areas of industry it is important to acknowledge that doing our part to preserve what we can is done correctly. We acknowledge that there has to be a safe
disposal of any waste materials because of the potential hazards that can be caused otherwise. The materials need to be destroyed or safely contained and disposed of in the correct manner.
How Does Fume Extraction Work?
The most important element of the system is to safely extract the fumes and/or dust from inside the respective structure. This air then flows directly into a filter box, which houses a series of filters that are in place to remove any of the
impurities from the air. The basic principle of the filter box is to reduce the speed of the air being passed through the filter housing.
This is the theoretical cross section of the filter housing, which would usually be fitted at the beginning or the end of a network of ducting. The yellow strips are the hypothetical positions of the actual filters, which will be in rows
and the black arrows are showing the air flow through the filter. The air flow will ALWAYS follow the path of least resistance and so as the air naturally passes through the filter box.
Above is a theoretical front and side view of the filter box. The diagram shows the difference in size and shape between the channel of air flow and the filter box.
The thinner the ducting controlling the air flow, the faster the movement of air and once the air space is widened and the air flow enters into the filter box, the speed is drastically reduced. The air flows through the filters at a lot slower rate, which increases
the surface area of extraction from the filters is increased, improving the effectiveness of the filters and the quality of air.
Do The Filters Need Replacing?
Depending on the volume of materials being extracted and how frequently the filters are used, the filters may need replacing. If the filters are being used daily and heavily, they are more likely to need replacing on a regular basis. We take this in to consideration when
developing a fume extraction solution because it is important to be able to access and change the filters easily.
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