How Does a Dust and Fume Extractor Work?

Posted by Zizacious on March 1st, 2024

Dust and fume extractors are essential for maintaining a clean and safe working environment in various industries in New Zealand. These sophisticated systems effectively remove harmful particles, gases, and fumes from the air in real-time. This extraction ensures the health and safety of workers while promoting workplace productivity and efficiency.

 This article is your introduction to how dust and fume-extracting systems work.

The Importance of Dust and Fume Extraction in NZ Industries

In the modern industries of NZ, there are inevitably hazardous industrial settings for welding, cutting, grinding, and chemical processing. Floating in these environments are airborne particles and fumes that pose significant health risks to workers. 

Exposure to these contaminants can lead to respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other serious health issues. Additionally, the accumulation of dust and fumes can create fire hazards and compromise product quality.

Advanced dust and fume extraction systems cater to these environments to achieve one goal: maintaining air quality and ensuring the health and safety of workers. 

Components of a Dust and Fume Extractor System

A typical dust and fume extractor system consists of several key components, each playing a specific role in the extraction process:

Extraction Hood

The extraction hood is the closest component to the source of dust or fumes, capturing machine or labour-generated contaminants.

Ductwork

Ductwork is the extractor's pathway through which the captured contaminants travel from the hood to the primary extraction unit. 

Extraction Unit

There are varying filtration methods for modern extractors. The filter choice depends on the specific application and types of contaminants involved. Your machine can have mechanical filtration, electrostatic precipitation, or chemical adsorption.

Filtration System

The filtration system removes particles and gases of various sizes and compositions from the air stream. High-efficiency filters capture fine particles, while activated carbon filters absorb gases and odours. 

Exhaust System

The exhaust system sends clean, filtered air back into the environment or recirculated within the facility. This process happens depending on the requirements and regulations.

Operating Principles of Dust and Fume Extractors

Step 1. Capture

Extraction hoods capture dust and fumes as close to the point of generation as possible, minimising the dispersion of contaminants into the surrounding environment.

Step 2. Conveyance

Once captured, the contaminated air passes through the ductwork to the extraction unit. 

Step 3. Filtration

Filtration happens within the extraction unit. The contaminated air passes through various filtration stages or the removal of particles and gases from the air stream. 

Step 4. Exhaust

After filtration, the clean air is safely exhausted back into the environment or recirculated within the facility, depending on the specific requirements and regulations. 

Proper exhaust design prevents recontamination of the workspace and ensures a healthy and safe working environment.

Create a Safe Workspace with Extraction Systems

NZ industries use fume extraction systems and dust collectors to solve the problem of airborne pollutants, providing a cleaner and safer working environment for employees. Investing in a high-quality dust and fume extraction system is a prudent business decision and a crucial step towards creating a healthier and safer workplace.