Filtration Applications Fume Extraction
Filtration and Fume Extraction Applications
Laser Processing - Engraving, Cutting, Marking
The domain of laser processing, encompassing engraving, cutting, and marking, has emerged as one of the most prevalent applications for filtration technologies. Lasers possess the remarkable ability to manipulate a diverse range of materials, including but not limited to metals, woods, plastics, glass, and foam. Their versatility and precision are prompting an increasing number of businesses to incorporate laser technology into their operations. However, it’s crucial to note that regardless of whether YAG, CO2, or ultrashort pulse lasers are employed, they all generate hazardous byproducts known as laser smoke. This smoke, or laser dust, consists of pollutants that originate from the processed materials and can pose serious health risks. Long-term exposure to laser smoke may damage the lungs, respiratory tract, and may even have carcinogenic implications. Lasers Plus provides a plethora of solutions tailored to meet the unique requirements of your process and laser configuration, aimed at effectively extracting and filtering these potentially harmful byproducts of laser processing.
Recommended Solutions: Laser Engraving, Cutting, Marking
BF Series
GL Series
LN Series
TFS Series
Soldering - Hand, Wave, Reflow Ovens
Soldering, which involves the fusion of two distinct materials through heating, is a process that is divided into several forms including – hand soldering, wave soldering, and the usage of reflow ovens. The process is associated with the production of hazardous particles and fumes, emitted from solder, flux, and a combination of chemicals and gases. The implementation of robust fume extraction systems is imperative to maintain a safe work environment and ensure the extraction of these harmful byproducts.
Among the substances contained in these fumes are the carcinogenic elements nickel and cobalt. The heavy metal lead, known for its toxicity, is also often present, even though its usage has declined in most fluxes. However, in certain sectors like medical processes, lead continues to be used frequently.
Considering the diverse nature of soldering processes, whether it’s manual hand soldering, the use of solder pots and fountains, wave solder machines, or reflow ovens, there’s a significant necessity to incorporate an appropriate filtration system. This system should effectively cater to the specific needs of your workflow, prioritizing the safety of employees and ensuring a hazard-free work environment.
Recommended Solutions: Soldering - Hand, Wave, Reflow Ovens
BF Series
GL Series
LN Series
TFS Series
Welding Processes - Automated and Manual
Welding, an integral process in various industries, produces ultrafine particles, often smaller than 1 µm, which are released from the surface being worked on. These microscopic particles pose a significant health threat, as they can infiltrate the human respiratory system, potentially causing irreversible lung damage and leading to permanent work impairment. Hence, the need for an efficient fume extraction system is paramount in preventing such health hazards.
The airborne pollutants produced during welding processes have been recognized as carcinogenic and are thus extremely hazardous to health. Therefore, it is critical that these pollutants are effectively captured and filtered out from the workspace. One of the most effective methods of achieving this is by implementing an extraction system that captures fumes at the source. Typically, this involves an extraction arm and hood located close to the welding point. This setup not only provides optimal protection for employees involved in the welding process but also contributes to maintaining a healthy and safe work environment.
Recommended Solutions: Welding Processes - Automated and Manual
BF Series
LN Series
TFS Series
Clean Room Processes
Cleanrooms are meticulously controlled environments, operating under stringent microbiological regulations. Their primary function is to purify and sterilize the air, thereby safeguarding the health of individuals working within them. Cleanrooms are an essential feature in a myriad of industries, including but not limited to, food processing, automotive manufacturing, biotechnology, chemistry, electromechanics, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.
These special rooms employ a two-pronged approach: air filtration and sterilization, making them an effective defense against airborne contaminants. The TBH filter and extraction systems are integral to these cleanrooms, designed to reliably extract particles and gases immediately at their point of origin. This means contaminants, once produced, are instantaneously removed before they have a chance to disperse, ensuring consistently high levels of air quality. Consequently, the TBH filter and extraction systems are instrumental in maintaining a safe, clean, and productive workspace, providing peace of mind for employees and employers alike.
Recommended Solutions: Clean Room Processes
CR Series
GL Series
Dusts and Chippings: Grinding, Machining, Drilling
Metalworking procedures, including milling, turning, drilling, and grinding, generate harmful dust particles that pose significant health risks, including carcinogenic effects. Moreover, these dust particles can instigate dangerous explosive reactions. The process of dry machining applied to metals and plastics releases abrasive dusts and fumes, necessitating the use of extraction methods to maintain a safe working environment.
Wet machining, used in applications like eroding or electric discharge machining (EDM), introduces into the ambient air droplets of cooling water spray. As these particles interact with electrically conductive materials such as aluminum or copper, they produce additional particles that must be extracted. This mandate extends to other bi-products of wet machining processes, such as oil mist or emulsion mist.
Grinding processes, in particular, are notorious for releasing substantial amounts of hazardous dusts. The presence of these dusts necessitates an effective extraction mechanism to ensure a safe, clean and breathable workspace. Implementing these precautions not only protects the health and safety of the workforce but also contributes to enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Recommended Solutions: Dust and Chippings - Grinding, Machining, Drilling
LN 200 Series
LN 600 Series
TFS Series
Gasses / Odors / Vapors: Cleaning, Painting, Restoration
A host of cleaning and restoration procedures, as well as painting initiatives, are known to emit gases and vapors that degrade air quality and pose health concerns within the workplace. Solvents, for instance, are employed in both manual and analog bonding methods, as well as in the purification of components. Although the use of solvents in bonding processes is declining, they remain essential for cleaning injection molds, especially for tasks such as the removal of incrustations. Both these procedural categories – bonding and cleaning – generate outgassing and evaporation of particulates.
Furthermore, during the thermal processing of plastics, a process widely known as plastic injection molding, certain vapors are inevitably released. These vapors, laden with potentially harmful substances, necessitate extraction to maintain indoor air quality and ensure a safe working environment. This practice not only protects the on-site workforce but also contributes to enhanced operational efficiency and productivity.
Recommended Solutions: Gasses / Odors / Vapors - Cleaning, Painting, Restoration
LN 200 Series
LN 600 Series
GL Series
Medicine & Aesthetics - Laser Medical Treatments, Dental
Medical procedures often entail the release of potentially harmful particles and vapors, elevating the need for stringent safety measures to protect both patients and healthcare professionals. Adherence to high standards of cleanliness and infection control is a critical expectation of patients undergoing any form of medical treatment.
In light of these considerations, there is an escalating trend among practitioners to utilize filtering extraction technology during both medical and aesthetic procedures. This preventative approach aids in minimizing the risk of infection significantly. To illustrate, the process of laser hair removal involves the emission of highly toxic vapors as the laser burns the hair follicles. It is essential that these vapors are efficiently and reliably extracted and filtered, maintaining a safe procedure environment.
Moreover, this filtering extraction technology finds its use beyond laser skin care treatments and laser eye surgery. Dental practices, for instance, often experience high aerosol concentrations during procedures that even oral suction cannot fully mitigate. The incorporation of filtration technology in these scenarios provides an additional safety net, ensuring a safe and clean environment for both the patient and the dental professional.
Recommended Solutions: Medicine & Aesthetics - Laser Medical Treatments, Dental
BF Series
GL Series
Importance of Fume Extraction and Filtration
In a multitude of sectors, ranging from industrial manufacturing to medical procedures and even household activities, hazardous particles are often produced as a by-product. These imperceptible dangers permeate the air, posing a significant threat to health as they can infiltrate our bloodstream, leading to severe medical conditions such as lung cancer.
Given the criticality of the issue, the use of air filtration systems becomes an absolute necessity. These systems serve as a protective shield, safeguarding not only the workers but the functioning of the equipment and the environmental quality as well.
Airborne pollutants are a silent foe, often going unnoticed due to their invisibility, lack of taste or smell, and intangibility. The act of breathing, which is an unconscious process as opposed to the conscious act of eating, draws in air into our bodies about 12 to 18 times per minute. It is crucial to consider the quality of air we intake.
Smaller particles, due to their extended settling times, persist in the environment for longer periods, increasing their hazardous potential. Therefore, their quick capture and removal become an essential task. Typically, air filtration systems adopt a three-stage filtration process to ensure comprehensive protection.
The first line of defense is a pre-filter, effectively capturing particles larger than 0.1 μm, such as metallurgical dust and oil mist, that would otherwise impair the subsequent filters’ performance. Pre-filters generally fall within the M5-F9 or E10-U17 rating.
The next stage employs a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) particle filter, designed to tackle particles ranging between 0.1 – 0.3 μm. Depending on the classification, these filters can reliably remove 99.95% of particles within this size range. H14-rated filters excel in this regard, boasting a 99.995% capture rate.
The last stage of filtration targets the minutest of particles, those less than 0.1 μm in size. A molecular filter equipped with activated carbon is used to tackle these. This type of filter can physically trap these tiny particles or even neutralize them chemically, resulting in their breakdown. This filtration stage is crucial to comprehensively clean the air of any lingering pollutants, thereby ensuring a safer and healthier environment.
