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What’s the Difference Between Wet & Dry Extraction?

A by-product of many processes in the manufacturing industry, dust control is a universal problem to control due to the harmful side effects it can have on an individual, resulting in the regulations in place for it.

The dust in question includes most commonly wood or metal but can also include chemical powders and biological dust. The properties of these types of dust carry individual risks that could harm the workforce.

The equipment to control this risk comes in the form of dust extraction systems, available as a dry or wet collection; the equipment must be made to COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations) standards. With three levels of dust classes to consider (ranging from low to high), it is important to know if your extraction system has the capabilities to manage the dust levels required.

What is Dry Dust Extraction?

As the most popular of the two systems, dry dust extractors utilise filters and cartridges to gather dust from the air. Typically seen in the form of cyclones or media collectors, they extract air and trap the dust by pushing it through the filters/cartridges. Known for processing larger volumes of air, they are best at filtering heavy dust with medium/large dust particles such as wood, flour, sugar and some metals.

To get the most out of the filters & cartridges whilst collecting the dust, dry dust extractors have a cleaning system to discharge the dust into a hopper. An extractor with filters would typically dislodge the dust with a shaker cycle while cartridge designs would reverse pulse each cartridge. Once the dust is gathered in the hopper, it will be emptied into a storage drum that can be removed to empty.

What is Wet Dust Extraction

For dust that is light, sticky or combustible, wet dust extractors are the safest and COSHH approved method for filtering. The particles of dust in these types of air are either too small, adhesive or explosive to be able to be processed in a dry dust extractor.

Wet extractors can come in an option of three designs:

Cyclonic
Centrifugal type scrubbers
Venturi scrubbers

The cyclonic and centrifugal scrubbers process the air by directing it around the circular interior of the machines, combining it with water by spray nozzles & misters. The finer the water application at this stage the more thorough the dust extraction process. With the dust from the air wet, gravity pulls the captured dust down to the bottom of the main chamber into a sludge tank.

In wet scrubbers, dust particles & water droplets are forced together in a process called impingement to collect the dust.

Wetting the dust is important for combustible dust like aluminium as it prevents the dust from igniting. All dust can be combustible in the right circumstances. Flour is not combustible when stored in a bag in your kitchen but suspended in industrial quantities in a bakery factory it is and can be a very serious risk to health and life.

The benefit of wet dust extraction for these types of dust is that the water coating the dust prevents it from being in contact with oxygen, therefore preventing the dust from combusting.

What Type of Dust Extraction do You Need?

Overall dust extraction is a critical system to consider for many manufacturers as the importance of getting the right extractor for you is essential for your workforce.

As one of our most popular machines, we stock and supply both new & used equipment for both dry & wet extraction. If you are unsure what kind of extraction system you need or want to find out about our current stock of dust extractors, call our sales team on 01922 749 288.

Filtex FX294 Configured For Oil Mist plus Air Streams with Debris

This second hand FX 294 H 5.5 kW extraction unit is currently set up for oil mist extraction and comes without a shaker motor.

Stock No: EB1909
Category: Wet Dust Filters
Model: Filtex FX294 VH
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr: 2000 // 3500 ( see chart )
Filter Area ft² / m²: 294 // 27.30m²
Other Info: Set up for Oil Mist + Debris Extraction
Condition: Good Condition, Seen powered at RSW
Refurbished Price [?]: £ Login or Register for price.
Sold As Seen Price [?]: £ Login or Register for price.

What’s the Difference Between Wet & Dry Extraction?

What is Dry Dust Extraction?

What is Wet Dust Extraction

What Type of Dust Extraction do You Need?

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