Atex dust extraction system for model workshop

In this article we present one of the latest plants we designed and built for a large model workshop located in Modena (Italy).
The special operations with machine tools on composite resins generate a large amount of dust.
The customer contacted GGE srl to install a dust extraction system that was dimensioned and adapted to his particular needs. The system for this model workshop was realised in Atex Ex II 3D execution.

Dust extraction system operation

The system extracts dust from the machine tools through specially sized inlets positioned inside the model workshop. The air, through a piping circuit, reaches 3 bag filter units Power Jet installed in parallel, in view of possible future sectioning of the plant.

The extraction is generated by a 55 kW DT centrifugal fan, placed inside a box constructed with soundproofing panels.

The system is therefore equipped with three Power Jet bag filter units, which separate the extracted air stream from the dust contained in it. Each Power Jet is equipped with 144 high-efficiency antistatic filtering bags, an automatic compressed air cleaning control unit, explosion-proof panels and a flooding system.
The latter, thanks to a temperature probe located inside the filter unit, comes into operation when the probe detects an excessively high temperature: sprinklers flood the inside of the filter unit with water, thus extinguishing any possible fire start.

The filtered dust is collected in Big Bags via a discharge system with a motorised rotary valve. The lower part of the filter unit is equipped with perimeter anti-obstruction walls and a front security gate interlocked with the rotary valve.

The clean air exiting the three Power Jets is fed into the atmosphere via a Ø 1000 mm exhaust chimney, equipped with a flow uniformiser and a silencer.

Industry 4.0 compliance and automated management

The start-up and shutdown of the system can be managed locally inside the model workshop, directly on the control cabinet via a touch screen HMI panel, or remotely via modbus protocol. The system is equipped with software for managing and recording system parameters and alarms, in compliance with Industry 4.0 standards.

Safety and Atex compliance

We designed the dust extraction system in Atex Ex II 3D execution, thus making it suitable and efficient even in potentially explosive atmospheres. For this reason, the piping is covered with joints for electrical continuity and the filter units are equipped with explosion-proof panels and flooding system.

As an additional safety device, three isolation valves were installed along the inlet pipes to the Power Jets: these valves close in the event of an explosion inside the filter units, preventing it from propagating along the suction lines and reaching the consumers inside the model workshop.

Finally, again with the aim of insulating the Power Jet filter units in the event of fire, fire dampers equipped with thermal relays with gravity closing, both at the inlet and the outlet of the filter units, have been positioned to block the flow of air and the propagation of any heat along the ducts.

Request a consultation now for your customised extraction system

If your company needs an Atex certified and Industry 4.0 compliant dust extraction system, contact us today! Our team of experts is ready to provide you with a free consultation to design the most suitable solution for your needs.

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