ATEX extraction system for carbon dust and resins

For over 45 years, GGE has been designing and building customised industrial extraction systems for every production sector, with a particular specialisation in ATEX-certified solutions. Our experience allows us to efficiently respond to the needs of companies that process sensitive materials, such as carbon dusts and resins, ensuring a working environment that complies with regulations and it’s safe for operators.

A concrete example is the project carried out in the heart of the Motor Valley, in Parma (Italy), for a well-known company specialized in the design and construction of racing cars. Here we installed a high-performance industrial extraction system, designed to guarantee a safe, clean and efficient working environment.

This plant, designed to extract carbon dust and resin residues from the processing of composite materials, fully complies with the strictest ATEX safety regulations. The system is designed in ATEX Ex II 3D execution, which is suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres due to the occasional presence of combustible dusts, typical of processing carbon fibre and thermosetting resins.

How the extraction system is composed

The extraction system for carbon dust and resins is designed to offer maximum extraction efficiency, operational safety and ease of maintenance.
The core of the system is the Finpol HZ filter unit model HZNL24, specifically designed for ATEX environments and equipped with:

• 24 antistatic filtering cartridges, made of material certified for explosion-hazardous environments and capable of retaining even very fine particles.
• Automatic compressed air cleaning system to keep the cartridges fully efficient, without the need for manual intervention by the operator.
• Two explosion-proof panels, located on the filter body, designed to vent any internal explosions in a controlled manner, preventing damage to people and structures.
• Level indicator in the hopper, with automatic signalling in case of overfilling or clogging of the discharge system, allowing quick and targeted interventions by operators.
• Carbon and resin dust discharge system in Big Bag and safety perimeter gates. The Big Bag is installed under the discharge hopper and allows dust to be disposed safely and without dispersion; the gates delimit the service area and guarantee the protection of personnel during maintenance or bag emptying operations.

The extraction of carbon and resin dust within the plant is generated by a DT model DTO904 centrifugal fan, which is highly efficient and sized to maintain a constant air flow of 20,000 m³/h, even under variable load conditions. The fan is placed in a soundproofing box outside the production building, to attenuate sound pressure values.

The dust-filtered air is expelled into the atmosphere through a chimney with a diameter of 850 mm, which complies with current environmental emission regulations.
The entire metal piping circuit that connects the air inlets to the filtering unit is covered by equipotential jumper cables, ensuring electrical continuity and correct grounding, which is essential to avoid the build-up of electrostatic charges and prevent triggers in ATEX-hazardous environments.

How the extraction system is managed

The start-up and shutdown of the carbon dust extraction system is managed by a centralized electrical control panel, equipped with a pressure regulator and an automatic inverter. These components allow the fan speed to be adjusted according to the system requirements, thereby optimising the energy consumption of the extraction system.

The installation of this system has resulted in a significant improvement in terms of safety for staff and cleaning of the working environment, with a drastic decrease in dust suspended in the air.

Contact us for a free on-site visit

There are many fields of application for dust extraction systems: whether potentially explosive dusts in Atex atmospheres or standard dusts, the installation of a dust extraction system is almost always necessary, in order to make the working environment healthy and compliant with current safety regulations.
Contact us for a free consultation: our specialized technicians are available to schedule a free in-house inspection and assess the need for the installation of an extraction system.