One size does not fit all when it comes to clean air in manufacturing environments -  it is important to choose a filter unit that can handle the specific particle load in your workshop. 

Depending on the situation and the type of filter used, there can be several consequences if a filter unit can't handle the particle load. Common consequences:

• Reduced filtration efficiency: If the filter unit is overwhelmed with a high particle load, it may struggle to effectively capture and remove particles from the oil misty air or drain the droplets collected successfully. This can result in reduced filtration efficiency, allowing more particles to pass through the filter.

• Increased pressure drops: As the particles are captured in the filter media, it can cause a higher pressure-drop across the filter media. Pressure-drop refers to the resistance encountered by liquid or air as it passes through the filter. A significant increase in pressure-drop can reduce overall system performance and may require additional energy to overcome the resistance to maintain adequate flow rates. If adequate flow rates cannot be upheld loss of extraction, is a fact and the oil mist will not be extracted from the processing machine.

• Clogging or blocking of the filter: If the particulate load exceeds the capacity of the filter, it can cause the filter media to become clogged or blocked. This obstructs the flow of air or liquid drainage and can result in a complete shutdown or reduced airflow rates. Clogging may require heavy maintenance be frequent cleaning or replacement of the filtration solution to restore functionality.

• Increased energy consumption: When filter media is clogged, airflow through the filtration unit is restricted. This causes the fan system to have to work harder to maintain the airflow, resulting in increased energy consumption. The system may have to run longer time, or fan must run faster to compensate for the reduced airflow, resulting in higher utility costs.

• Reduced filter life: Excessive particle loading can accelerate the wear and deterioration of filter media. This can result in shorter filter life, requiring more frequent replacement of the filtration media with the result of more frequent maintenance stops and increasing operating costs.

• Release of harmful particles: If the filter unit does not handle the particle load effectively, it may not filter out the smallest particles from the process air. This can cause contamination with poor air quality as result, defeating the purpose of the filtration unit.

To avoid these complications, it is essential to select a filtration unit that is appropriately sized and designed to handle the expected particle load. Regular maintenance, monitoring and replacement of filter cassettes are also essential to ensure optimum performance and system failure prevention.

Filtermist's sister company, Absolent AB,  guarantees that its filters will offer at least 8760 maintenance-free operating hours and 99.95% clean air at all times.

How can Absolent and Filtermist guarantee this? When choosing the right filter unit for your workshop, our specialists take several factors into account. Depending on the machine dimensions, floor space, general ventilation, connections, particle concentration and size, our technical engineers will work out what filter is best for your specific requirements.

Do you want to know more about particle loads and airflow needs for you workshop, or how Filtermist can help you with a clean air solution?

Contact our specialist oil mist team now.

This article was first published by Absolent AB on LinkedIn.