Amherst, Virginia Fume and Dust Extraction Arm Systems

Amherst Industrial exhaust systems are designed to capture smoke, fume, dust, high-temperature air, and corrosive gases. These "pollutants" are ducted to an air cleaner (purification system) before discharge to the outside or returned to the workspace. Capturing air-entrained materials is best accomplished at the emission source, defined as source capture.

Multiple arm designs are available depending on the airstream constituents. The parameters evaluated are temperature, explosivity, corrosiveness, and particulate, all factors determining the type of arm that should be selected for a process application. Matching your expected exhaust volume and arm useage with the required exhaust CFM, pressure loses, and airstream being captured is what we do. SysTech has successfully applied extraction arms for over thirty years and will assist with the correct selection for your process.

Amherst, Virginia Fume extraction arms with hoods or suction nozzles are the number one tool to maximize source capture efficiency. They capture the contaminated airstreams while getting close to the source without disrupting or slowing down the work process or collecting too much useable product. When the task or workpiece is difficult to access, in an isolated area, or along awkward points on an assembly line, extraction arms are a proven solution for maximum particulate, smoke, and fume collection.

Amherst ATEX Rated Fume Extraction Arms

Explosion-rated extraction arms are available for the handling of explosive gases and dust. (The combustible materials need to be identified upfront to determine the arm selection and hose material, if there is particulate, is corrosive.) These extraction arms meet the requirements of the ATEX Directive 2014/34/E.U. Category 2 for gases and dust for Zones 1 and 21 (areas where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur during regular operation). ATEX-rated fume arm tube diameters vary from four to eight inches, and arm lengths are optional from five feet up to twenty-three feet.

• Arm diameters include 4", 5", 6", and 8", and arm lengths include 5', 7', 10', 13', 16', and 23'.
• Flexible PE hose, fully grounded.
• They are manufactured following ATEX directive 2014/34/E.U. Category 2 for gases and dust.
• Optional fume exhaust fans in aluminum, carbon steel, or PVC.
• Models having black chemical resistance P.E. hose
• Model having a semi-transparent white P.U. hose for dust-related pollutants.

"General Purpose" Amherst, Virginia Industrial Extraction Arm

We label these arms a standard issue because they can be universally applied to most fume and dust extraction applications. The general-purpose arm is suitable for capturing smoke, dust, or any non-corrosive product. They are constructed of smooth powder-coated steel or aluminum tubing, a capture hood with adjustment grips, flex hose joint covers, and external adjustment brackets for the hood and swivel joints. The assemblies come standard with a wall mounting bracket but also have ceiling and floor support brackets available. An internal damper is included for airflow adjustment or shutoff. The arm mounting brackets allow for 180⁰ and 360⁰ rotation. Arm diameter options range from three to ten inches, and arm lengths vary from three to thirty-two feet. The maximum airstream temperature for these arms is about 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Features and options:

• Arm diameters include 3", 4", 5", 6", and 8", and arm lengths include 3', 5', 7', 8', 10', and 14'.
• An optional fume exhaust fan in aluminum, carbon steel, or PVC.
• Includes duct connection collar
• Grab handle around the hood that is aluminum powder-coated black.
• Black hose rated for 195 degrees Fahrenheit (intermittent 260 degrees Fahrenheit)
• A shutoff damper is built into the lower tube.
• The wall bracket is powder-coated black.

Amherst, Virginia Downdraft Tables, Benches, and Walk-In Enclosures

Dust and fume generating work areas within a facility can often be controlled with self-contained and moveable downdraft tables. Tables can be designed for tabletop downdraft only or combined with a backdraft airflow design for nuisance dust capture. Particulate micron size and the amount of collected particulate, smoke, or fume determines the air filtration systems selected, with typical options including throw-away filters, pulse-clean dust collectors, or wet collectors. For some applications, a downdraft bench that incorporates downdraft and backdraft exhaust can be designed for repetitive work processes.

Adding an enclosure around the dust source and containing the generated dust or fume in a walk-in booth minimizes the amount of air that needs to be cleaned. Dust control enclosures encapsulate processes where particulate, smoke, or fume are difficult to contain and are transported and dispersed within a room by cross drafts, mancoolers, compressed air clean-offs, or processing equipment like sanders and grinders.

Amherst Telescopic Fume Extraction Arm

Telescopic extraction arms are designed to fit into confined spaces. They are used for those applications when the operator wants to "compress" the arm out of the way and pull it back to a working position. The unit will mount on the ceiling, wall, or floor stanchion. There are optional designs from which to choose. There is an arm with a ridged flex hose in six or eight-inch diameter having an operating range of seven feet to almost ten feet or a thin-walled tube design that is available in five-inch diameter and can telescope three feet out to seven feet. Both telescopic arm options would include a manual damper.

• Powder coated steel wall bracket is standard
• Black hose rated up to 195 degrees Fahrenheit (intermittent 260 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Internal is telescopic
• Swivel base
• Optional fume exhaust fans in aluminum, carbon steel, or PVC.
• The hood is powder-coated aluminum and includes a grab handle and shutoff damper built within
• Arm diameters are 6" and 8", and the operating range (compression) is 4' to 7'.

Amherst, Virginia Extraction Arm Selection and Performance

The first step in extraction arm selection is determining how the arm will be used, the required work area, and any space constraints for hood positioning. The required arm length is determined by the arm mounting location and where the capture hood will be used. The selection of an extraction arm is based on several criteria:

Performance – The volume of exhaust air required is in cubic feet per minute or CFM, and the resistance to airflow is in inches W.G. or static pressure (S.P.) Because the arms are moveable, the S.P. thru the arm will change with arm and hood positioning.

The total S.P. requirement for an extraction arm is based on arm length, the number of arm elbows, the type of arm tubing, the type of hood, and internal or external support structure. Arm manufacturers include this value in their literature along with performance curves. The static pressure will change when the arm is repositioned (extended or compressed). Depending on the arm selected and the work area size, it could be a minor or significant change in fume capture. When choosing an arm, it is best to size the S.P. requirement as the worst case.

The CFM requirement for source capture varies with the collected fume, dust, or product. The amount of collected air is based on the hood capture efficiency, the position of the hood to the fume source, and any crossflow air currents. Follow the project design specifications or contact SysTech for recommended CFM.

Airstream constituents – What is in the airstream will determine the materials of construction, most notably, explosion or fire hazards, abrasive materials, and aggressive chemicals. Materials can be aluminum, polypropylene, stainless steel, and in some cases, carbon steel.

Frequency of use – Infrequent usage or continual use dictates light or heavy-duty construction.

Environment – Dirt or abrasive materials in the ambient room air may adversely affect the arm joints. Also considered is hood capture efficiency being compromised where crossflow air currents exist in the workspace.

Mounting Location - Where the arm is located will determine the arrangement of the design. We can provide them in bench, wall, or ceiling mount designs. These should be selected to access the captured waste stream by locating the arm as close as possible to the process.

Applicable Codes – Typical requests include FDA compliance with food-grade materials or minimizing fire/explosion potential.

New and Retrofitted Extraction Arm Systems in Amherst

When you install a new fume extraction arm or arms, it improves air cleaning system performance, resulting in a cleaner work environment. Expectations can be met if all-important selection factors are considered and limitations for capture are pointed out.

If you are repairing, replacing, or adding a new arm or arms, to an existing system, the critical components of the fume exhaust system should be reviewed, including the duct system, the exhaust fan (s), and the air cleaning device. Systems are only as efficient as their individual parts, and SysTech will review your components with you to evaluate if your system is operating at peak performance.