St. Louis County Fume and Dust Extraction Arm Systems

St. Louis County 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.

St. Louis County 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.

St. Louis County 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.

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

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.

Exhaust Fans for Fume Extraction Arms in St. Louis County

Industrial exhaust system arms often need a connection to an exhaust fan for isolated applications or when needed for additional static resistance when connecting to an existing duct system. Fan CFM and static pressure must be examined in both cases to maintain system performance. When coupling with an exhaust fan, it should be constructed of similar or compatible materials to the extraction arm.

Cast Aluminum Pressure Blowers

Cast aluminum pressure blowers are typically supplied by manufacturers where there is a non-corrosive airstream. They are light, come in a wide range of designs, are compact, and are AMCA B spark-resistant as standard. Motors are available in single and three-phase TEFC and EXP frames.

Carbon Steel Blowers

If conditions of the airstream are suitable, a carbon steel painted fan is selected in a direct drive arrangement with a horizontal mount configuration that requires minimal space. Steel blowers have the option for AMCA construction up to AMCA A and 304 and 316 SS construction. Motors are available in single and three-phase TEFC and EXP frames.

Industrial Plastic Fume Exhaust Fans

Corrosive environments require materials of construction that will not degrade over time. Plastic construction is misunderstood as fragile, but industrial-grade designs are compatible with the harshest environment. The plastics typically used for construction are PVC or polypropylene (P.P.) and are an excellent choice for the efficient conveyance of corrosive, chemically laden, humid, or polluted gases, fumes, and air. Motors are available in single and three-phase TEFC and EXP frames.

St. Louis County Fume Extraction Arm Optional Accessories

Fume extraction arms have optional accessories that include:

Floor Stanchion - When the ceiling is too high, or there are no walls, a floor stanchion can be used to mount the arm.

Ceiling Mount - For applications where arms are mounted/supported by the ceiling. The ceiling bracket varies in height depending on the height of the hard deck or Unistrut.

Nozzles - To get even closer to source capture, suction nozzles and flexible suction nozzles are available.

Tube materials – For those arms using tubing, construction materials include painted steel, aluminum, stainless steel, P.P., or PVC. Extraction arms that use flex hoses can use clear, fire retardant, high temperature, or anti-static hoses.

Hood lights – Lights can be attached to the arm hood to provide better vision at the work point. Often used in welding applications.

Custom hoods – To maximize fume capture, standard circular or scoop-shaped hoods can be changed to a slotted design, rectangular, flat, or custom fabricated.

Wall Mount - A wall bracket designed to mount the arm to any wall or beam within the facility.

St. Louis County 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.

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