Unsure of where to ask

[KyleVelting]

Hello, I was wondering if anybody on here could get me advice on a topic I have discussed with co workers. We operate many ND:Yag laser welding cells, that all have "light tight" shutters to protect employees. I have looked at our machine specifications, and have determined that our dust collector pulls 8500 CFM at our current SP, but our intake blowers for air into the cell only move 2400 CFM combined.

Is it completely necessary for us to have this low vacuum environment for the integrity of the beam? I mean, in essence, aren't we really just hindering the actual dust collection by creating that negative pressure inside of the cell?

 

[JayMaechtlen]

Well, if the dust collector "should" be moving over 3x what the intake blowers move, then;
Is most (or "all") of the air going out the dust collector coming in through the blowers?
The blowers are rated at their CFM at some delta P.
With that dust collector sucking, the blowers may have a negative delta P!
Maybe the blowers help enough air get in so the enclosure doesn't collapse from the suction of the dust collector?

Jay Maechtlen

http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm

 

[KyleVelting]

By what I've always understood though, you should have some form of equilibrium when it comes to dust collection in a "semi enclosed" space, to help the dust collector do it's job. The way I understand, with less pressure inside of the weld enclosure, we are essentially starving the dust collector for air. I would say that 90% of the air going through the dust collector comes from the air from the intake blowers.

I guess what I'm really trying to figure out, is would the dust collection be more efficient if we provided more air into the enclosure? By having a "low vacuum" inside of the enclosure, aren't we essentially just fighting the action of the dust collector?

 

[IRstuff]

I seriously doubt that you have a "low vacuum environment," given that it's almost impossible to hermetically seal an industrial installation. Nevertheless, If you are really only getting 2400 CFM, then your dust collection is probably less efficient, since what moves the dust along is the continual stream of air hitting it.

TTFN
faq731-376

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[RPosty]

life in a vacuum sucks

"I am stuck on Band-Aid brand, 'cause they are stuck on me"