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Downdraft Tables Information Downdraft tables remove harmful particulates in the worker’s breathing zone and return filtered breathable air. Self-contained and portable dust collection systems, downdraft tables do not require external ventilation. Downdraft tables are an efficient and economical way to protect workers from hazardous dust, smoke and fumes resulting from applications such as chemical preparation, woodworking, welding, processing explosive materials, sanding, buffing, polishing and grinding. By providing a cleaner, healthier work environment, and improved productivity for close, fine hand work, downdraft tables offer improvement for both companies and workers. Downdraft tables are advantageous for industries such as metalworking, industrial, woodworking, pharmaceutical, automotive, coal handling, recycling and agricultural industries.
Downdraft tables function dually as both workstations and dust collection systems. Down draft tables are designed to contain and exhaust heavier than air particles, lighter than air particles and fine particulates and powders. The top of downdraft tables is a perforated rigid grill through which airflow is both possible and uniform. Once air is pulled down through the perforated top it enters an exhaust chamber mounted directly underneath the top. The exhaust chamber generally contains filters that can capture particles as small as .5 microns and compressed-air, pulse-jet blasts that ensure peak filter operational efficiency. In addition, the exhaust chamber has multiple branch ducts attached underneath with balance dampeners attached to decrease the noise level. A drain is also attached to the underside of the exhaust chamber. Everything underneath the exhaust chamber is enclosed into a duct that can connect to a facility’s duct collection system or can have an output area on the side or back of the chamber for the filtered air.
There are two main types of downdraft tables: wet downdraft tables and dry downdraft tables. Wet downdraft tables employ a standard filter element and a liquid, typically water, in order to collect flammable metal dusts. Typical wet downdraft table features can include impellers for water reversal, sludge collection tubs to remove captured metal particles, automatic water level controls and after-filtration devices or mist eliminators to capture fugitive mists. Wet downdraft tables are most commonly used to remove magnesium dust, aluminum dust or titanium dust in metalworking applications. Dry downdraft tables do not use liquids, but still employ a standard filter element to collect vapors, dust, smoke or fumes. Designed to accommodate varying sizes and types of equipment, choosing which downdraft table to use should be determined by airflow, minimum particle size and efficiency. Downdraft tables are typically used for applications such as chemical preparation, woodworking dust, welding fumes and coolant or oil mist.
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