Industrial Vacuum Cleaners
Industrial vacuum cleaners are heavy duty machines used to suck up, or “vacuum,” dirt, debris and all other undesirable solid and liquid materials from floors and furniture surfaces.
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Applications for Industrial Vacuum Cleaners
The environments in which they are typically employed include construction sites, manufacturing facilities, metalworking facilities, woodworking sites, warehouses and other work areas that generate large amounts of unwanted materials. In addition, they often work on projects related to recycling, reclamation and spill cleanup. Industrial vacuum cleaners are much stronger and more efficient than commercial vacuum cleaners; some of the large variety of materials they can pick up include: abrasives, coolant and oil mist, explosive media, fine powders, metalworking chips, litter, metalworking fluids, non-free flowing media and welding fumes.
Industrial Vacuum Cleaners Design
In general, vacuum cleaners work using an air pump, such as a centrifugal fan, to generate a partial vacuum capable of sucking dust, dirt and other particles from floors, furniture and other surfaces. Industrial vacuum cleaners work in much the same way, except on a larger scale and with many individual differences.
To match the many different applications they serve and materials they pick up, industrial vacuum cleaners are sold in a very large variety of sizes and styles. Individual vacuum cleaners can vary in terms of airflow, filter material, dirt storage units and power source. Airflow, which is defined in this context as the velocity of the air stream produced by a vacuum cleaner’s motor, varies because some applications require the pull of a stronger airflow than others. For greater suction, greater air pressure must be used.
Types of Filters Used in Industrial Vacuums
As for filters, some industrial vacuum cleaners are equipped with filters that can only pick up dry material, while some are only meant to pick up wet materials, while others still can pick up both.
In addition, some air filters are designed more precisely than others.
- Water Filters
- Force dirty air through a water bath before it goes back into the atmosphere. In doing so, they disallow dust from becoming airborne again.
- Ultra Fine Air Filter
- Another special filter is the HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter, also known as an ultra fine air filter. HEPA filters are installed in industrial vacuum cleaners to act as secondary filters, removing any potentially harmful dust before it reaches the operator.
- Charcoal Filters
- In addition, other industrial vacuum cleaners use activated charcoal filters, which remove odors from the surface they are vacuuming. When they pick up dirt, some industrial vacuum cleaners engage with the cyclonic separation principle, while others take a more traditional approach, with a disposable or reusable bag.
Types of Industrial Vacuums
Some of the standard industrial vacuum styles available to customers include: auto vacuums, backpack cleaners, canister vacuums, central vacuum cleaners, continuous duty vacuum, explosion proof vacuums, HEPA vacuum cleaners, rider sweepers or walk behind sweepers and vacuum cleaner trucks. Auto vacuums, which are, true to their name, manufactured for general vehicle cleaning and for use at automotive service centers and car washes, may be portable or stationary. In addition, like many other industrial vacuum cleaners, they have removable attachments that are designed specifically for their application. In this case, the attachments are designed to clean vehicle interiors.
- Central Vacuums
- Used to tackle the cleaning of large buildings, such as college dorm halls or academic buildings. Typically, the motor and dirt filtration unit are mounted in an outlying location, where they are connected to a series of ducts that are built into the building itself. To operate them, workers can connect hoses, pre-separators, tubing and other vacuum attachments to the duct inlets that are found dispersed intermittently around the building.
- Explosion Proof Vacuums
- Have another very specific task, which is to clean flammable liquids and other hazardous media without sparking an explosion or fire. HEPA vacuum filters are used extensively in the food industry, where they remove ultrafine food dust from production lines and processing equipment, and rid pipes, walls and beams of debris. To aid them in their endeavors, they are frequently equipped with useful accessories like angle brushes to get into hard to reach places, color-coded industrial brushes to prevent cross-contamination, overhead cleaning supplements, wall nozzles and overhead cleaning supplements.
Buying a Right Food Processing Industrial Vacuum Cleaner
In the food industry, vacuum cleaners are used extensively at various stages from spot suction, to cleaning of processing equipment, to removal of debris from beams, walls, and pipes.
A standard vacuum used in the food industry has HEPA filters that collect the ultrafine food dust, which is inherent in every plant. Specialized accessories include color-coded industrial brushes to stop contamination, overhead cleaning supplements, wall nozzles, and angled brushes to reach intricate spaces. In large faculties, large dust collectors are used. However, other than these features, there are a number of things that you need to consider. These are:
- Vacuum Power
- Check the power and performance of a vacuum system. The horsepower is not the true determinant of performance; instead, factor in the airflow and water lift specifications. A vacuum with high airflow suits better to capture powder-like substances, like dry whey and flour. A vacuum with good water lift will effectively lift heavy pieces; it is used to collect cooking oil, water and other heavier particles.
- Continuous-Duty Vacuums or Intermittent-Duty Vacuums
- Commonly, industrial vacuum cleaners are either Continuous-Duty Vacuums or intermittent. To pick heavy debris, continuous-duty vacuums are better suited; whereas in less demanding workload, intermittent works well.
- Single Stage or Multiple Stage
- Continuous three- or two-phase units are the most efficient at work that suits even the most demanding working conditions; they are also reliable and last for long. A good single-phase power option works fine in conditions that are less challenging; however, they do not last for long. They only should be used for general cleanup for short periods, like an hour or less.
- Central Vacuum Systems or Portable Vacuums
- If the facility needs cleaning only in a specified area, it is better to install processing lines with a central vacuum system. A central vacuum helps to cut down the time to cleaning process, as the waste is disposed through the processing lines. It does not have any disposal bags or other carriages attached to the units, it only consists of a suction unit with a connecting hose, which can be attached to various processing points during operation. However, if you need flexibility, go for portable vacuums.
Things to Consider When Purchasing Industrial Vacuums
When choosing between industrial vacuum cleaners, customers are advised to consider a few different things. First, they must check the performance and power levels of the vacuum system. Note that performance is not determined by horsepower, but rather by airflow and water lift specifications. Applications that call for the suction of powder-like substances, such as flour or dry whey, are better off using industrial vacuum cleaners with higher airflow. Those customers that, on the other hand, need machines that can pick up heavy pieces should select a vacuum or vacuums with good water lift. Find out more by reaching out to an experienced vacuum manufacturer today.