The Basics of an Oil Mist Collector

Using oil to lubricate machinery components creates a mist that can be breathed in, creating health and safety hazards. An industrial mist collector can be installed to collect this airborne metal, providing a cleaner work environment for employees and reducing the risk of fires or explosions in the plant.

In addition to the safety risks, an uncontrolled release of these vapors can damage the environment outside the factory by contaminating the surrounding land and water. Removing the vapors helps to protect the surrounding ecosystem and maintain a clean and healthy working environment.

There are many different types of mist collectors available for use in industrial plants and machine shops. The choice will depend on the amount of mist and smoke generated by the process, as well as the space available in the plant. For smaller machines, a cartridge-type system is usually sufficient. Larger systems with more demanding applications will typically use a cyclone or centrifugal fan. In order to determine which type of mist collector will best suit your application, we recommend you get in touch with one of our experts who can assist you in choosing the right product.

The first stage of an oil mist collector is designed to capture the majority of the larger particles. This is done through a three filtering layer pre-filter that removes solid particulates, entrains bulk liquids and agglomerates the finer mist particles to form larger droplets. In addition to capturing the majority of the oil, this step also generates static electricity which enhances the adsorption of the mist on the stainless-steel woven mesh that is used for collection.

The second stage of the industrial mist collector is a cyclone-type dust separator. This step works on the same principle as a centrifuge, except it is based on inertial impaction. Air is drawn into the machine via a specially designed centrifugal fan impeller, which creates a cyclonic effect that causes the mist to be attracted to a cylinder wall where it is collected and held in place. The cyclone separator will also generate static electricity which helps to enhance this adsorption.

Finally, a HEPA final filter is placed in the industrial mist collector to provide a high level of air cleanliness by removing the remaining traces of smoke and oil. The HEPA filter is capable of achieving a 99.9% contaminant removal efficiency for particles down to 0.03 micron in size.

The final stage of the industrial mist collector is rated to withstand continuous operation without the need for frequent filter replacement. This is especially important for industrial plants that run shifts around the clock, such as automotive manufacturers and aerospace manufacturing facilities. These large plants can’t afford the downtime required by inexpensive fiberglass V-bags or centrifugal-type collectors, which are not designed for nonstop operation. For this reason, the final stage of the industrial mist collector should be rated to last at least a year with no need for frequent filter changes. To ensure this, it is crucial that you select a system with a very high filtering class, as well as the necessary airflow capacity.