Most industries will never need to overcome the issue of vacuuming conductive materials. But what are conductive materials?
A conductive substance or material allows heat or electricity to travel through it.
It is these materials that machine shops, engineers, steelworks and ship yards use on a regular basis and need to be considered when selecting a vacuum.
See some examples of both conductive and no conductive materials below:
Conductive Material
- Aluminium
- Copper
- Platinum
- Gold
- Silver
- Ionised Water
- Iron
- Steel
- Brass
- Bronze
- Mercury
- Graphite
- Magnesium
- Zinc
Non Conductive Material
- Paper
- Teflon
- Glass
- Rubber
- Oil
- Asphalt
- Fibreglass
- Porcelin
- Ceramic
- Quartz
- Dry Cotton
- Dry Wood
- Plastic
- Air
- Diamond
- Pure Water
An inert vacuum system uses oil in the waste container to submerge the conductive particles, making them safe to handle. A fine polyester filter, and sieve grid capture the majority of large and fine particles which can be disposed of safely. The ultra-fine particles will stay immersed in the oil bath until the oil is changed.
The frequency of changing the oil is dependent on how often the vacuum is used and how fine the particles are. Most quality oil companies produce an oil that is suitable for inert vacuum systems.
Although all Delfin inert vacuums are Atex rated, Australian Industrial Vacuum and Delfin have worked together to bring four new IECEx Inert vacuums to the market in 2021.
This year will see Delfin and Australian Industrial Vacuum launch three single phase and one three phase inert vacuums certified under the international IECEx scheme for combustible and explosive products.
Our inert IECEx range starts with one-motor brushless machines producing 1.1kW up to three phase powerhouses delivering 4kW, with collection capacities available up to 27Ltrs.
Two criteria that are often important in selecting a vacuum include portability and noise level. The IECEx Inert Vacuums have their weight sensibly balanced on heavy duty industrial castors allowing operators to manoeuvre them into tight spaces. To ensure operator comfort each vacuum has noise levels suppressed to a low 72-76 dB making it comfortable for all day use and equivalent to listening to music at home.
Each Inert vacuum has 3 stages of high efficiency filtration, plus an antistatic primary filter and HEPA 14 “H Class” filters as standard. These are fitted across the IECEx range ensuring the returned air is of the highest quality and meeting Australian Standards.
The 304 Stainless Steel waste drums are mounted low, allowing operators to easily release the drum, wheel it away and empty without complicated manual handling movements, improving OHS compliance.
Poor filter maintenance leads to premature filter replacement can end up costing organisation more than expected. Delfin have incorporated a filter cleaning system to combat this. Regularly cleaning the vacuum ensures it operates more efficiently, picking up debris quicker and reducing operator time on the required task.
The decision on what vacuum to choose can be daunting, especially if your organisation is unsure of the conductivity or combustibility of the waste product. If you are still unsure or you know you require an inert vacuum system, our experienced team can assist you. Give us an obligation free call on 03 8597 3376 to speak to an expert today!
