In industries where cutting fluid is used in turning lathes, milling machines and highspeed grinding CNC machines, oil mist is created. This mist can in turn create a hazardous working environment.
Oil mist is made up of small, fine airborne droplet particles that are released into to the air. Mineral oil-based metalworking fluids such as cutting fluid is used to lubricate and cool machines aiding in the reduction of friction between the tool and the workplace, prolonging the lifespan of the machine and protecting the surfaces of the work pieces.
To create oil smoke, metalworking fluid combines with water or oil. These droplets cause hazardous working conditions for the employees, as they can be inhaled and cause health issues, or the droplets can collect on the floor in the workshop making it extremely slippery. Oil mist can also collect on machinery, causing breakdowns which results in time and money lost.
Contact with and/or inhaling oil mist can cause health problems, and depending on the longevity of the exposure, these effects can be more severe if exposure has occurred over a long period of time. Oil mist can affect:
- The skin resulting in oil acne, dermatitis and photosensitive allergic dermatitis
- The respiratory system causing rhinitis, bronchitis bronchial asthma, lipoid pneumonia, lung fibrosis and lung cancer.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the United States of America also indicated that exposure to high concentrations of oil mist can causes eye and skin irritation, shortness of breath, vomiting, fever, rapid heartbeat and a burning sensation in the mouth, throat and stomach.
Other damage caused by oil mist can be to the machines themselves. Although the fluid is meant to keep the machines in good working condition, deposits and build-up of oil mist can cause breakage and result in unnecessary downtime. Installing the oil mist filters in the workshop eliminates any down time of machines and employees, reduces physical accidents due to slippery surfaces, and ensures a healthy working environment for all employees.
Nederman’s range of oil mists, supplied by Envirox, offers the opportunity to create a safe working environment where oil mist deposits are expected. The Nederman NOM oil mist collection and the Nederman OMF filter range are essential in the removal of any oil mist from the workshop floor.
The Nederman NOM oil mist collection includes three variants all designed to fit in limited workspaces and to operate in a temperature range of 5° to 60°C. They differ in filter area size, weight, power and application. They can be fitted into the ducting system of metal machining. The filters are controlled by a fitted fan and pressure gauge which also indicates when the filters need to be cleaned. The range is equipped with a HEPA filter offering a 99.7% separation efficiency.
This NOM oil mist collection range, available through Envirox, includes:
- Nederman NOM 11 oil mist collector, suitable for emulsions and neat oil, and for applications that require airflow capacities of up to 1100 m3/hr.
- Nederman NOM 18 oil mist collector, used in applications such as lathing and milling, machine stamping and press steel plates, industrial washing and abrasive water jets. The NOM 18 is ideal for high airflow applications (up to 1900 m3/hr).
- Nederman NOM 28 effectively collects and separates water and oil in the mist that is created through metal machining applications. This effectively eliminates oil mist from any workshop.
The Nederman OMF oil mist collector range is able to handle large quantities of emulsion mist throughout continuous use. All OMF tower-built units are prepared for use of pre-filter, and focus on high, efficient filtration and ensure low maintenance costs. All mist collectors in the range include three filter stages with an optional pre-filter. Stage one and two include filter cassettes with Nederman’s FibreDrain™ technology, and stage three has a HEPA filter with a MPPS 99.95% efficiency rate. All collectors within the range have a gauge for reading pressure drops over each filter stage.
The Nederman OMF mist collector range includes the:
- OMF 2000FC with a built-in radial fan, extension legs and two inlet Ø 200mm with clamp ring connection.
- OMF 1000FC incorporating a built-in chamber fan, a compact design, two inlet Ø 100mm with clamp ring connection, and a starter and motor protection.
- OMF 6000 has a top-mounted radial fan, extension legs and a two inlet Ø 400mm with clamp ring connection
