How Can I Eliminate Dust in Floor and Wall Tile Presses?

In many floor and wall tile factories, dust issues can reach levels that threaten both the health of workers and the machines. However, there are also many facilities operating with near-zero dust levels.

Key topics related to dust elimination can be analyzed as follows:

Dust Collection Systems

Dust collection systems are primarily divided into two categories:

• Floating dust collection
• Sweeping systems

Floating dust consists of particles under 20 microns generated in areas such as raw material transfer points and press conveyor belts. The goal of traditional dust collection systems is to capture this dust. The extraction of larger particles is not desirable to prevent product loss. Therefore, snail fans operating in the 3,500–4,500 Pascal range are commonly used.

Sweeping systems are generally employed to collect granulated materials up to 10 mm in size, using blowers operating at -40,000 Pa vacuum power. Consequently, there is nearly a tenfold pressure difference between floating dust collection systems and sweeping systems.

One of the most common mistakes in ceramic plants is attempting to clean floors using dust collection units with fans. Similarly, connecting the discharge chutes of press rear slides to the floating dust collection system is another error. Sweeping operations must be conducted with high-pressure systems. Otherwise, coarse granules being transported can accumulate in dust collection lines, causing blockages. Clogged pipes render the system non-functional.

Correct Capture Speed in Front of Press Hoods

Using the correct capture speeds in front of press hoods is crucial. Pressurized air blown onto molds generates significant dust, making cross-sectional speed a critical factor for the hood to effectively capture this dust.

Effective Dust Removal in Raw Material Feeding Systems

Dust removal on press feed conveyors is often neglected because these areas are not visible. In most facilities, white-collar workers rarely inspect these areas, resulting in knee-deep dust accumulation.

Having high-pressure vacuum lines for cleaning this area is essential. Manual cleaning requires significant personnel effort and time, leading to neglect. Consequently, accumulated dust continuously falls onto the press floor. However, when a high-pressure vacuum line is implemented, cleaning can be performed quickly by a single operator.

Use of Next-Generation Dust Collection Systems

In facilities with heavy dust loads, such as presses, using next-generation, high-efficiency dust collection systems is crucial.

For detailed information, you can refer to the video below.