HEPA filters have been an integral component when it comes to maintaining air quality, and we believe it’s the quintessential piece to always have in spare, among dust extraction system parts.

In this article, we would like to feature HEPA filters, explaining how they work and emphasising their role in keeping facilities clean and ensuring the safety of employees who work inside environments with dust collectors.

 

WHAT IS A HEPA FILTER?

HEPA, or ‘high-efficiency particulate air‘ filters, are a type of air filter that can trap at least 99.97% of particles –dust, pollen, bacteria, or mould– as small as 0.3 microns (µm).

These filters are made of materials like borosilicate glass fibre, polypropylene fibre, or fibreglass, held together with an acrylic binder. HEPA filters capture particles using a three-step process: diffusion, interception, and impaction.

Diffusion uses the natural movement of particles in the air to separate, and eventually capture them. Interception works similarly but uses filter fibres to catch particles as they pass through. 

Impaction involves larger particles colliding with and sticking to the fibres directly– leaving only clean air to pass through.

This process makes HEPA filters highly efficient and ideal choices for various applications, including dust extraction. A double-blind study confirmed this as HEPA filters were able to reduce particulate matter, including respirable dust particles around ≥0.3µm in size by 70%.

 

How HEPA Filters Contribute to a Safer Work Environment

As HEPA filters efficiently capture particles as small as 0.3µm, this results in improved air quality in the workplace. This also results in a cascading effect and reduces any risk of employees developing any occupational lung diseases by filtering out harmful particles that may be a byproduct of industrial processes.

Additionally, HEPA filters can also be a convenient and inexpensive method to remove harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens from the airstream and reduce the spread of any infections in the workplace.

This high level of efficient filtration is particularly important in industries where good air quality is crucial. Sectors such as healthcare, food processing, and industrial operations such as mining and construction may significantly benefit from dust extractors utilising HEPA filters.

However, HEPA filters do have drawbacks. For one, their unique structure can create higher pressure drops, which affect airflow and increase energy consumption, adding operational costs to devices or equipment using them. 

Additionally, their efficient filtration capability often necessitates regular cleanings and even replacements to maintain effectiveness, further adding to operational expenses.

We have addressed these clear disadvantages in our product designs. While you do need to replace the filters from time to time, it will hopefully take longer to replace while inside our dust extractors.

Take our revolutionary Bat Vent® for example. While most of our products focus on removing respirable dust from the air, this model particularly prevents them from entering the airstream in the first place.

This is helpful for offices, control rooms, or any administrative building located near facilities that emit these particles.

The Bat Vent works by drawing air through its vents and entering a prefilter. The prefilter’s job is to protect the HEPA filter behind it from potential blockage caused by high-level dust contamination.

After passing through the prefilter, the air then goes through the HEPA filter which removes any remaining particles from the airstream, leaving only clean and safe air behind.

Lastly, our built-in pressure monitor ensures that the air is pushed into the room at optimal volume and pressure. This means that if the room pressure is too low, it will automatically speed up the fan, and vice versa.

 

Foster A Safer Workplace With Mideco

Most of us spend a large portion of our lives at work, and HEPA filters inside dust extractors ensure that every employee is safe from the invisible threat of respirable dust.

Whether you need high-quality dust extractors or dust extraction system parts replacements, let Mideco handle your dust collection solutions. Contact us today to get started.