Date: 2011-04-20
New system offers energy-saving features and the ability to expand.
New system installed at CAP & Associates is 100 hp and delivers 27,200 CFM.
When woodworking companies expand, they also have to expand their dust collection system. CAP & Associates in Columbus, Ohio, manufactures store fixtures and displays and was using a single fan 75 hp system capable of 14,500 CFM.
The older system, originally purchased used, performed well in the company's early years.
CAP & Associates purchased a new Busellato router, but needed to add dust collection capacity before it could go into operation. CAP chose an energy efficient system from O2 Filtration and Hocker Polytechnik, which uses the MultiStar system and its clean air fan technology and integrated energy management. The system could also be expanded.
Air flow is regulated by which of eight different zones require dust collection.
According to O2 Filtration, a traditional dust collection system is set up for the full capacity requirements of production machinery. One large fan is run all of the time, even if all the machines are not operating. Using the MultiStar system, CAP can operate eight individual zones by using a variable frequency drive that controls the operation of three smaller horsepower fans.
The fans are basically controlled by the number of machinery zones that require air at that given time. The zones communicate by the use of automatic shut-off gates that are wired to each machine.
As the machine zone comes online, the blastgate is signaled to open, which in turn signals to the control panel and controls the number of fans required to pull the proper air flow and velocity. According to O2, the new system has achieved energy savings of 30 to 40 percent. The Columbus plant operates two eight-hour shifts, and the new accumulative 100 hp system provides 27,200 CFM.
Updated: Apr 21, 2011