| Almost Half the Air Exhaust |
Most pneumatic configurations consist of one or more double acting cylinders that extend and retract with new air used to push both the cylinder forward and back. The compressed air used to push cylinder both forward and back is then emitted into the atmosphere as exhaust in the form of"mist". (Mist because the air usually contains some oil content). Exposure to mineral oil mists can cause eye, skin, and upper respiratory tract irritation as well as central nervous system effects in humans.
Below is a standard pneumatic system: compressed air pushes cylinder forward with the air emitted into the atmosphere. Conversely, for the return stroke, air pushes the cylinder back and the air is released again into the atmosphere.
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With X-Block® attached to a pneumatic system, new air is needed only for the forward stroke. This air is emitted into the atmosphere whereas the air used for the return stroke is contained in the internal circuit. Accordingly, the quantity of exhaust is cut almost in half.
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The air leaving a pneumatic system is hot, dirty and wet. The principal containments are oil, which exist in the form of oil/water emulsions, aerosols (small particles suspended in the air) and oil vapours. Emulsions are removed with standard air line filters whereas aerosols require special filters . Oil vapour removal is required where its odor is unacceptable e.g. food processing, pharmaceutical and beverage industries.
Less air exhaust or "mist" makes air treatment easier and helps minimize danger to personnel.
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| Various standards have been established regarding allowable emissions of mineral mist:
- ISO 8573 is the group of international standards relating to the quality of compressed air. These standards specify the allowable amount of contaminants.
- The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissable exposure limit (PEL) for mineral oil mist is 5 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m(3)) of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration (see 29 CFR 1910.1000).
- The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a recommended exposure limit (REL) for mineral mist of 5 mg/m(3) as a TWA for up to 10- hour workday and 40-hour workweek.
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