Hot pieces of weld material or melt furnace slag are rapidly cooled by contact with the metal mesh in the screen and by the air stream over the captured particles. Burning pieces such as gloves or paper cups are diverted by the screen to a capture section where they may burn out. This part of the enclosure also receives the oversized pieces that do not pass the screen. It is equipped with doors for removing retained debris, and for cleaning the screen. The screen is cleaned by brushing with the system running. Fine particulate is carried through the screen to the dust collector, while larger pieces move to the previously mentioned capture section.

Spark Screens are designed to fit in the dust collector duct run. The entrance and exit sections are the same size. If it is necessary to remove the Spark Screen, the flanges are unbolted and a spool piece of the same size can be inserted in the same space. The nominal size of the Spark Screen is the duct size of the duct run. Screens are normally supplied with companion flanges on both ends, however, units with Nordfab Quick Connect couplings are available. The pressure drop through an unobstructed screen is approximately 1.5 inches of water column.

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This device is not intended to capture all hot particles. It is intended to catch larger particles and burning material and to remove heat from them by a combination of conduction to the screen and by the air stream moving past as they are slowed by the screen. The small hot sparks are rapidly cooled on the screen. The screen may be made of steel, copper alloy or other metal capable of conducting heat away from hot particles. The outer shell is supplied in carbon steel or galvanized steel to match the duct system receiving the Spark Screen. The outer shell could be made from any sheet metal, plastic or ceramic, etc. that will survive in the intended use. Spark Screen outer shell construction meets SMACNA Industrial Duct Standards. Present size range is 6" diameter to 48" diameter.

The most frequent applications are duct runs from weld fume exhaust and from foundry melt furnace hoods. Other applications may include exhaust ducts or stacks from: foundry shakeouts, grinding operations, machining, mold pouring, scarfing and cutting with gas or gas-arc torches, liquid metal treatment, refuse incinerators and other systems where hot or burning particles can damage the dust collector. This unit should not be used with heavy concentrations of particulate that can blind or damage the screen. These units perform best when installed as far as possible from the dust collector and inserted into multiple branches.

This Spark Screen mitigates spark and burning material activity when installed properly and regularly maintained. No representation of complete spark elimination is made.

Du-Mont Co. Spark Screens are designed to reduce the possibility of fires in dust collectors by stopping hot or burning pieces from reaching the dust collector.

A natural result of this process is a build-up of particles and debris within the Spark Screen itself. This build-up must removed at regular intervals. The length of time between cleanings will vary depending on hours of operation and the size and makeup of the trapped particles. i.e. Weld berries, gloves, or other debris caught in air stream. It is recommended that the Spark Screen be cleaned at least once a month.

The cleaning process is simple and easily performed requiring only a wire brush and a debris bucket.
Important: All cleaning is to be performed while the dust collector system is on and air is moving through the Spark Screen. This is to ensure all air born particles loosened during cleaning are captured by the dust collector and not allowed to contaminate the surrounding air.

Open the two side doors and use a wire brush to remove all debris from the screen surface. The larger particles will fall to the bottom, and the smaller ones will be drawn into the dust collector.
Place a debris bucket near the bottom of a clean out door and brush the already collected larger debris into the bucket.

Before closing the doors, look for any damage to the screen itself. This might be dings, dents, or broken or missing sections of screen. Replace or repair the screen as required. This is important to ensure the proper air flow, pressure drop, and effectiveness of the Spark Screen. Note that the entire unit is removable and can be replaced by a spool piece of the same length and diameter.

Disposal of the debris in the bucket must conform to all EPA and OSHA regulations and can generally be disposed of by putting with dust from the dust collector.