Emission characterization, exhaust and filtration technique

Fig. 1: Biofilter pilot system for waste air treatment during laserassisted plywood cutting
The reliable use of laser processes in industry requires appropriate safety concepts. The LZH has been working in the field of laser safety for years and belongs to the leading national and international competence centers in this area. LZH focuses on:

  • Working safety and environmental management
  • Analyses and evaluation
  • Immission protection
  • Emission monitoring
  • Filtration technique and exhaust air cleaning

The gaseous emissions and particles caused during laser material processing are an important aspect when it comes to safety. From the analysis and characterization of the exhaust air optimum safety precautions can be deducted to ensure a safe laser work place. The LZH offers consulting for exhaust air cleaning processes and for the qualification, optimization and long-term testing of these processes. The following techniques are particularly relevant for laser material processing:

  • Depth filters
  • Surface filters
  • Pre-coating processes
  • Activated carbon filters
  • Bio-filters
  • Catalytic treatment of exhaust gases

Fig. 2: Precoating method during surface filtration for the removal of adhesive aerosols from waste air
Besides the testing and optimization of exhaust air cleaning processes, the LZH designs and tests exhaust equipment and exhaust air cleaning techniques. Figure 1 illustrates the principle of biological exhaust air cleaning for laser-assisted wood processing.

The pre-coating process cycle that was developed for problematic exhaust airs is shown in figure 2.

Mobile test stations for emission and workplace measurements are used for determining the particle size distribution and composition (see figure 3) as well as for determining hazardous gases that arise from material processing using laser radiation (figure 4).
The thermal decomposition behavior of polymers, natural materials and metals can be characterized by laser and thermal pyrolysis (PY-GC/MS). These analysis methods are also used for quantifying gases in materials (e.g. wood and metal foams).






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