Improvement of the Exhaust Ventilation System to Reduce Respirable Dust Exposure for Abrasive Blasting of Silver Jewelry

Abstract

                The objective of this study was to improve the exhaust ventilation systemr to reduce respirable dust exposure for abrasive blasting of silver jewelry. In addition, the structure consists of a suction hood was designed to cover the work area with the capture velocity to catch the dust in front of the hood is 2.5 m/s. The hood is connected to the PVC pipe, diameter 140 mm, length 63 cm. Suction air out with a 0.75 kW exhaust fan, velocity is 23 m/s. Dust particles that are polluted with air are filtered and stored within the fabric filter bag. Then releasing clean air and then flowing into the outside atmosphere. The study results found that the exhaust ventilation system of small-size factories for abrasive blasting of silver jewelry could to reduce the respirable dust exposure for the abrasive blasting workers from 5.317 mg/m3 to 0.233 mg/m3 which not exceeding the standard as requirement.