This time of the year it is not uncommon to feel a slight shock after walking across a carpeted surface and touching a door knob. This little “jolt” is a result of fast-moving electrons leaping from your body to the door knob, or vice versa. As your feet shuffle across the surface of a rug or carpet, your body will either gain or lose electrons. Touching a conductive surface then causes these electrons to leap from one place to another.
When an atom gains or loses an electron, it affects the balance that occurs within an atom. If an atom gains an electron, it now has more electrons than protons. This results in a negatively charged atom. The opposite can be said if an atom loses an electron, it now carries a positive charge. This charge imbalance is where static electricity comes from. Both positive and negative charges will remain static until contacted by or in close proximity to a conductive or grounded surface.
Static can be a problem in many industries contributing to a range of different process problems. Common problems include: dust clinging to product, product clinging to itself, rollers, machine beds or frames, materials jamming or curling, sheet feeding problems, and hazardous sparks or shocks to operators.
For eliminating static on the surface of pipe, cable, extruded shapes, hose, or wire, look no further than EXAIR’s Gen4 Super Ion Air Wipe. The Gen4 Super Ion Air Wipe provides a uniform 360° ionized airstream and is available in both 2” and 4” ID sizes. Its clam-shell design makes it easy to clamp around a part for neutralizing static electricity and contaminants.
The high volume, high velocity airflow attaches itself to the surface and wipes it down with static eliminating ions. The airflow stays attached to the surface and is effective up to 15’ away from where it’s mounted. It’s lightweight and easy to mount using the ¼-20 tapped holes on the back or can also be held into place with just rigid pipe.
If you’d like to talk about how EXAIR can help solve the static problems in your facility, give us a call. With a wide range of Static Eliminators available to ship same day from stock you can consider these problems a thing of the past!
Tyler Daniel, Application Engineer
E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_TD