One method to help reduce fire risk is an ignition source mitigation strategy. A variety of options exist, including drop out boxes, inline spark traps, specialized inline spark abatement devices, spark detection and quenching systems, dust collector location, and material specific systems to prevent mixing of incompatible materials.
None of these strategies can remove all hazards; instead, they reduce the chance of ignition sources reaching the accumulated fuel in a collector. Additional fire protection options should still be reviewed for each application.
The Spark Cooler® is ideally suited to mitigate sparks generated in metal and other low-load material processing applications, under non-explosive conditions. The Spark Cooler works to create turbulence in the air flow stream, thereby cooling the spark by increasing the residence time of the spark in the duct, as well as disturbing the thermal bubble surrounding the spark and allowing the lower temperature in the gas stream to influence the particle temperature.
It is not an extinguishing system and should never be applied as a standalone device in processes requiring absolute spark suppression.