Nilfisk ATEX Compressed Air Industrial Vacuum Cleaners
In factories and production areas where combustible dust or potentially explosive atmospheres may occur, cleaning equipment must be selected carefully. Compressed air industrial vacuum cleaners are suitable for locations where electrical power is unavailable or where the use of electrically driven equipment is restricted.
Nilfisk compressed air vacuum cleaners use pneumatic vacuum generation systems. Some models feature Venturi technology, while others use multistage vacuum generator systems. They do not use an electric motor to generate suction and are available in ATEX versions designed for specifically classified hazardous areas.
1. Compressed Air Operating Principle
Unlike industrial vacuum cleaners powered by electric motors, compressed air vacuum cleaners use the factory's compressed air supply to generate suction. Air passes through the vacuum generator, creating negative pressure inside the collection container and drawing dust or waste through the suction hose into the machine.
This design allows the equipment to be used in locations where electrical power is unavailable or the use of electrically driven equipment is restricted. However, businesses must check the required air pressure and compressed air consumption of each model to ensure that the available air supply meets its operating requirements.
2. Nilfisk ATEX Compressed Air Vacuum Cleaner Ranges
Nilfisk offers several compressed air industrial vacuum cleaner ranges, including ATEX or EXP versions for hazardous environments. Representative models include:
- VHC010/VHC011 Z1: a compact compressed air vacuum cleaner range designed for ATEX Zone 1 areas. It is intended for collecting combustible and hazardous dust, with filtration systems and safe disposal options depending on the configuration.
- VHC110 ATEX: a compressed air vacuum cleaner featuring a multistage vacuum generator. The ATEX version is specified by Nilfisk for Gas Zones 1–2 and Dust Zones 21–22. An antistatic M-class filter is standard on ATEX/EXP versions.
- VHC120 ATEX: a compressed air vacuum cleaner featuring a multistage vacuum generator designed for efficient compressed air consumption. Its ATEX version is specified for Gas Zones 1–2 and Dust Zones 21–22, with an antistatic M-class filter as standard on ATEX/EXP versions.
- VHC200 ATEX: a compressed air vacuum cleaner equipped with a Venturi system and available with 50- or 100-litre containers, depending on the version. The range can collect both dry and wet materials, while its ATEX version is specified by Nilfisk for Gas Zones 1–2 and Dust Zones 21–22.
ATEX zones, filtration systems, construction materials and accessories must be verified against the exact product number and accompanying documentation. Standard versions within the same product range must not automatically be assumed to have ATEX certification.
3. Applications in Factories and Industrial Facilities
- Chemical and paint manufacturing: collecting dust, powders and production residues, subject to equipment compatibility and the classification of the installation area.
- Food processing: cleaning areas where raw material dust or production powders are present; the filtration system and collection method should be selected according to the properties of the dust.
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing: collecting powder and raw material dust in production areas, with filtration configurations selected according to dust control requirements.
- Industrial manufacturing and processing: collecting combustible or hazardous dust in locations that match the vacuum cleaner's certification.
4. Important Considerations When Selecting an ATEX Compressed Air Vacuum Cleaner
Selecting an ATEX vacuum cleaner should begin with the hazardous area classification established for the facility. Areas where flammable gases or vapours may occur are classified using Gas Zones, while areas where combustible dust may occur are classified using Dust Zones. These are different classification systems and must not be treated as interchangeable.
Businesses should identify the intended operating area, the type of dust or material to be collected, its combustible or explosive properties, filtration requirements, container capacity and compressed air supply conditions. These requirements must then be checked against the ATEX marking, certification and operating instructions for the exact model.
In particular, the fact that a vacuum cleaner is pneumatically powered and has no electric motor does not mean it can be used safely in every hazardous area. Only use a version certified for the specific area and material involved. Hazardous area classification is the responsibility of the end user, and the selected equipment must meet the requirements of that classification.
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