Particulate removal

A system, comprising:

• a filter to remove particulates from an airflow directed toward a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is thermally coupled to a computing component;
• an exhaust chute through which particulates removed from the airflow by the filter may be evacuated;
• a latch having a latch-open position and a latch-closed position, said latch, when in said latch-open position, allowing particulates removed from the airflow into the exhaust chute, said latch, when in the latch-closed position, precluding particles removed from the airflow from entering the exhaust chute;
• a blade that is movable between a first blade position and a second blade position so as to move the latch into its latch-open position, the blade being shaped so that, when in the second blade position, said blade covers a majority of the filter and directs the airflow so that the airflow carries at least some of the particulates into the exhaust chute;
• a fan configured to generate the airflow;
• and
• the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being disposed on a second side of the filter, wherein the airflow is directed through the heat exchanger while the blade is in the first blade position.