Abstract: In an exhaust system for removing smoke and pollutant fumes from the area surrounding the discharge of coke from a coke oven in which air, solids, and gaseous pollutants are moved through an exhaust manifold gated at its inlets, through treating apparatus for removing contaminants from the air, with the cleaned air subsequently discharged to the atmosphere, a method and means are provided for maintaining continuous induced draft within the exhaust system. A means for inducing exhaust flow operates continuously between a minimum flow and maximum capacity depending on whether the inlet gates of the exhaust manifold are closed or open, respectively. A flow control damper located at the suction of the means for inducing exhaust flow is controlled to permit the flow inducing means to operate in accordance with its performance curve up to drawing a predetermined maximum amperage.