Dust Reduction and Extraction

Dust reduction is the science of reducing harmful dust emissions by applying sound engineering principles. Properly designed, maintained, and operated dust reduction systems can reduce dust emissions and, thus workers' exposure to harmful dusts. Dust reduction systems can also reduce equipment wear, maintenance, and downtime; increase visibility; and boost employee morale and productivity. The saying "prevention is better than cure" can certainly be applied to the control of dust. Although total prevention of dust in the bulk material handling operation is an impossible task, properly designed bulk material handling components can play an important role in reducing dust generation, emission, and dispersion. After all the necessary preventive measures have been adopted, the dust still remaining in the workplace can be controlled by one or more of the following techniques: dust reduction systems, wet dust suppression systems, and airborne dust capture through water sprays.

Dust collection systems are industrial ventilation principles to capture airborne dust from the source. The captured dust is then transported to a dust collector, which cleans the dusty air. Wet dust suppression systems use liquids (usually water) to wet the material so that it has a lower tendency to generate dust. Keeping the material damp immobilizes the dust, and very little material becomes airborne. Airborne Dust Capture through Water Sprays technique suppresses airborne dust by spraying fine droplets of water on the dust cloud. The water droplets and dust particles collide and form agglomerates. Once these agglomerates become too heavy to remain airborne, they settle from the air stream.

Many types of dust and fume are hazardous to health if inhaled. People can become permanently sensitized to fumes which mean that continued exposure, even to very small amounts of fume, may cause asthma attacks or other respiratory diseases. Dust and Fume extraction systems are installed to capture the fumes & unburnt particles of material which is generated during various processes. The Dust and Fume extraction system consists of suction hoods, swivel hood for standby furnace; hood required during pouring and other types of hood required at different processes with ducting’s & butterfly dampers. Centrifugal ID fan is also provided as a part of the Dust and Fume Extraction system (FES). Dust and Fume extraction systems can capture the dry dust. These systems create safe & clean environment to work. Fume extraction systems are user friendly and they have maintenance free operations.

The dust and fume extraction systems provide dust free, fumes free and clean atmosphere in the application area and are very simple to use. The industries in which these systems are catered to are as follows: • Rubber and plastic moulding industries • Foundries • Chemical process industries • Pharmaceuticals • Heat treatment plants • Chemical treatment plants • Steel • Cement • Power plants. These systems are also excellent for operations like welding, soldering, vapor control with solvent ink printing and many other industrial uses requiring effective fume and particle control. Dust and Fume extraction systems come standard with maintenance free high performance turbines with a digital control interface to monitor filter performance, airflow, operating hours and more.

Air Pollution Control

Air pollution occurs when the air contains gases, dust, fumes or odour in harmful amounts. That is, amounts which could be harmful to the health or comfort of humans and animals or which could cause damage to plants and materials. The substances that cause air pollution are called pollutants. Pollutants that are pumped into our atmosphere and directly pollute the air are called primary pollutants. Primary pollutant examples include carbon monoxide from car exhausts and sulfur dioxide from the combustion of coal. Concerns about global air pollution levels are increasing, and for business owners feeling the pressure, the growing area of air pollution control can be pretty cloudy itself.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

One of the major causes of both indoor and outdoor air pollution is Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are found within a wide range of consumer products, including solvent-based paints, printing inks and petrol products. Due to the proven contribution of VOCs to air pollution (and ultimately smog) VOC control regulations are enforced around the world to protect the environment against them.

Activated Carbon

Activated Carbon is a popular air pollution control method. One of the most common forms of carbon treatment in air pollution control is carbon adsorption. This method sees the use of dry chemical scrubbing media such as carbon filters for the adsorption of fumes from the air.

Biofilters: Clearing the Air

Biofiltration is a method of air pollution control in which process pollutants are biologically degraded using microorganisms. The most common air pollution control application of bio filters is the microbiotic oxidation of contaminants in the air. Bio filters use living materials to degrade pollutants when immobilized in the biofilm. Applications of this method include treatment of the off-gas from wastewater treatment plants, after painting and during the manufacture of food products. 

Although capable of treating large airflows, one of the disadvantages of biofilters is the requirement of a large amount of physical space. In recent years efforts have been made to reduce the amount of space needed, meaning that footprint reductions have been seen.

Various systems are used to ensure that sufficient moisture levels are maintained throughout the system. Air is humidified before entry to the bed using humidification chambers, bio scrubbers and water spray systems. Bio filters are cost-effective and straightforward options for pollutants capable of biodegrading reasonably easily. The absence of further pollution from bio filters is another positive associated with this method of air pollution control. 

Driving Towards Cleaner Emissions

Car engine emissions are recognized as one of the leading causes of air pollution. Catalytic Oxidizers are placed in the exhaust system of cars to reduce emissions from the exhaust pipe. The ideal byproducts of a car’s engine are carbon dioxide, some water and nitrogen. However in reality engines continue to release unburned hydrocarbons which damage the environment. Catalytic oxidizers now oxidize many of the unburnt hydrocarbons from an engine, leading to cleaner emissions from cars. 

Dust Collection