Cover Story
Asking the right questions about cartridge dust and fume collection
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
Choosing the best cartridge collection system for a given application involves research and attention to detail. This white paper by Lee Morgan, President, Camfil Air Pollution Control, reviews six key areas of investigation.
O
ver the past decade, cartridge- style dust collectors have overtaken baghouses as the preferred technology for industrial
dust collection for manufacturing industries. Combining high efficiency filtration with compact size and reduced pressure drop, a high efficiency cartridge dust collector will in most cases be the system of choice. Choosing the best cartridge collection system for a given application however, involves research and attention to detail. This article will review several key areas of investigation. By reviewing these topics with a knowledgeable equipment supplier and knowing the right questions to ask, engineers and other manufacturing professionals will be better equipped to make informed dust collection decisions.
1. WILL THE DUST COLLECTOR COMPLY WITH EMISSION REQUIREMENTS?
Engineering and operations departments today must deal with an increasingly complex alphabet soup of regulations to tighten air quality and safety requirements. Meeting these requirements should be first and foremost in any dust collection game plan. Failure to comply may result in fines, production
8 March 2014 Solids and Bulk Handling
shutdowns or costly litigation. In one well- publicised case, a federal jury awarded US$ 20.5 million to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit involving inhalation of welding fumes. The European Union (EU) adopted a directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe in April 2008. The directive sets binding standards for fine dust particles at PM2.5.
In urban areas, EU Member States are required to reduce exposure to PM2.5 by an average of 20 percent by 2020 based on 2010 levels and bring exposure levels below 20 micrograms/m3 by 2015. Throughout their territory, Member States will need to respect the PM2.5 limit value set at 25 micrograms/m3, which must be achieved by 2015 or, where possible, 2010. Best available technology (BAT) is used to fight pollution in Europe. For applicable dust applications, that means using fabric filter media (e.g., cartridge-style dust collection filters) and specifying the most efficient media. One area of concern involves stricter limits on exposure to hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen generated by processes such as welding or cutting of stainless steel, thermal spraying, and application of anticorrosion
www.solidsandbulk.co.uk
paints for aircraft and military use. In the U.S., OSHA has set thresholds as low as 5 micrograms (0.005 milligram) per cubic meter TWA. This is a common limit value also in Europe. Manganese is another metal that is monitored as it is known to cause nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s. The TWA for manganese is considerably higher (0.2 mg/m3), but the amount of manganese in weld fume is also much higher, so it is necessary to have a good extraction system to manage. Dust collectors need to be equipped with very high efficiency filtration media to meet such requirements.
2. DO I HAVE A COMBUSTIBLE DUST ISSUE?
As part of the safe running of your plant, you need to establish if any of the materials you process or use can form a combustible and potentially explosive dust. According to the EU directive 1999/92, all employers must do this; and if they find that the dust constitutes a risk, they have to create a protection plan and a risk zoning. Using proper dust extraction equipment is an essential part of the safety plan as it reduces the dangers. The dust extraction equipment in itself needs to comply with the rules as well as work efficiently to extract and prevent the spreading of the dust. >>>
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52