Done and dusted? GO FOR QUALITY

Silos, conveyors, weighing, loading, tipping and other processing machinery need effective, at-source dust extraction. This is essential to satisfy the many end-user requirements, such as health and safety regulations, product reclamation and environmental emission targets.

But for many solids handling equipment manufacturers and re-sellers supplying end-users world-wide, fully effective dust control is equally important for another reason. By eliminating the build-up of dust created locally it ensures that the handling and processing machinery itself and its component parts will continue to operate smoothly, free of any contamination. This will reduce the threat of dust-related equipment breakdown, so preventing maintenance costs from escalating out of control.

With so much potentially at stake, manufacturers and re-sellers need to have absolute confidence in the dust control equipment they supply and install as part of their contract. In such cases, specifying the highest quality system for an application invariably delivers the best value for money. When making an assessment of dust control product quality, special consideration ought to be given to three key areas - performance, reliability and durability.

High performance dust extraction, filtration and collection is obviously a critical factor in any bulk handling and processing project. Different types of dust require different dust control solutions. Dusts can be dry and free-flowing in nature, sticky or moisture sensitive, or they can be carried in very high temperature airstreams. Only extensive expertise can assure the correct selection and sizing of equipment for a particular application.

Hand in hand with dust control performance go system reliability and durability. Here, manufacturers and re-sellers depend on proven equipment and the quality manufacturing standards of the dust control company they use for success. The system specified must be capable of maintaining performance levels to the required standard, often in continuous running and very arduous conditions, for many years.

Bulk handling system manufacturers and re-sellers export their equipment and expertise from the UK for use in diverse applications worldwide. This global aspect of the business can impact significantly on the cost of maintenance. In the event of a problem with the dust control system, then faults need to be fixed as quickly and inexpensively as possible, no matter where the installation is in the world.

One DCE installation confidently standing the test of time is at the Beremendi Cement Plant, near Pecs in Hungary. Rigorous independent tests are finding that the DCE Dalamatic filter, first installed at the plant six years ago, is still delivering emission levels well below its original target.

The DCE dust filter replaced an inefficient and unreliable bag filter system serving two Maerz vertical lime kilns at the Beremendi plant. The new system incorporated special features to cope with the excess temperatures and acid dewpoint conditions of the application whilst providing improved emission levels of less than 20mg/m3.

Regular independent tests have since shown that emission levels are actually being maintained at just 4mg/m3. The system has eliminated the visible plume of pollution from the kilns, improving air quality and significantly reducing pollution levels to the environment. Maintenance costs are also much lower than expected. PE

John Whitehead is sales director at dust control specialist DCE.