Nicolas Van der veken, Product Manager at Donaldson
Effective dust control can support optimal working conditions, as well as compliance with dust emissions standards and regulations, and can help mitigate risks associated with combustible dust*.
For effective dust control filter efficiency is often the focus, while two other key factors – exposure and emissions – are commonly overlooked. Failing to consider these two elements can mean that dust control performance is not fully optimised.
A qualified industrial hygienist can audit a facility to evaluate air quality and potential employee exposures, determining average or peak concentrations of contaminants. Hooding can be an effective means of reducing exposure to dust, which should be designed effectively and properly located near the dust generation source. An audit can identify the facility’s dust sources to verify if ventilation hooding currently in use is appropriate. This is often when new dust generation points and the need to add controls, such as additional hood locations, are identified.
Once exposure areas have been addressed, the next step is to review appropriate dust collection technology. A dust collector should deliver consistent and predictable performance that effectively removes contaminants, while maintaining a consistent air volume at a predictable energy cost.
When assessing the appropriate dust collector, is also important to carefully analyse the type of filter and its efficiency. A filter in a regenerative dust collector is often pulse-cleaned under heavy loads. It must handle new dust entering the collector, in addition to all the dust accumulated on it over time. Evaluating a dust collector in terms of what it achieves at its stable set point, and using exposure and emissions testing will give a better indication of the ventilation system’s performance.
Outlet emissions are what ultimately passes through the dust collector. It is therefore important to know the quality of the filtered air being emitted back into the building or exhausting outside. This requires systematic testing to monitor air quality. For some facilities, industry-relevant regulations mandate continuous emissions monitoring. Other local and international standards may also apply, dictating the need for a variety of test methods to determine emissions or exposure limits.
Once ventilation needs and emissions limits are understood, a qualified industrial ventilation designer can design a dust collection system. They will identify what the dust load demands may produce in terms of energy and cleaning consumption, and how to achieve emissions goals in both a cost and energy efficient way.
Effective dust management can help prevent airborne particle contamination during manufacturing, support product quality consistency, and reduce production interruptions from contamination problems. Dust filtration can also help protect equipment, as well as contribute towards prolonging machinery life and overall system performance. Additionally, extended filter longevity can minimise operational downtime, while reduced air consumption can support lower long-term operational and energy costs. Taking into consideration dust collection in terms of exposure, efficiency and emissions will support the optimisation of dust control performance throughout the production process.
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