Understanding the Science of Dust Suppression Using Mist
High pressure misting systems, sometimes referred to as fog systems, have quietly become one of the most effective and economically viable means of dust and odor control. Although the concept is still unknown to many in the dust control industry, misting systems have proven themselves to be an effective means of dust suppression, dust abatement, and open air filtration. A properly designed and installed misting system can suppress and remove breathable fugitive dust particles as small as 1 micron in diameter and easily exceeds the EPA PM 10 standards for dust suppression.
This approach has been widely accepted in solid waste treatment facilities as the best alternative to remove and suppress airborne dust. It is not unusual for architects to include the installation of a dust control misting system in the original specifications for a newly commissioned facility. In addition, many existing plants are retrofitting their building with these efficient means of dust control.
In the same way, an effective dust control system can also be and effective odor control system. The only difference is the inclusion of an injection system that will introduce a variety of chemicals into the environment that are used to efficiently cover or even digest the very cause of the odor. This would include odor control problems such as microbial decomposition (commonly found in solid waste treatment facilities), animal waste (as found in poultry, hog, and cattle producing facilities) and other noxious volatile compounds (including restaurant grease traps).
The Importance of Dust Suppression
Humidity is important in many different industries and applications, particularly in areas where dust is problematic. Dust can be composed of very fine fibers, actual dirt particles, or materials used in production. Dust particulars and fine particulate material in the air is a problem in manufacturing, production, processing, and occurs on a routine basis in the following industries:
- Construction
- Mines and quarries
- Mills and bakeries
- Agriculture (e.g. farms, ranches, forestry, etc.)
- Carpentry and joinery
- Textiles
- Glass and ceramic
- Sandblasting and painting
- Power generation
- Waste management
OSHA and the EPA have adopted standards for environmental safety that must be met by manufacturing companies in a wide range of industries. High-quality dust suppression systems inhibit dust from spreading in an environment by spraying mist into the air. This effectively captures the dust particles, which ultimately weighs them down and brings them to the ground.
Compliance is an important reason for installing dust suppression systems. By adhering to the OSHA and EPA regulations, not only are you following the law and doing the right thing, but you are also avoiding the fees and penalties that can be associated with failing to meet these requirements. However, complying with these regulations also benefits your employees.
It is important to promote a healthy working environment for your workforce. Unwanted and unhealthy airborne particles can negatively affect the health of your workers and the performance of your equipment:
- Employee health: Lung disease is a very real problem associated with occupational environments in which workers are forced to breathe in contaminated air. It represents a significant health threat to the company’s workforce if not mitigated properly.
- Equipment protection: Dust can not only affect human life, which is the most important concern of course, but it can also interfere with the proper operation of equipment and machinery. Dust can make its way into important components of machinery and degrade its operational capability and efficiency. This is something that can hinder production and necessitate extra equipment maintenance, repair, and replacement.
How Effective Is Your Current Dust Suppression System?
To determine if it is time to upgrade to a new industrial dust suppression system, think about the following issues with your current system:
- Dust removal: Does your system actually remove the dust from the air or just move it around in the air? With Fogco’s dust suppression systems, the fine mist, which is just 10 microns in size, creates a fog. The dust in the air is trapped by that tiny droplet and falls to the floor. This applies to particles in the air from 0.1 to 1000 microns, literally capturing and removing the dust.
- Flexibility: While many systems for dust suppression are mounted in the ceilings of either the indoor or outdoor areas, flexible and portable systems can also be a good option. Wall mounted options or systems that can be used on a cart or trailer for indoor and outdoor applications provides a directed column of mist that can travel up to 150 feet in any direction you require. This is an ideal option when large spaces and significant odor and dust control are priorities.
How Fogco Handles Dust Suppression
At Fogco, we talk to a lot of different plant managers, safety officers, as well as teams and companies looking for effective dust suppression systems. Many of the people we talk to have existing systems in place that are simply not getting the job done.
For almost three decades now, Fogco has teamed up with those working in construction, mining, demolition, waste management, and more to provide them with the broadest product line available on the market for both indoor and outdoor dust suppression. We offer an industrial option for dust suppression both within buildings and in outdoor areas. Our systems are in use in a wide variety of industrial and manufacturing operations and provide not only control of airborne dust and particulate matter, but also reduce odors from processing and treatment.
Fogco dust suppression systems work by using high-pressure fog to contain dust particles floating through the air. Dust particles are attracted to and absorbed by the water droplets in the fog produced by the Fogco misting systems. The fog that is created with our systems is enough to push dust back down towards the ground and prevent it from turning into a problem. Our systems assist with dust control for particles PM 10 and smaller. The air in these treated environments is not only cleaner and healthier, it is actually drastically safer with reduced odors. Given the risks of not cleaning the air, this is a relatively inexpensive way to improve worker safety and improving the overall environment while having the added benefit of assisting with climate and humidity controls.
For dust control in indoor facilities, we install static overhead lines using a grid-like matrix that covers either an entire ceiling or the perimeter of a building. If additional treatment is needed at the source of the dust, we can use our proprietary Revolution series fog fan to provide the building with superior coverage as we control the dust that is created.
Unlike other companies offering dust suppression systems, we can personalize our dust suppression services based on your requirements. Our team will work with your engineers and managers to create a customized dust suppression system based on the specifics of your facility. We help you select the correct misting devices and systems as well as the best nozzles based on the size of dust particles. In some facilities, there may be a need to include additional components to the system for high dust areas, outside dust control, or other considerations.
With our expertise, we will develop a system that is efficient and designed to work effectively for full dust suppression. You’ll find real dust suppression solutions that work, regardless of whether you need dust suppression done inside of a smaller facility or outside in a 250,000 square foot space. Call Fogco at 800-607-6478 today to set up a free dust control consultation.
Fogco’s dust control systems allow you to not only control the air quality of your environment but to also minimize the amount of dust particles present in both indoor and outdoor workspaces.
