Understanding the Science of Dust Suppression Using Mist
Humidity is important in many different industries and applications, particularly in areas where dust is problematic. Dust particulars and fine particulate material in the air is a problem in manufacturing, production, and process industries.
Dust can be composed of very fine fibers, actual dirt particles, or materials used in production. In many sectors, dust is a detrimental aspect of the workplace, as it can pose a hazard to employees as well as to equipment. In some industries, dust also creates extreme safety hazards when machinery is in use.
The Importance of Dust Suppression
It’s important to use the correct dust suppression systems to keep the workplace safe and within regulations and standards. Dust suppression systems are designed around the principle that small, micron-sized water droplets are absorbed by the dust particles in the air. These heavier, moist dust particles then fall back down to the ground and remain on the surface.
When nozzles are correctly positioned with regard to the source of the airborne particles of dust, heavier particles to fall back down into the process material, dramatically reducing dust from circulating through the rest of the facility.
Dust Suppression Regulations
Dust must be suppressed not only to meet regulatory demands, but also to preserve the safety and health of employees. Companies are required to meet strict regulations. Workplace dust often occurs on a routine basis in many of the following industries:
- Construction
- Ranches and forestry
- Mines and quarries
- Mills and bakeries
- Farms
- 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 to Know if Your Current Dust Suppression System Is Effective
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. Fogco’s fog cannon, the Spraystream, can be wall mounted or used on a cart or trailer for indoor and outdoor applications. This 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
Fogco dust suppression systems work by using high-pressure fog to contain dust particles floating through the air. 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.
There are many companies that work in industries that require the use of dust suppression systems. 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.
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 either use our proprietary Revolution series fog fan or our Fogco FogCannon to provide the building with superior coverage as we control the dust that is created.
For dust control in outdoor facilities, Fogco uses a slightly different approach, and usually only relies on FogCannons. FogCannons are capable of throwing fog anywhere from 50 to 450 feet, which makes them very effective as far as dust control is concerned.
FogCannons can be set up in a stationary or mobile position, depending upon your specific needs. You can manage each FogCannon on a job site individually or control them all at once from a central control center. Either way, dust won’t stand a chance when FogCannons are throwing fog and knocking down the dust in the air.
Unlike other companies offering dust suppression systems, we can personalize our dust suppression services based on your requirements.
Our team can work with your engineers and managers to create a customized dust suppression system based on the specifics of your facility. We will 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.
With Fogco, 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.
