| Overview |
SCUA provides effective solutions to fugitive dust emission problems. Collection systems or dust extraction offer high efficiency but can be very expensive to manufacture, operate and maintain and can only be used in conditions that allow for total enclosure. SCUA’s Agglomerative Dust Suppression systems are based on cost effective and flexible water, air-water or chemical-water technology, all with minimum effect on downstream processes. SCUA Dust Suppression systems use only quality components and are robustly designed for the taxing environment of mining. The equipment requires minimum effort and cost to operate and maintain.
A problem common to many industries such as mining, mineral and chemical processing, wood products and power generation, fugitive dust emissions are now regulated pollutants with most governments having introduced stringent laws to protect workers health. Very fine solid particles of fibrogenic dust represent a serious health hazard and abrasive dust particles are also a cause of excessive wear and resultant breakdowns in rotating machinery. Operating without dust control may lead to labour related problems and costly down time.
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| Agglomerative Dust Suppression |
Agglomerative Dust Suppression Technology was developed by The Royal Institute of Stockholm in the early 1970’s with the commercial availability of atomizing nozzles. These nozzles produce liquid particles within the 10-30 micron range. Usually applied at transfer points, a fine mist of droplets is sprayed into the airborne dust. These fine droplets and dust particles combine to form agglomerates. Being too heavy to remain airborne, these agglomerates settle back onto the material. In the settling process, the agglomerates also wet the bulk material slightly, thus further inhibiting the generation of fugitive dust.
There are numerous parameters to be considered in effective dust suppression system design. These include transfer point conditions, accessibility, dust dispersion patterns, and the type of bulk material. Such parameters will influence the desired droplet size and velocity, nozzle type and spray patterns, nozzle location, and the type of spray liquid to employ.
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| Dust Suppression Types |
Although water-based dust suppression is most commonly used in industry due to its low cost and ease of operation, it is not suitable for all suppression conditions. Some bulk materials are hydrophobic and repel water. In such cases, coal being a typical example of a hydrophobic material, surface active agents (surfactants) must be added to the water. These agents reduce the surface tension of the water droplets, facilitating the agglomerative process of combining dust and water particles. In other applications, of which the cement industry is a typical example, excessive water is undesirable as it causes caking of the material. In these cases a special nozzle is employed and water is combined with compressed air to create what is commonly referred to as dry fog. In this case the droplets are so fine that the fog is perceived to be dry.
Water – Cost effective, low maintenance, ease of operation
Air-Water – Where water is undesirable such as with cement
Surfactant-Water – For hydrophobic materials such as coal
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| System Automation |
In cases where the client does not have a sophisticated PLC (requiring only connection to a solenoid valve), SCUA Dust Suppression systems can be fully automated through a control panel and then integrated into client process control systems. Most commonly a PLC contact provided by the client in conjunction with an ultrasonic material detector switch will activate and deactivate the system. When required, the SCUA control panel will allow switching over to manual operation for, amongst others, maintenance work. SCUA Dust Suppression systems also feature an integrated automatic-flushing water filter system with filter cores of 100, 200, or 500 microns. The complete system and pumps are also protected through the use of pressure regulators and bypass valves.
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| Our Clients |
SCUA Dust Suppression Systems are in use at numerous mines and industrial sites in the greater Southern African region. Some of our valued clients are:
• Tati Nickel Mine – DMS Plant
• De Beers Voorspoed Diamond Mine – Surface Works
• Ngezi Platinum Mine – Surface Works
• Zimasco Chrome Smelter – Stockpile Tunnel
• De Beers Finsch Mine – Underground Ore Handling
• Samancor Wessels Mine – Underground Ore Handling
• Xtrata Coal Ogies – Underground Coal Handling
• Phalaborwa Mining Company – Underground Ore Handling |
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