For Quarries, Cement Factories and Crackers, Indoor and outdoor by high pressure misting fogging systems and fog cannons
According to Hans Bruyninckx, European Environment Agency (an Agency of EU) Executive
Director, “Air pollution harms human health and the environment. In Europe, emissions of many
air pollutants have decreased substantially over the past decades, resulting in improved air quality
across the region. However, air pollutant concentrations are still too high, and air quality
problems persist. A significant proportion of Europe’s population live in areas, especially cities,
where exceedances of air quality standards occur: ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter
(PM) pollution pose serious health risks. Several countries have exceeded one or more of their
2010 emission limits for four important air pollutants. Reducing air pollution therefore remains
important.
The use of misting is widely recognized as one of the methods to achieve dust and PM
suppression and containment.
A project founded by EU, called AIRUSE, provides National Authorities of Southern European
countries with appropriate measures to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in air. A
combination of diverse emission sources (dust intrusions) with a complex climatology (strong
radiation, high photochemical conversion rates, low rainfall rate) significantly enhances particle
levels in South European and Mediterranean countries. (www.airuse.eu)
In one of its reports (REPORT ON MITIGATION MEASURES IN SOUTHERN EUROPE) AIRUSE mention
the following:
The techniques of water misting/water curtains: The moistening of bulk materials is a practically
proven technique to prevent dust formation from loading/unloading activities. The misting can be
carried out by using a permanent installation or mobile containers (e.g. tankers). Water curtains
are, e.g. used to keep dust in the hopper when grabs are opened above the water curtain. Another
example is the tipping to stockpiles made through chutes equipped with misting suppression
systems. The technique of water misting is simple, but application is limited to bulk material that is
not sensitive to moisture. Misting is particularly suitable for existing plants where the space for
installing extraction equipment is not sufficient and water resources are available. The technique
of misting (spraying with fine water fog) prevents the material from getting too wet. Misting can
be used on heaps, for the loading/unloading of heaps and tip bunkers, the loading of ships with
telescopic hoppers and the loading of trucks from silos.
Beside the field of application mentioned in the report, some other applications are: foundry
ashes suppression, belt conveyors transfer point dust containment, stacker reclaimers bucket
loading system dust suppression, rocks and ores crushers, open areas dust pollution
containment, de-dusting barriers, and so on.