Automatic Dust Control – Some of the world’s most pristine environmental areas are located near huge mineral wealth. This can present significant operational challenges. But it’s just been made a little easier with a new, highly sophisticated software system that controls and monitors dust suppression equipment and odour suppression equipment – all from a PC in a centralised control room.

Known as CURT dust control and monitoring software (Control Unit for Remote-controlled Turbines), this fully automated, site-wide monitoring and control system is providing greater control over dust related health risks to personnel while reducing the risk of EPA fines, as it doesn’t rely on onsite staff to operate the system. Importantly, CURT also minimises energy and water consumption as the dust and odour suppression equipment only operate as required.

In the highly picturesque, northern Italian tourist area of the Pusteria Valley, the BWR Beton Werk-Bauschutt Excavation and Recycling Company (BWR) operates one of its many plants. It’s a challenging environment from an operational perspective due to the strong and constantly shifting winds that are typical of the region.

These winds pick up the dust particles created during normal operations and widely disperses them across the area – including on to the panels at a nearby solar farm.

In the early days of operations, the company relied on traditional, primitive dust control methods using high volumes of water to control the dust, but this created pooling, mud and, of course, required consumption of large amounts of water.

The Equipment

To overcome these issues, BWR installed two super quiet V12s Dust Control Cannons that are highly efficient at controlling dust in windy conditions aided by their unique, centrally located nozzles which sit within the jet stream. This protects the water droplets from being blown off course – offering minimal disruption to mist throw length from cross winds.

The state-of-the-art nozzle technology provides efficient water usage by delivering an ultra-fine mist to bind dust particles at their source without pooling or wetting. The V12s can operate at 2 different turbine speeds which provides throw distances of 25-65m.

In addition, the V12s Dust Controllers use sophisticated valve technology to remotely regulate the amount of water used. They also have an automatic discharge to maintain optimum water pressure for atomising and an easily accessible and efficient water filter. Plus, the V12s turbine operates with an acoustic emission of only 60dB within a 20m radius on quiet mode. That’s the equivalent of a modern dishwasher!

The Software

Using the recently developed CURT dust control and monitoring software, each V12s dust control cannon can be controlled and monitored from a central office.

The system is programmed to respond to several inputs so each V12s Dust Controller can react individually or concurrently. These inputs include time and calendar controls as well as various atmospheric conditions such as wind direction and speed, rain, humidity and temperature, which are monitored using an advanced weather station.

At the BWR plant in the Pusteria Valley, the V12s Dust Control Cannons are pre-programmed to begin operations at a particular time on hot, dry days or when there is a high level of dust expected. The company also plans to set up dust sensors, which are currently in development, to activate the units when a specified concentration of dust is detected in the air.

Prior to implementation of the CURT system, BWR employees were required to manually turn on the V12s Dust Controllers as soon as a truck entered the site so dust could be controlled during tipping or loading. Now, the Dust Controllers are activated by motion sensors or from the central control room on each vehicle’s arrival. This greatly reduces BWR’s energy and water consumption as well as relieving staff of the responsibility.

Already the V12s and CURT systems have solved BWR’s dust problems for staff and neighbours – especially at the solar farm. Even the truck drivers are happier as they do not need to endure exposure to clouds of dust.

The V12s Dust Controllers and the CURT dust control and monitoring software, are designed and made in Italy by EMiControls. Together, they can provide automatic dust control and odour suppression and monitoring with the click of a mouse from a central control office or as a completely autonomous process.

Tecpro Australia is the exclusive distributor in Australia for all Dust, Odour and Disinfection Products produced by EmiControls. Based in Sydney NSW, Tecpro Australia are award winning consultants in the area of dust and odour suppression systems. To arrange an onsite dust suppression audit and strategy consultation, contact us today.