Dust suppression ring designed for conveyor discharge points
An innovative new dust suppression
device has been introduced specifically for use at conveyor discharge points, designed to create a virtual curtain around the material flow for outstanding particle containment (Fig. 1). The DustBoss® DB-RTM Ring from Dust Control Technology is engineered for industrial strength and longevity, built with a high-quality stainless steel ring outfitted with a network of atomizing nozzles that deliver millions of 50–200 μm droplets per minute. By surrounding the discharge flow on all sides, the DustBoss Ring provides simple, focused dust management that’s well suited to continuous duty, such as radial stackers (Fig. 2).
“This design was first developed for a coal application,” explained DCT CEO Edwin Peterson. “The momentum created while discharging dry coal was propelling large amounts of dust into the air, and the customer was looking for a way to specifically address the material as it came off the conveyor. The solution was simple but effective, and we’re finding that it’s well suited to conveyor discharge of sand, aggregates, biomass or other traditionally dusty materials,” he said.
The DustBoss DB-R is available in five standard sizes, from 17“ (43.2 cm) to 100“ (254 cm) in diameter. All five can be customized with DCT’s Variable Particle SizingTM technology, allowing customers to specify different droplet size ranges to match specific materials. “The greatest chance of a collision between a dust particle and a droplet is present when the droplet and dust are roughly the same size, avoiding the slipstream effect,” Peterson reminded. “If we can increase the chances of collision with a given particle size, we improve the effectiveness of the suppression.”
Designed without any moving parts, the intrinsically safe DB- R is intended for elevated mounting. It requires no electrical power or compressed air. The water supply hose is connected directly to male pipe threads on the ring: 3/4“ NPT for the 17“ model, and 1“ NPT for the three intermediate sizes: 22.5“ (57.2 cm), 25.5“ (64.8 cm) and 42“ (106.7 cm). For large applications, the company also offers the 100“ diameter model, which is supplied by a 1.5“ NPT hose. Available options for the DB-R include a booster pump to elevate low water pressures, a variety of nozzle sizes and configurations, and a water filter. Customers can also order the units with a 2-way valve and/or hose included. The number and size of the spray nozzles vary by model. The smallest model features 30 brass nozzles that produce 3.25 GPM (12.3 LPM) of water flow. The 22.5“ unit is designed with 18 medium-flow nozzles, with a water usage of 11.34 GPM (42.9 LPM). The 22.5“ and 42“ models feature 30 high-flow nozzles that deliver 18.9 GPM (71.5 LPM), and the 100“ size employs 84 nozzles for a whopping 52.92 GPM (200.3 LPM) of water delivery.
Dust Control Technology is a pioneer in dust and odor control solutions for coal handling, mining, recycling/scrap, construction, demolition, and rock/aggregate processing. The company’s DustBoss® product line helps reduce labor costs vs. manual sprays, freeing up manpower to concentrate on core business. The automated units also use less water than fire hoses and sprinklers, while avoiding over-saturation, with some customers realizing payback in less than six months and netting an annual cost savings of more than 50 000 US$.
