DUST GENERATION
STRESS FOR HUMANS AND MACHINESChallenge
In a steel plant where scrap steel is recycled and melted into beams, the generation of dust before the melting process poses a considerable challenge. That’s because it is necessary to add lime dust to protect the molten steel in the melting pot from sticking to the inner wall. A belt conveyor feeds the material into the furnace.
The facility is situated in a large hall with multiple levels and open-mesh flooring. Due to this configuration, the dust spread throughout the hall, causing a range of issues including poor air quality. This dusty working environment endangered both the health of the employees and the smooth operation of the machines. To counteract this, the hall had to be cleaned several times a month and the material extracted had to be transported off the site. This resulted in substantial cleaning costs.
Solution
The solution to this problem was to use STARCLEAN® Seal and our scrapers.
Our ATEX-quality Seal transfer point seal was specially integrated into the system to efficiently control the material flow from feeding to unloading. The transfer point seal proved to be extremely effective in reducing the formation of dust. The installation of the seals led to a significant improvement in the air quality in the hall, not only protecting the health of the employees but also extending the service life of the machines.
From measurement and construction to the installation of our products (scrapers and seal) and the final optimization of the handover, we provided the customer with an end-to-end solution. It has also reduced the need for cleaning to once a year.
Advantages
- Extends the service life of the machines
- Effective sealing and efficient material conveyance
- Higher/optimized plant efficiency and economy
- Improved health protection/occupational safety
- Lower cleaning costs
“The use of an extended calming zone in combination with a Seal double-lip side seal led to a noticeable reduction in the dust load in the immediate vicinity of the plant and a substantial reduction in cleaning work.” (Production engineer)
Material
Lime dust and aggregates
Sealings
11 metre seal
Cleaning Work:
Significantly reduced
BEFORE
AFTER
