Dust Collection Research Articles

The Luna Analog Facility testbeds (ESA, EAC): contemporary characterization work of highland (lunar) and mare (EAC-1) lunar regolith simulants

The Luna Analog Facility, a joint ESA-DLR endeavour, consists of three components and spans an area of 1,000 m2, providing testbeds of simulated lunar environments. The main sections within the facility are a large area filled with lunar mare regolith simulant resembling mare regions and a smaller, individual “Dust Chamber”. The latter replicates highland conditions and contains approximately 20 tons of material, specifically simulating the fine-particle lunar regolith portion up to 250 µm. The Dust Chamber serves as a platform for testing various technologies, such as mechanical tools, robotic operations, in-situ resource utilization activities, and astronaut attire, as well as different procedures including rover and astronaut tasks. This work represents the geotechnical, geochemical and mineralogical characterization of the Lumina Sustainable Materials Ltd. 2023 batch highland simulants, from which Lunar250 is intended for use in the Luna Dust Chamber. Additionally, this work provides new results for ESA’s mare simulant, EAC-1. We provide data on particle size distribution, particle shape, abrasivity, density, water content, major and trace element geochemistry and modal mineralogy. As the simulants in the Luna Facility will be constantly overseen, this work organized by the Vulcan Facility (ESA) intends to support the monitoring of the geotechnical property variations of the simulants over time. Ultimately, we analysed several properties with different tools to emphasize how different methods and instruments affect the variability and reliability of the results.

Adding Flavour to Tribal Lives: Primary Processing of Spices and Coffee in the Eastern Ghats

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Namakkal is being implemented Paramparaghat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and ICAR –Tribal Sub Plan Schemes at Elangiyampatti and Ariyur Nadu villages of Kollihills, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu since 2019 to promote organic farming activities in an area of 20 ha as well as utilization of machinery for primary processing of Spices and Plantation crops for getting good quality produce with assured net returns. These tribal villages are richly bestowed with Black pepper, Cardamom, Coffee and Hill banana more than 500 acres under cultivation. Usually the tribes follow the traditional method for threshing, pulping and cleaning of spices and plantation crops. So that the tribes got minimum returns due to poor quality produce. To address this issues KVK provided primary processing machinery to tribal farmer groups enabling timely processing, improved quality produce and increased net income. This intervention has significantly benefitted nearly 524 tribal farmers in and around Elangiyampatti. In the year 2021-22 alone, 42.5 tonnes of black pepper, 55.2 tonnes of coffee and 2.01 tonnes of Cardamom were processed by the tribes from Elangiyampatti with the help of primary processing machines viz., Pepper threshing machine, Pepper dust extractor, Pepper grader, Cardamom dryer and Coffee pulping machine supplied under ICAR- Tribal Sub plan Scheme and also got an additional income of Rs.82500/ household /year. This intervention not only improve the quality of the produce obtained from Elangiyampatti and Ariyur Nadu villages of Kollihills but also the tribes from other villages of Kollihills processed their produce in time and fetched good returns. Since Kollihills Pepper contains high Piperine content due to varietal nature as well as soil and climatic conditions prevails in this region and it is very familiar in this zone and also fetches a good market price. Hence establishment of essential primary processing machinery units at Panchayat level may facilitates easy and timely processing of Black pepper, Coffee and Cardamom thus in turn makes to help the tribes to improve their livelihood.

Spatiotemporal migration of dust pollution during the tunnel mucking process and development of dust removal trolley based on computational fluid dynamics technology

ABSTRACT During tunnel construction, the protracted mucking phase poses significant occupational health risks, particularly from dust exposure. This study delves into comprehensive numerical simulations to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of dust particles during the mucking process. A distinct ‘bimodal pattern’ was characterized by higher concentrations in the mucking area (0-30 m) and the inverted arch area (60-110 m), where concentrations exceed 30 mg/m3 under all conditions. To address this issue, a novel dust removal system has been developed. Integrating six dust collectors and one air curtain device, a dust removal trolley is strategically positioned at z = 70 m to locally purify the air. The extracted wind speed of the dust collectors ( V inlet 1 ) and the air curtain’s wind speed ( V inlet 2 ) are optimized based on ventilation conditions and dust dispersion characteristics. This system effectively reduces dust mass concentrations to below 4.8 mg/m3 at six worker locations.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Spray Scrubber Dust Collection Efficiency

Spray scrubbers are widely used in gas purification applications and allow fulfillment of the demands of air quality norms introduced all over the world. They effectively remove harmful gases like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter from industrial emissions, reducing their impact on air quality. Moreover, by capturing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) in certain applications, spray scrubbers contribute to efforts to reduce climate change. Optimization of scrubber internal elements leads to reduced energy usage and lowered water mass flow while maintaining high pollutant removal efficiency. This makes them cost-effective in the long term. The demister is an additional device which is often used in scrubbing systems, and its main task is to prevent the water droplets from escaping through the upper part of the scrubbing chamber. In this article, the pollution (MgO particles) is introduced to the system upstream the scrubber inlet, the working fluid is air under atmospheric pressure, and water droplets are generated by a single nozzle placed inside the scrubber. Before the experimental part, a preliminary numerical analysis of gas velocity inside scrubber is performed and expectations of particle behavior are indicated. Then, the authors present the spray scrubber laboratory stand designed by them and carry out experimental research on it. Each element of the test stand is described in the article including the self-designed fluidizer, which effectively mixes MgO powder with air. The authors investigate the effect of their innovative construction of demister on separation efficiency and compare the results to the case without demister. The impact of water mass flow rate generated by the nozzle and gas inlet velocity on separation efficiency is presented for several investigated cases. The results show that demisters significantly improve the separation efficiency at lower water mass flow rates and successfully prevent water droplets from reaching the scrubber outlet. The measured separation efficiency was in the range of 80% for lower water mass flow rates up to 97% for the highest water flows.

Prospects for reducing resistance of ash collecting apparatus

Various variations of reducing the aerodynamic resistance of devices with a complex flow-through configuration are considered. About 50% of power plants in the Russian Federation operate on coal, with two-stage cleaning used in the ash collection process. Modern coarse ash collectors allow achieving an efficiency of 55 – 80% depending on their service life. It is advisable to reduce the number of cleaning stages by upgrading them with modern cleaning devices that allow achieving high efficiency of cleaning the dusty flow and subjecting this cleaning complex to less repair work. IVACis an inertial-vacuum ash collector, which can achieve the capture of a wide range of studied particles (1 – 100 μm) with an efficiency of up to 99%. This device was tested at the Omsk CHP Plant, but it was found to feature an increased aerodynamic resistance, as well as high efficiency. The objective of this work is to keep an aerodynamic resistance to 660 Pa (the resistance of the cyclone apparatus so that the apparatus can be used as the first and, consequently, as two stages of purification) while maintaining the efficiency of the apparatus. The results of changing the configuration of the flow part of the IVAC are analyzed, the model submitted for patenting after numerous is considered. The research methodology is the analysis of a numerical experiment in ANSYS CFX using the k-ε mathematical model (ash mass content of 70 g / kg; One-Way Coupling). In conclusion, recommendations are proposed for further prospects of IVAC research.

Research on ash accumulation surface measurement methods based on the dot laser principle

Dust collectors are essential environmental protection equipment in thermal power plants. However, in recent years, collapses caused by excessively high material levels in the ash hopper in dust collectors have increased frequently, resulting in serious casualties and significant economic losses. The level gauge of the ash hopper is a crucial device for detecting the material level in the ash hopper and plays a vital role in preventing the ash hopper from collapsing due to excessive material load. However, level gauges of the ash hopper currently in use have various problems. Laser-ranging technology is characterized by concentrated energy, a small divergence angle, and the ability to penetrate dust. We have proposed a new material-level measurement method based on the dot matrix laser ranging principle. This method utilizes dot-matrix laser ranging and visualizes the optimized measurement data to ultimately derive information about the material surface's morphology and level. A physical hopper model is used to conduct verification experiments on various material surface morphologies, material levels, and the material hanging on the hopper wall. The results indicate that this method can accurately identify the material level and the material hanging on the hopper wall, preventing false alarms due to “false material levels.”

Fine dust collection capacity of a moss greening system for the building envelope: An experimental approach

Air pollution is one of the most impactful environmental issues worldwide in terms of mortality. Numerous studies have assessed the benefits of vertical greening systems within urban areas for mitigating air pollution, but their widespread adoption is limited by high costs and maintenance requirements. The current study assesses the air pollution mitigation capacity within urban areas of three moss species: Barbula unguiculata, Grimmia pulvinata and Homalothecium sericeum, used in the moss envelope system called MosSkin. Following a three-months exposure of the three moss species samples in a highly trafficked area, phyllids were analysed with Field Emission Scan Electron microscopy to quantify number, dimension, and nature of particle deposition on leaves on their different portions (base, centre, apex). The moss species chosen collected up to 45,580 particles per mm2 with the trend H. sericeum ≥ G. pulvinata > B. unguiculata, showing a similar tendency in terms of classes and order of magnitudes. However, specific higher affinities for PM fractions 2–7.5 μm were shown by G. pulvinata. The PMx collection can be related to species-specific shape of leaves within stems, and it depends on the leaf portions (highest capture in apex), 45–55 % consisting of PM0.5 μm, indicating a significant collecting capacity of such fractions.

Assessment of the microbial contamination in "Do It Yourself" (DIY) stores - a holistic approach to protect workers' and consumers' health.

In "Do-It-Yourself" (DIY) stores, workers from the wood department are considered woodworkers. Given the health risks associated with woodworking, particularly from fungi and their metabolites, this study aims to assess microbial contamination and health risks for both workers and customers. The study was developed in 13 DIY stores in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. It employed a comprehensive sampling approach combining active (MAS-100, Andersen six-stage, Coriolis μ, and SKC Button Aerosol Sampler) and passive (electrostatic dust collectors, surface swabs, e-cloths, settled dust, filters from vacuumed dust, filtering respiratory protection devices, and mechanical protection gloves) methods to assess microbial contamination. A Lighthouse Handheld Particle Counter HH3016- IAQ was used to monitor the particulate matter size, temperature, and humidity. The wood exhibition area presented the highest fungal load, while the payment area exhibited the highest bacterial load. MAS-100 detected the highest fungal load, and surface swabs had the highest bacterial load. Penicillium sp. was the most frequently observed fungal species, followed by Aspergillus sp. Mycotoxins, namely mycophenolic acid, griseofulvin, and aflatoxin G1, were detected in settled dust samples and one filter from the vacuum cleaner from the wood exhibition area. Cytotoxicity evaluation indicates the wood-cutting area has the highest cytotoxic potential. Correlation analysis highlights relationships between fungal contamination and particle size and biodiversity differences among sampling methods. The comprehensive approach applied, integrating numerous sampling methods and laboratory assays, facilitated a thorough holistic analysis of this specific environment, enabling Occupational and Public Health Services to prioritize interventions for accurate exposure assessment and detailed risk management.

Exploiting PV System Performance: A Combined Approach Using MPPT, IoT, Cleaning, Cooling, and Neural Networks

This paper investigates the effects of three foremost methodologies—Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), Internet of Things (IoT)-driven cleaning and cooling, and Neural Network Training (NNT)—on improving the efficacy of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Solar photovoltaic systems have considerable complications in sustaining maximum performance due to environmental conditions such as dust collection, temperature variations, and an insufficient energy management. A new control method is presented to challenge these difficulties, including MPPT, IoT-based cleaning and cooling, and NNT for the real-time optimization of PV systems. The simulation findings indicate a substantial increase in power production when both technologies are used together. Power generation is improved throughout a 24-hour period, especially during periods of low solar irradiation, by the coordinated use of MPPT, IoT, cleaning, and cooling techniques. The IoT-controlled technology enhances power production by 7–9% across many operating situations, especially in advantageous geographic settings, while simultaneously decreasing energy consumption. NNT dynamically modifies system settings in real-time, exceeding conventional optimization methods. The results underscore the potential of MPPT, IoT, cleaning, cooling, and NNT to markedly enhance the efficiency and productivity of solar PV systems, tackling the primary concerns of dust collection, elevated temperatures, and suboptimal energy management.

Investigation of the potential of in-line particle concentration measurements in gas particle separation processes by using low-cost particulate matter sensors

In addition to the costly laboratory-based particle measurement devices, low-cost particulate matter sensors for ambient air quality measurements can also be employed for the detection of PM in gas cleaning devices. The ability to spatially resolve the actual level of particle number concentration with high temporal resolution within a gas-particle separation process is of significant value for process monitoring and control. The quantitative reliability of the measurement data from low-cost particulate matter sensors remains uncertain when the particle concentrations in the apparatus exceed the upper measurement limit of the sensors, whether temporarily or permanently. This study examines the potential of low-cost particulate matter sensors for in-line particle concentration measurements in gas-particle separation processes. The measurement performance of the low-cost particulate matter sensors is initially examined under idealised conditions in a dust chamber. This is done in order to quantify the deviations of the low-cost particulate matter sensors in comparison to a state-of-the-art precision laboratory high-cost sensor. Subsequently, both sensor types are installed at a wet separator test facility, following the quantification of their respective measurement performances. The low-cost particulate matter sensors are capable of measuring particle number concentration above their specified limit (up to ≈6.1×104cm−3), depending on the measurement conditions. By applying a 3rd polynomial correction function, obtained from the initial quantification measurement, the low-cost particulate matter sensors are able to reproduce the particle number concentration measured by the high-cost sensor. Furthermore, the low-cost particulate matter sensors are capable of reproducing short-term fluctuations in the particle number concentration.

Acoustic characteristics of the operating noise of vacuum cleaners that evoke the feeling of suction

Vacuum cleaner noise is mostly assessed by the sound when the cleaner is not picking up dust. However, users usually hear the operating noise when the cleaner is picking up dust, and this noise is used to recognize that the cleaner is working properly. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner operating noise during dust collection should be evaluated. Psychoacoustical experiments were conducted on three vacuum cleaner models to evaluate the sound quality of the operating noise when beads or pieces of paper were vacuumed. The results showed a strong influence of loudness. We therefore standardized the loudness of the operating noise at around 20 sone and carried out similar experiments. A relationship was found between the suction feeling and the impression of luxury. Most of the stimuli that evoked both the impression of luxury and the suction feeling were the noises made when there was no suction object. When comparing the acoustic properties of stimuli that evoked strong and weak suction feelings, the operating noise of the appliance itself, especially those with components in the low frequency range up to 500 Hz and in the high frequency range around 10 kHz, was rated as strong suction feeling.

Investigation into the hydrogen inhibition mechanism of Platycladus orientalis leaf extract as a biodegradation inhibitor for waste aluminum-silicon alloy dust in wet dust collectors

This study investigates the risk of hydrogen explosion caused by waste metal dust encountering water in wet dust collectors. It proposes using renewable plant extracts to suppress hydrogen evolution from aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) alloy dust, aiming to achieve intrinsically safer production. Platycladus orientalis leaf extract (POLE) was prepared using water as a solvent. Hydrogen inhibition experiments, material characterization, and theoretical calculations were conducted to evaluate the effect of POLE on waste Al-Si dust. The inhibition experiments demonstrated that POLE exhibits excellent inhibitory performance. At a POLE concentration of 2.0 g/L, the hydrogen inhibition efficiency reaches 97.71 % after 22 h, with a reaction rate constant of 8.9708 × 10−5, approaching zero. This efficiency remained stable over 5 days. POLE formed a uniform, dense protective film on the Al-Si dust surface, with a contact angle of 99.23°. FTIR spectra revealed absorption peaks corresponding to POLE functional groups and Al-O bonds, indicating that successfully adsorption of POLE through both physical and chemical interactions. Finally, theoretical calculations were performed to further explain the hydrogen inhibition mechanism of POLE, supplementing and confirming the characterization data. This study inhibited hydrogen production from waste dust, offering a new approach to enhancing the hydrogen production rate from recycled Al scraps.

TREATMENT OF COPPER FLUE DUST FROM FLASH FURNACE WASTE HEAT BOILER FOR IMPURITIES CONTROL

During the pyrometallurgical processing of copper sulphide raw materials, part of the charge leaves the furnace space together with the exhaust gases in the form of dust entrainment. Volatile components also pass into the dust-gas flow, due to which it is enriched with impurities, some of which are harmful to the technological process. The formed dust-gas flow passes through dust collection equipment, where the main part of it is captured. Most often, the captured dust is recirculated, which leads to a decrease in the productivity of the furnace unit and a gradual increase in the content of impurities in the condensed products of the smelting. To overcome these disadvantages, it is necessary to take part or all the recirculating dust out of the melting cycle and process it independently to extract the valuable metals and dispose of the harmful substances. In metallurgical practice, industrial application for the processing of recirculating dust entrainment has mainly been accomplished by hydrometallurgical methods based on treating the flue dust in aqueous solutions of acid or alkaline reagents. In the present research work, laboratory results on hydrometallurgical leaching of flue dust from a flash furnace waste heat boiler (FF-WHB) are presented. The effect of the main technological parameters affecting the degrees of recovery of the main metals in solution was studied. Based on the experimental results, the optimal conditionsfor hydrometallurgical treatment of the FF-WHB flue dust were determined. By treating the dust under optimal conditions, the main tasks of the research are achieved - removal of impurities harmful to the technological process and reduction of the amount of flue dust processed in the flash furnace.

大型贮罐清理机器人吸尘系统的设计与研究

Taking the large storage tank as the cleaning object, a cleaning robot integrating shoveling, crushing, sweeping and dust-absorbing was developed, and its dust-absorbing system was analyzed and optimized. Firstly, Fluent-EDEM gas-solid coupling was utilized to simulate the dust-absorbing system. By analyzing the fluid distribution and particle trajectory, the internal structure of the dust collection box was optimized to reduce the dust particles entering the fan box. Then, by analyzing the structural parameters of the suction nozzle, the influence of the nozzle shoulder angle, nozzle length, and shoulder height on the dust-absorbing effect was explored, and the parameters were determined, so as to reduce the energy loss and increase the flow rate on both sides of the nozzle. Finally, through the dust suction test, different models of nozzles were tested for dust suction, and the wind speed at the nozzle was measured, and the leakage of dust particles on both sides of the nozzle was significantly reduced after optimization, which verified the reliability of the simulation results and provided a theoretical basis for the design of the sweeping robot.

Effect of High-Voltage Electrostatic Precipitator Dust Collection Plate Structure on Collection Efficiency.

To investigate the effect of changes in the dust collector structure on the flow field and electric field distribution resulting from the secondary flow generated by the corona discharge in the collector coupled with the main flow and to improve the dust collection efficiency of the ESP, a folding plate design has been adopted. A multiphysics-coupled corona discharge and flow field numerical model was analyzed to analyze the internal flow and electric field characteristics of linear flat plates and folded plates with three different pole configurations. The study indicates that the dust collecting plate's structure significantly affects the dust collector's internal flow field and electric field distribution within the dust collector. The near-plate electric field and flow field inside the folded plate type are superior to those of the linear flat electrostatic precipitator. With the augmentation of the inlet velocity, the ionic wind disturbance on the flow field inside the electrostatic precipitator channel gradually decreases. Additionally, the folding plate has a certain inhibitory effect on the influence of the ionic wind. At an inlet velocity of 0.5 m/s, the speed near the folding plate is approximately 20% lower than that of the traditional linear flat plate. The folding plate can effectively reduce the flow velocity near the dust collection plate, thereby reducing the occurrence of particle re-entrainment and improving dust removal efficiency. By comparing the speed at the center line of the plate and near the plate, it is obvious that the speed of model B decreases significantly, and as the number of discharge electrodes increases, the speed decreases more obviously. At the same time, when the dust collection efficiency of the two models was compared, it was found that the working efficiency of the B model has been significantly improved, among which the B3 model has the best dust collection effect.

Methods And Techniques for Collecting Cosmic Dust: Insights from Stratospheric Interplanetary Dust Collections

Methods And Techniques for Collecting Cosmic Dust: Insights from Stratospheric Interplanetary Dust Collections

Hydrogen inhibition of wet Al[sbnd]Li alloy dust collector systems using a composite green biopolymer inhibitor based on chitosan/sodium alginate: Experimental and theoretical studies

Aluminum‑lithium (AlLi) alloy polishing and grinding processes in wet dust collector systems could cause hydrogen fire and explosion. From the fundamental perspective of preventing hydrogen explosions, a safe, nontoxic, and sustainable modified green hydrogen inhibitor based on chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA) was developed in this study and was used as a hydrogen evolution inhibitor for the processing of waste dust from AlLi alloys. The structure and elemental distribution of the synthesized material were characterized through characterization experiments. Hydrogen evolution experiments and a hydrolysis kinetic model were used to explore the inhibitory effect of modified CS/SA on AlLi alloy dust, and the results revealed that the inhibitory concentration of the hydrogen explosion lower limit was 0.40 wt%, with an inhibition efficiency of 91.93 %, indicating an 11.88–61.44 % improvement over that of CS and SA. As the inhibitor concentration increased and the temperature decreased, the hydrogen inhibition effect increased. Characterization experiments and density functional theory showed that CS/SA primarily formed a dense physical protective barrier on the dust surface through chemical adsorption and complexation reactions, interrupting the hydrogen evolution reaction between the metal and water. This study introduces a novel green modified hydrogen inhibitor that fundamentally addresses hydrogen generation and explosion.

Evaluation of Airborne Lead Pollution and Its Association with Children's Urinary Lead Levels

Despite the measures taken by most countries, lead pollution still poses an environmental and health risk to humans, especially children. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate lead in the air and its impact on children's health. Lead samples from the air and children's urine were collected from three different areas within Kerbala Governorate: the urban city center residential areas, and rural areas as a reference area for comparison. A suspended dust collector was used to collect lead samples, and then the lead concentration was measured using an atomic spectrometer after digesting them with acids. The results of the study showed that the highest concentration of lead was in the center of the urban area (3.150 ?g/m3) and its mean concentration in the air was 1.703 (?g/m3), which is higher than the US Environmental Protection Agency limits, with statistically significant differences between the study areas p < 0.01. The mean concentration of lead in children's urine was 0.622 (?g/dL) with statistically significant differences between the areas p < 0.01. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated a significant positive correlation between the concentration of lead in the air and children's urine (r = 0.651; p < 0.05). This means that high lead concentrations in children's urine are due to lead air pollution and are an indicator of lead pollution in the environment and warn of potential risks to children's health. Therefore, the study recommends reducing lead emission sources and conducting periodic examinations.

An active-type dust collector that reduces brake wear particle (BWP) emission

An active-type dust collector that reduces brake wear particle (BWP) emission

Study on the application of atomized corona discharge combined with screen electrode in dust collection

This paper presents the design of a novel atomized corona discharge coupled screen electrode dust collector, which integrates electrostatic capture and wet electrostatic dust removal technologies. The upper part of the dust collector features an atomized corona discharge electrode utilizing a threaded-wire hole design with uniform water distribution. This design effectively addresses the issue of electrode fatness that may arise from uneven distribution of the discharge electrode. In contrast, the lower part of the collector is equipped with four side-by-side silk screen electrodes, which serve to expand the dust collection area, facilitate secondary particle capture, and consequently enhance dust removal efficiency. The study delves into a detailed analysis of the impact of various parameters on discharge characteristics and dust removal efficiency, culminating in the identification of optimal parameters.