Dust Suppression with an EXAIR Atomizing Nozzle

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An EXAIR Atomizing Nozzle used to minimize dust in the feed bowl of a cement mixer.

One of the most difficult aspects of handling and working with dusty materials is suppression of airborne contaminants.  Small particles can easily become a dust cloud, minimizing visibility and decreasing the quality of working conditions.  This then leads to lower productivity, low morale, and a missed opportunity to maximize the potential of personnel and equipment.

Our distributor in New Zealand recently assisted one of their customers facing this set of problems when working with cement and microsilica as it was poured into a mixer.  An exhaust fan was in place, but failed to extract the dust sufficiently, so a new approach was needed to minimize the dust.

 

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An AN2010SS No Drip Atomizing Nozzle provides the needed dust suppression in this application.

 

The solution was to use an EXAIR AN2010SS No Drip Internal Mix Atomizing Nozzle, shown above in the red box, to produce an atomized water mist.  The dust produced during pouring is captured by the small droplets of atomized water produced with this nozzle, reducing the dust and allowing proper use of the mixer.

 

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The 9218 Stay Set Hose positions the atomizing nozzle where it needs to be.

 

In order to position the nozzle exactly where it needs to be, an 18” Stay Set Hose, shown above with the red arrow, was used to position the nozzle.  This hose is built specifically to have “memory” of the desired position, allowing for quick, easy, and repeatable position of the nozzle attached to the hose.

This simple setup is controlled through a timer to ensure water and compressed air use realize maximum efficiency.  It’s an easy solution to a painful problem for this customer.

If you’d like to explore how an EXAIR solution can solve problems in your facility or application, please contact an EXAIR Application Engineer.

 

Lee Evans
Application Engineer
LeeEvans@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_LE

Visitar A Costa Rica Y Nicaragua

It feels good to be home after visiting with our distributors in Costa Rica (Dansar Industries) and Nicaragua (Optima Industrial) last week. Both companies were more than pleasant, had tremendously knowledgeable inside and outside sales forces, and were well informed about the intricacies of compressed air.  I was also able to meet and spend time with our distributor from El Salvador, ECOBLITZ.

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Dansar Industries, Costa Rica

While in Costa Rica, I made visits to a few end users of EXAIR products.  Our distributor, Dansar Industries, had projects going with existing clients to increase production efficiency, lower compressed air use, and lower noise levels.  One application was to cool and dry extruded rubber after quenching through a dip tank.  The process in place was to use approximately 6-8 nozzles operating continuously, regardless of the presence of product.  The compressed air use was unknown, but certainly very high, and the sound level was over 103 dBA.  We installed and tested an EXAIR Super Air Wipe, lowering the compressed air use, and dropping the sound level to 84 dBA.  That’s akin to cutting the sound level in half, then cutting it in half again.  Coupled with an Electronic Flow Controller, the compressed air use was further reduced by consuming compressed air only when product was present.

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Optima Industrial, Nicaragua

While in Nicaragua, the full engineering team was trained on EXAIR products.  Receptive and enthused, we parted ways with a friendly contest among the engineers to see which could present EXAIR products most effectively.  The winner received dinner for two on the house.  With such commitment and capabilities in Optima, we’re optimistic for the future.

Working with international distributors and end users is a daily pledge for EXAIR.  If you need information about a distributor in your country or are interested in becoming an EXAIR distributor, our door is always open.  We also have a new tool to locate international distributors, here.

Lee Evans
Application Engineer
LeeEvans@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_LE

I’m Back! But My A4 Isn’t…Commence Troubleshooting

Last week I enjoyed the company of Airtec Servicios, Dansar Industries, and Global Automation (EXAIR’s distributors in Mexico and parts of South America).  We met in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for an EXAIR training event that covered all topics of EXAIR products.

Following my return to the States, I dug into a project at home that I’ve been working on here-and-there; my 98 Audi A4.  In an earlier blog post I showed the damage done to the cylinder head when a valve-train component failed and a few valves were bent.  After rebuilding the cylinder heads on a bench here at EXAIR, I finally got the engine back together and hit the key for the first time since I bought the car.

Fortunately, the valve timing was perfect and the engine fired right up.  Unfortunately, however, was the terrible knock from the bottom half of the engine – the half I left untouched during the initial repair.  (See image below for my feeling on the issue)

Lie_down_try_not_to_cry_cry_a_lot_cleaned_525Now I’m faced with a dilemma of the best course to take, and after chewing it over, I’ve decided to open up the bottom half of the engine and make the repair.  The most likely cause for the noise is a defective wrist pin or connecting rod.  When I open it up, I’ll be sure to take pics and share for those interested. I had thought repairing the top half of the engine would make the fix because most of the time that is the case. Similarly, we occasionally experience reduced performance in our Reversible Drum Vac. Most of the time (I’d speculate 95%-99%) a simple cleaning is all that is needed (see video demonstration here) because this product has no moving parts there is little to go wrong. Occasionally it is another issue that is causing reduced performance; for these times we have the Reversible Drum Vac troubleshooting guide:

lit6203-Reversible Drum Vac Troubleshooting

So, sometime soon I’ll run through the next troubleshooting steps for the engine in the A4. If you need help troubleshooting an EXAIR product or a compressed air application, please contact EXAIR.

In the meantime, the A4 is relaxing, hanging loose at home – and I am too.  Mexico was wonderful, and the people were more than kind.  But, it feels good to be home.

Lee Evans
Application Engineer
LeeEvans@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_LE

Postcard from India

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As the title of the blog indicates, I will be in full swing on my visit to India this week and next. I have a unique opportunity in the work I do for EXAIR that not too many folks can say they have had. That is to travel the world to meet our partners in industry. This time, India is the destination and I could not be more excited.

I have my Rupees in one hand and a passport in the other. I have just landed in India and will begin running with our local distributors to bring some character to our company. This includes many technical discussions on various applications as well as building the relationships. I can say without doubt, building the relationships is by far the most rewarding part. Many folks from other cultures value the relationship above all else. In fact, you could say that just about everyone does.

I’ve heard it said before that blogs, e-mails, tweets, Facebook and all the other forms of social media are the way of the future, but I would still say that a good old-fashioned meeting face to face, where you are not limited to 140 characters and where the person on the other side can see your facial expressions and gestures are invaluable in bringing us all together as a community.

यह दुनिया के साथ साझा करने के लिए आप कई आशीर्वाद और भी अधिक मित्रों को ला सकते हैं.

Neal Raker, Application Engineer
nealraker@exair.com