Gunite Rig Dust Mitigation Hood and Suction System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The generation of airborne silica dust during the preparation of silica-containing refractory compositions for lining vessels poses a significant health hazard, as existing systems fail to effectively capture dust at its point of generation, particularly when bags are opened and mixed gunite is transferred to a hopper.
Innovation Solution
A dust mitigation system comprising a hood with a vent connected to a dust collection unit and a plenum box with a screened intake, both connected to a filtering system, which creates suction to capture airborne silica dust at its source, reducing the amount of dust released into the atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bags of silica-containing gunite are manually opened on an open grate, then the operation is simple and quick, but a significant amount of airborne silica dust is released into the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
A hood structure with negative pressure suction system serves as an intermediary between the bag opening operation and the surrounding atmosphere. The hood captures silica dust at the point of generation when bags are opened on the grate, preventing it from dispersing into the atmosphere while allowing the manual bag opening process to continue unchanged
Solution Approach 2:
A negative pressure suction system using pneumatic principles draws airborne silica dust through the hood and into a collection system. The pneumatic flow captures dust particles generated during bag opening and transports them through ducting to a separation device, eliminating dust release without interfering with the manual opening operation
2Ease of operation
If mixed gunite is transferred from the hopper to the pot using manually opened gates, then the transfer is simple and direct, but a significant amount of airborne dust escapes into the enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
A hood structure positioned over the hopper gate area acts as an intermediary capture system. It intercepts silica dust generated when gates are manually opened and gunite is transferred to the pot, channeling the dust into the negative pressure suction system before it can escape into the worker enclosure
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful silica dust is extracted from the transfer operation by the suction system. The negative pressure field pulls dust particles away from the gate area and separates them from the gunite material stream, removing the harmful factor while preserving the simple manual gate operation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If workers wear masks to protect against silica dust inhalation, then some protection is provided, but a significant amount of airborne dust is still released into the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The hood and suction system serve as a primary protective intermediary that prevents silica dust from reaching workers' breathing zones. By capturing dust at the source and removing it from the enclosure atmosphere, the system provides protection that goes beyond personal protective equipment alone
Solution Approach 2:
The negative pressure suction system performs preliminary action by capturing and removing silica dust before it can disperse into the enclosure and reach workers. This preventive approach addresses the harmful factor at its origin rather than relying solely on protective measures for workers after exposure risk has materialized
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system significantly reduces airborne silica dust dispersion, enhancing worker safety by capturing dust at its point of generation and ensuring that the air released is substantially dust-free, even when ambient wind is present.
Implementation Method 1
both connected to a filtering system, which creates suction to capture airborne silica dust at its source
Data Source
AI summary
A system for use with a gunite rig to capture airborne gunite type materials, particularly those containing silica, during the preparation of the gunite. In one respect, as the bags of silica-containing material are placed in the mixing section of the gunite rig and ripped open, airborne gunite dust is captured by a hood and suction system positioned above the mixer. Further, the mitigation system includes a plenum box and suction system positioned adjacent the mouth of a gunite pot to capture gunite dust generated as the mixed gunite material falls from a hopper into the gunite pot.