Canadian Biomass • Summer 2020 • Equipment spotlight

Innovative technology makes it possible to divert combustible dust explosion shock waves and flames in a controlled manner so the required safety area is reduced, valuable usable area is increased and personnel/equipment are protected from the explosion’s effects. Explosion vents are an economical form of explosion pressure relief but require extensive safety areas that become unusable space. Rembe’s Targo-Vent is an opening angle limiter developed especially for Rembe explosion vents. Targo-Vent guides pressure relief into areas where there is no danger to infrastructure or personnel. It absorbs the enormous repulsive forces of explosion energy and guides the flames/shock wave in the desired direction so usable area is increased. www.rembe.us

The SmartDS Dynamic Explosion Detector System by IEP Technologies is designed for demanding process applications requiring leading edge rate-of-rise explosion pressure sensing. Its unique ability to analyze rate of pressure rise and differentiate it from non-explosion pressure provides maximum explosion protection with minimal false alarms. Typical applications include dust collectors, drying systems, pneumatic conveying systems and reaction vessels. The SmartDS is designed as part of an explosion suppression system. www.IEPTechnologies.com

When an ignition source such as an ember from a dryer or smoldering material from a conveyor reaches a biomass dust collection system, a devastating explosion may occur. Fike’s NFPA- and ATEX-certified explosion suppression systems are designed to both detect and chemically suppress these deflagrations in their earliest stages, within hundreds of milliseconds. These systems also weaken the deflagration into interconnected pipes and vessels, which supports accompanying explosion isolation systems installed on the dust collector’s inlet. Fike’s patented container and nozzle design minimize flow restrictions and maximize speed. www.fike.com

With a throw of 200 feet (60 meters), the DustBoss DB-60 features an adjustable elevation angle and userdefined oscillation for precise aiming of a powerful dust-capturing mist, comprised of millions of droplets per minute 50-200 microns in size – proven to be the most efficient size for most project needs. The direct drive motor and 30,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) fan deliver up to 125,000 square feet of coverage area – more than two American football fields. www.bosstek.com

Many people working in industrial companies are exposed to various airborne contaminants. When leaving their stations, those workers must inevitably dust off before moving to a clean area. As such, they will undergo a decontamination process between every break and shift change; otherwise they would contaminate the rest areas, meal areas and change rooms. The DASHX series air shower developed by Airex Industries provides workers with the ability to clean themselves independently, quickly and efficiently. Also, this booth is able to capture even the finest particulates during the dustremoval cycle. The particulates are then eliminated from the work environment rather than just moved. www.airex-industries.com

This explosion isolator from Baum Pneumatics is bolted to a stand with a high-pressure pneumatic conveying tee-injector system. Other identical isolators are used as airlocks only, under low pressure cyclones or bag houses. Isolators are very heavyduty pieces of equipment, built with industry-standard top and bottom flanges. The dimensions of Baum Pneumatic isolators are interchangeable with common chip feeders, and all of the isolators are rebuildable. Baum Pneumatics builds isolators to NFPA 69 specifications and stocks two sizes, 20x25 inches and 25x35 inches, as bare shaft units in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Drives can be added according to customer’s requirements and voltage. New chip feeders are also available, and customers’ feeders can be rebuilt to order. www.baumpneumatics.ca

Advanced Cyclone Systems (ACS) is dedicated to the development of high efficiency cyclone systems. ACS has several projects for biomass combustion emission control currently working successfully in Canada. ACS Systems’ wide range of cyclones can work to cut down emissions to 150, 100, 70 and even 30 milligrams per cubic metre (mg/Rm3), complying with even the strictest regulations. On applications like wood rotary dryers, hurricane cyclones are an alternative for wet electrostatic precipitators (WESPs). www.advancedcyclonesystems.com

The Interceptor-HRD explosion suppression system is designed to provide an active method to protect process equipment from a dust explosion hazard. The principle of operation for the Interceptor-HRD system is timely detection of the pressure rise during the initial stage of an explosion, followed by fast injection of an extinguishing agent. Each Interceptor-HRD bottle includes a low-pressure monitoring switch, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lockout, and a telescopic nozzle as standard features. www.cvtechnology.com

Since 1981, Scientific Dust Collectors has offered a complete line of baghouse and cartridge collectors with special design features – most notably, a patented high-velocity nozzle cleaning system. This system induces a greater amount of cleaning air that gently cleans the bags versus a flow restrictive venturi-based system that violently shocks the bags, and thus decreases the filter life. By eliminating the flow restrictive venturi, Scientific Dust Collectors lowers the system pressure drop, thus the system uses less energy for the system fan. www.scientificdustcollectors.com

In biomass plants, fires and explosions occur due to sparks originating from the process. Installing a Firefly Spark Detection & Extinguishing System safeguards against hazards before a fire or dust explosion occurs. Firefly uses dual eye detectors with a 180-degree angle view. The detectors have TrueIR detection detecting a hot particle or black body at temperatures as low as 250 C. Firefly’s Power Impact Extinguishing uses a minimum of three nozzles with full cone water spray. Each nozzle has its own solenoid valve with quick release for easy testing outside the process. www.firefly.se

VETS Sheet Metal was founded in 1921 by a First Word War veteran and has nearly 100 years of HVAC experience. The company completes projects in industrial, light industrial and institutional HVAC capacities with a specialization in dust collection and pneumatic conveying. Every application requires a unique approach to the development and implementation of a dust system. Whether the best tool for the job is a traditional cyclone or baghouse or something more unique like a Multi- Cone or Cyclofilter, VETS can engineer, design, fabricate and install a system that meets or exceeds your plant’s safety and environmental requirements. www.vetsgroup.com