Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145448
Title: EFFECTIVENESS OF A HIGH-PRESSURE, WATER FOGGING SYSTEM IN CONTROLLING DUST EMISSIONS AT GRAIN RECEIVING

Author
item Brabec, Daniel - Dan
item MAGHIRANG, R - KANSAS STATE UNIV
item Casada, Mark

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2003
Publication Date: 3/1/2004
Citation: Brabec, D.L., Maghirang, R.G., Casada, M. 2004. Effectiveness of a high-pressure, water fogging system in controlling dust emissions at grain receiving. Transactions of the ASAE. 2004. 47(2):505-511.

Interpretive Summary: In grain handling, dust emissions are generated whenever grain is dropped or elevated. Grain dust is a potential source for fire and explosions as well as a nuisance to workers and should be controlled. A high-pressure fogging system was evaluated as a potential dust control method at grain receiving. It was found that the spray-fog induced significant airflow and redirected the dust emissions. The resulting airflow and fog reduced the dust emissions from the test chamber by 75%. However, some fog was emitted and some deposited on the walls. Receiving grain from producers using end-dump trucks is a dusty job. The spray-fog system could be used in country elevators and feedmills receiving dry grain products. A short interval of fogging in the grain hopper would offer some relief from the dusty environment.

Technical Abstract: Grain dust at the receiving area is a fire hazard, a health concern, and a sanitation problem and should be controlled. The effectiveness of a high-pressure, water-fog system in controlling grain dust emissions was evaluated with corn and wheat while spouting 2.1 m3 (60 bu) of grain into a test chamber. Dust/fog emissions and deposits along with entrained airflows were measured for four fog treatments, a control and an air-blower treatment each at two grain flow rates. The uncontrolled dust emissions varied with grain type and grain-flow rate. Water-fog sprays, when applied across the top of the test chamber, redirected the airflow downstream of the spray nozzles and reduced dust emissions significantly. Dust reductions ranged from 60% to 84% for corn and 35% to 73% for wheat. However, the sprays produced significant fog emissions and deposits in proportion to the liquid supply. At the highest spray-fog rate (855 g/min), fog emission was 32 g/min (3.8%) and fog deposits ranged from 1.4 to 7.1 mg/cm2/min.