The importance of emissions control is gaining traction not only locally but also in sub-Saharan Africa, where it held little priority previously. This is especially true of international companies, says air filtration company Freudenberg Filtration Technologies (FFT).

Owing to this, FFT’s extended product offerings are particularly timely, with the emissions control industry at large registering a significant increase in local business in the first quarter of this year. This is the result of many industry sectors seeking to rectify sources of pollution in preparation for meeting the new emissions regulations that will come into effect in 2020, as per the National Environmental Management Air Quality Act of 2004.

Moreover, the company is investigating the use of Sintexx Plus, a newly introduced polyester nonwoven filter medium with nanofibre lining, as an alternative to using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane in its filter systems.

FFT emissions control market segment manager Leon Strauss claims that using this new filtration medium will ensure an extended system life span of the company’s filtration product offerings.

Sintexx Plus has been specifically developed for the removal of dust from fine smoke produced in welding, cutting and coating services, and offers a number of significant advantages over conventional corrugated polyester material and ePTFE membranes.

The filter has a higher collection efficiency and performs optimally from the moment of operation rather than after prolonged operation, like several other filter brands. It also offers lower flow resistance, leading to lower power consumption and compressed-air requirements, thus ensuring energy efficiency and cost savings.

While conventional filters generally require a special powder before commissioning for initial precoating, Sintexx Plus does not. The filter cartridges are also easier to handle and require less maintenance than alternatives. The filters are fully washable and reusable, without compromising the filter material structure or its functioning efficiency.

Meanwhile, FFT is also considering the introduction of immersion tanks as compressed-air manifolds in its reverse pulse/reverse jet self-cleaning systems, which will ensure a reduction in compressed-air requirements, as a result of high-efficiency valve arrangements.

Strauss explains that on-site installation and electrical hardware costs are greatly reduced with the incorporation of single-wire technology in the reverse pulse control timer, which does away with the need for extensive and expensive cable racks, hundreds of meters of electrical cable and the labour costs to install it. One wire will span from the control timer to the compressed-air immersion tank, with the option to have the filter differential pressure remotely monitored using built-in Wi-Fi.

“Wi-Fi incorporation has become an element of many dust control systems, as it enables the user to remotely monitor the system in real time. This allows for differential pressures, control pulse sequence and pulse interval times to be monitored continuously,” Strauss explains.

He stresses that companies need to recognise the importance of emissions control and avoid postponing compliance with regulations that will inevitably come into effect. He recommends that businesses “take the correct action to handle the issue once and for all, and do it correctly the first time”.