Dust Control for Trenching Works

Dust Control for Trenching. Application Summary.

Large chain trenchers or wheel trenchers are a highly effective group of excavation equipment that can be used for a variety of applications including strip mining, trenching, pipe laying, civil works, mining, trench bedding, hard rock trenching, water trenching and sewage trenching.

However, trenching equipment can produce high volumes of dust that need to be controlled to protect the health and safety of workers and to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment. This is particularly important in areas where there is silica present as exposure to silica dust can have serious health implications.

Why Invest? Purchase and Rental Options Available.

There are a range of reasons for investing in mobile dust control equipment either through purchase or rental opportunities, these include:

Health and Safety – Mobile dust collection equipment is one of the suitable methods and safeguards identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA to help manage the risks associated with Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). In addition, Grydale mobile dust collectors have a independently certified filtration efficiency that adheres to current regulatory standards.

Regulatory Compliance – the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works with its federal, state and tribal regulatory partners to monitor and ensure compliance with clean air laws and regulations in order to protect human health and the environment – Clean Air Act (CAA). Fines vary between $5000 – $70,000 per day.

Competitive Advantage – trenching contractors who can offer effective dust control solutions are able to increase the number of projects they can operate on and give them a competitive advantage over other contractors.

Operational Efficiencies – by managing dust on construction sites can speed up the speed of operations by improving visibility on site. Managing dust also reduces the wear on machines.

Health and Safety. Dust Control.

Trenching can be some of the most hazardous work on a construction site according to leading authority OSHA.

It provides a range of safety hazards including cave ins, falls and falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, mobile equipment and hitting utility lines. People working in excavation and trenching operations may also be exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) due to work activities such as sifting sand; and crushing, grinding, and moving rocks that may disturb silica particles.

All construction industry workers must obtain adequate knowledge about working with silica and the dangers of silica exposure. Accordingly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed and implemented the RCS standard for the construction industry (29 CFR 1926.1153) to support employers in their endeavors to protect employees from silica hazards and limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica by adopting the appropriate methods and safeguards.

OSHA’s construction industry RCS standard provides flexibility to employers on the different protection methods, to reduce silica dust and the limit the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) in the workplace by using the Hierarchy of Controls.

Trencher Operating Without Dust Control

Engineering Controls. Mobile Dust Collectors.

Grydale mobile dust collectors are an effective engineering control that has been used to effectively manage dust at the source of creation. Flexible ducting is used to connect to the cutting wheel/drum and also to the conveyor to extract dust at the source of creation before it is allowed to escape into the surrounding atmosphere.

Track mounted units, operated by remote control are able to track alongside mobile excavation equipment which dramatically increases the efficiency of operations.

The effectiveness of this method of dust control has allowed large, highly efficient excavation equipment to work in environments that were previously restricted such as underground and in urban / sensitive environments.

Mobile Dust Collector tracking beside equipment

Grydale Mobile Dust Collector Operating Alongside Surface Miner

Internationally Patented. Track Mounted Mobile Dust Collectors.

JMS M-Series. Key Features.

Grydale JMS M-Series mobile dust collectors are complete dust collection systems that feature a centrifugal fan, dirty air intake, patented drop out box, high efficiency filters, reverse pulse filter cleaning system, dust discharge system, clean air exhaust and fan silencer. All components are mounted on a single mobile base to create 10m³/s to 60m³/s of air flow. Mobility combined with compact integrated design provides significant advantages on construction sites.

Grydale hold international patents for manufacturing the only self-propelled (track-mounted) mobile dust scrubber on the market. The tracks are hydraulically powered by the T4/5F diesel engine and operated via remote control. (Umbilical control is also provided as a failsafe.)

Track Mounted. Key Benefits.

Grydale track mounted mobile dust collectors have 4 key benefits:

Units can be easily transported and operational in a very short period, with limited set-up requirements.
The diesel motor powering the fan means there is no requirement for an external power supply, such as a mains connection or auxiliary power units.
Units can be easily moved during operation. Moving alongside dust generating equipment, such as road headers and machines used for bench excavation and cross passages provides effective dust collection at source.
Units do not require long, expensive ducting to be constructed/installed.
Units offer full mobility and better control with variable speeds between 2–4 kph (1-3mph) to increase the speed and efficiency of operations.

Grydale JMS-10-MDT, JMS-20-MDT and JMS-30-MDT are all suitable to pair with trenchers. The type/size of trencher and application will determine which unit is most suitable. Our team are able to advise on which option is most suitable based on their extensive experience of pairing mobile dust collection equipment in both above and below ground applications.

JMS 10 Mobile Diesel Track Dust Collector

JMS-10-MDT. Overview.

Air Volume: 10m³/s (20,000CFM)
Air Intakes: Single 800mm plus 3 x 508mm
Filters: 18x Grydale High Efficiency Filters
Filter Surface Area: 504m²
Filter Efficiency: 99.99% at 0.67 micron
Centrifugal Fan Power: 75kW @ -3kPa
Patented Drop Out Box
Dust Discharge: Hydraulic Reversible Auger and Rotary Valve
Real Time Emission Monitoring
PLC and CANbus System

JMS 20 Mobile Diesel Track Dust Collector

JMS-20-MDT. Overview.

Air Volume: 20m³/s (40,000CFM)
Air Intakes: Single: 1 x 1118mm or Dual 508mm
Filters: 24 Filters
Filter Surface Area: 672m²
Filtration Efficiency: 99.99% at 0.67 micron
Centrifugal Fan Power: 90kW@ -3kPa
Patented Drop Out Box
Dust Discharge: Hydraulic Reversible Auger and Rotary Valve
Real Time Emission Monitoring
PLC and CANbus System

JMS 30 Mobile Diesel Track Dust Collector

JMS-30-MDT. Overview.

Air Volume: 30m³/s (60,000CFM)
Air Intakes: Single 1372mm plus 4 x 508mm
Filters: 32 x Grydale High Efficiency Filters
Filter Surface Area: 896m²
Filter Efficiency: 99.99% at 0.67 micron
Centrifugal Fan Power: 120kW @ -3kPa
Patented Drop Out Box
Dust Discharge: Hydraulic Reversible Auger and Rotary Valve
Real Time Emission Monitoring
PLC and CANbus System

Tunnelling. Construction Underground.

Mobile Dust Collectors. How They Work?

Air is pulled through the dirty air intake by the Centrifugal Fan
Larger dust particles drop through the Drop Out Box and are separated from the air stream.
Dust and fumes are trapped on the filters forming a cake on the surface as air passes through the filter house.
Reverse pulse filter cleaning system cleans the filters.
Dust particles are discharged from the machine via the augers and rotary valves.
The velocity probe monitors air speed and then turns the centrifugal fan up / down to maintain air volume.
Clean air exhausts from the machine with a filtration efficiency of 99.99% at 0.067 micron.