A laboratory pilot study to investigate the feasibility of localized electrostatic precipitation for dust control in industrial workplaces

A system based on electrostatic dust deposition has been designed for the reduction of dust emissions from industrial process. This article presents details of the working principle and design of such a system as applied to a commercial textile winding rig and reports the results of measurements carried out to assess its efficacy. These have included comparison of the integrated dust concentration in the breathing zone of a dummy operative with and without the dust control unit in operation and measurement of the airborne dust concentration released from the unit when operational access is required. The relative merits of the electrostatically-based system are compared to those of conventional ventilation systems in terms of cost and operational constraints. It is suggested that the potential for high efficiency and low costs associated with the systems along the lines of the prototype tested here may constitute a cost-effective practical alternative or supplement to conventional ventilation.