Miller Magazine Issue: 154 October 2022

86 ARTICLE MILLER / OCTOBER 2022 There are multiple advantages to investing in dust control equipment for agribusiness companies working in the grain industry, particularly given the scarcity of current supplies. The benefits of early dust collection for the grain industry Onur Agar Sales Manager Donaldson With worldwide food production falling and prices spiralling because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, drought, rising energy and transport costs, fertilizer shortages and COVID-19, attention on the industry is at its sharpest in years. With global production of wheat, rice and other grains likely to drop by 16 million tons this year – the first decline in four years – many in Europe’s food industry are looking again at the infrastructure they have, to examine whether there are im- provements to be made. And when it comes to the grain indus- try there is one obvious area where efficiencies can often be gained – dust collection. The infrastructure for moving grain from one point to another includes small country elevators, larger elevators, large grain termi- nals, trucks, trains, barges, and ocean-going shipping vessels. And every time grain is moved from one of these points to another, dust is generated. This dust must be collected and, most importantly, retained within the overall process to be returned directly back into the product stream. This is an essential part of the processing op- eration, that ensures waste is kept to an absolute minimum. One innovative approach to dust management is to col- lect and manage dust at the point of generation – at the source. Capturing and controlling dust at its source provides several benefits including: Reduction or elimination of waste streams. When captured dust is retained within the process generating it, it stays as part of the revenue producing product stream. Instead of turning a portion of the product into a pile of wasted dust, it remains as part of the product stream that has economic value. Reduction or elimination of waste streamequipment. When dusts produced in a process are separated from the original process stream, they require independent material handling equipment and process equipment. Keeping the dust within the product stream minimizes the cost and maintenance of ad- ditional material handling equipment. Minimizing the amount of duct runs. It takes a tremen- dous amount of energy to move dust-laden air through long duct runs. Installing point-of-use dust collectors closer to the dust-generating process minimizes or eliminates unnecessary ducts, which saves energy. Reduced duct maintenance. Minimizing duct runs reduces maintenance costs, eliminates wasted air from leaks in the duct system and eliminates costly lining of ducts. Easier installation. Less ducting also equates to a simpler and easier installation for dust collection equip-