Activated carbon filter for reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds
Sanu Vent Project – Zlatna, Alba County
Application: Shoe assembly line
General Description
In an industrial shoe assembly line, the bonding process involves the use of adhesives that emit volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs.
To reduce the environmental impact of these emissions and improve the operating parameters of the existing facility, Sanu Vent designed and implemented an additional stage of exhaust air filtration.
The technical solution was integrated into the existing exhaust system and sized to ensure the effective capture of volatile organic compounds generated during the production process.
Main Components of the System
1️⃣ Activated carbon filter
The main component of the solution is an industrial activated carbon filter, designed to capture and retain volatile organic compounds from the exhaust air stream.
Filtration using activated carbon is based on the process of adsorption, whereby pollutant molecules are trapped on the surface of the filter material before the air is discharged outside.
2️⃣ System with 30 filter cartridges
The filtration unit is equipped with 30 cartridges, each containing 30 kg of activated carbon.
The total amount of adsorbent material used in the plant is 900 kg, ensuring a high retention capacity for volatile organic compounds and efficient operation under the specific conditions of the technological process.
3️⃣ 11-kW centrifugal fan
The installation of the activated carbon filter has caused an increase in pressure drop in the exhaust system.
To compensate for these and maintain the required airflow, the existing fan was replaced with an 11-kW centrifugal fan.
The new fan was sized to ensure optimal operation of the entire system, even after the addition of the extra filtration stage.
4️⃣ Integration into the existing exhaust system
The solution was adapted to the existing technical configuration without disrupting the normal production flow.
By integrating the filter with the new ventilation unit, the system can maintain the required air intake and exhaust parameters while ensuring a reduction in VOC concentration.
Purpose and Benefits of the Facility
By installing the activated carbon filter, emissions of volatile organic compounds resulting from the soldering process were significantly reduced.
The installation contributes to:
- reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds;
- improving the quality of the exhaust air;
- maintaining the performance of the exhaust system;
- adapting the system to the requirements of the manufacturing process;
- protecting the environment;
- improving overall operating conditions.
Outcome of the project
Through this project, Sanu Vent developed a comprehensive solution for filtering exhaust air from a shoe assembly line.
The installation of a filter containing 900 kg of activated carbon and the replacement of the existing fan with an 11-kW centrifugal fan made it possible to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds without compromising the performance of the exhaust system.
The result is a reliable and efficient system, tailored to the requirements of industrial processes and designed to minimize environmental impact.
