CSO Technik has recently completed the installation of a styrene abatement system for Envico Engineering Ltd in Swansea, Wales. The system is the first of its kind in the UK and offers significant cost savings and benefits over traditional odour abatement systems.
Envico manufacture GRP enclosures, principally for the gas, water, electrical and telecommunications industries, utilising spray-applied resins and sophisticated sandwich constructions. Styrene odours became problematic and Envico moved rapidly to abate the nuisance by placing a contract with CSO Technik for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a Terminodour combination system.
The Terminodour system utilises ionisation technology to oxidise styrene odours in situ, significantly reducing styrene levels both inside and outside the building. Due to the sensitivity of local receptors, a belt and brace approach was applied to the contract with a secondary dry chemical scrubbing system acting as a polishing filter, although in less sensitive areas the polishing filter would not be required. The benefit of this approach is that the capital and running costs are significantly lower than more traditional odour abatement systems.
The Terminodour system is extremely effective in abating odours and eliminating potential odour nuisance externally while simultaneously improving the internal working environment for the labour force. The Terminodour system does not require any water, chemicals or media and has a very low operating cost. As the Terminodour system removes the majority of the styrene the size of the carbon polishing filter is significantly smaller and carbon life is improved, thereby minimising running costs.
The Terminodour system is housed in a prefabricated air handling unit that is double-skinned with an acoustic and thermal insulated core. Fresh air is then filtered before being passed into the plasma reaction chamber where the oxygen molecules receive negative and positive charges in a 5:4 ratio. The ‘ionised’ air is then distributed around the building utilising distribution ductwork according to odour load and source. When the ionised air meets the positively charged styrene ions a process of oxidation occurs, thereby negating the odour. The AHU also includes a heater section, allowing heating and ventilation of the building to be accomplished using a single system.
Dennis Game, managing director of Envico comments, “Since installation of the Terminodour System at Envico, we have noticed a significant reduction in styrene odour within the factory building, with the office and external factory areas showing no noticeable styrene odour. This has had major benefits for the company, including a more pleasant working environment, and eliminating odours emitted, which could previously be noticed by neighbouring businesses. We have found CSO Technik to be very professional in their approach to this project, from design right through to installation and commissioning of the system.”
