The aspiration systems These are necessary elements in steel mills, where the transformation of iron into cast iron and steel takes place; this is because this production process generates a large quantity of both toxic and polluting emissions, which also carry heat that can be valuable to recover and reuse in the plant to reduce waste. The steel industry, in particular, relies on so-called fully integrated plants, where the production process, once started, is continuous and very prolonged over time; for this reason, the aspiration systems installed in these environments must, even more than others, meet the highest quality and reliability requirements.

As mentioned, the critical issues related to the emissions typical of the steel industry are of three types. First of all, in fact, the production processes of this sector generate hot fumes, dust and volatile organic substances that prove highly toxic to the body, and must therefore be aspirated for the protection of operators' health; secondly, they are highly polluting emissions, which require capture and filtration before being released into the surrounding atmosphere; and finally, the fumes emitted during steel processing often contain a large amount of heat, which would be a waste to disperse and must therefore be recovered from the aspirated air and reintroduced into the process to reduce consumption. The industrial aspiration system, in a steel plant, must be designed to operate in all areas, and therefore cover both the load preparation area and the coking plant itself, including the agglomeration area, as regards dust; it is also necessary to provide aspiration near the blast furnace itself, where the production of harmful and hot vapors is maximum.

For each of its industrial aspiration systems, Balducci offers free consultancy from the design stage and subsequent implementation, starting with an initial on-site inspection. Our industrial aspiration systems are always custom-made, starting from a careful and competent evaluation of the operating conditions, the specific situation, and the real needs of each client. In this field, there are no standard solutions. A classic example is that relating to the abatement noises , always necessary where industrial aspiration is carried out: we are also specialized in this area, and we can design and offer the best solutions to ensure a satisfactory result even in this respect. Where necessary, the systems can be built in accordance with all ATEX regulations .

Balducci offers a preventive and periodic maintenance service for aspiration systems to all its customers; we are able to operate with the same efficiency both on systems of our own making and on those of other companies. For at least three reasons, in fact, the maintenance of industrial aspiration systems proves to be an essential necessity for companies: to protect the health of operators by preventing them from being exposed to significant concentrations of harmful or toxic substances, to ensure company productivity by avoiding accumulations of material that could cause unforeseen machine downtime, and to protect the safety of the plant by avoiding the danger of fires and explosions presented by the accumulation in the air of fine dust.

The main operations related to the maintenance of industrial aspiration systems can be summarized as follows:

• Accurate control of the plant's conditions and verification of component wear

• Cleaning or replacement of the installed filter elements

• Repair of any damage; if necessary, replacement of damaged components

• Verification of the functionality of the aspiration system according to the established efficiency parameters

• Check of the safety devices installed on the system

• Restoration of any compromised functionalities