Odor Control Systems
Odor control systems are designed to reduce or completely eliminate all traces of unwanted scents within an air supply.
Quick links to Odor Control Systems Information
Applications of Odor Control Systems
Popular in industrial, commercial, and residential applications, these systems neutralize malodors, thus improving air quality. Though not all odorous emissions are toxic or even physically harmful, odors that are purely unpleasant can have a negative impact on the quality of life and productivity of an area or process. In unpleasant odor situations, it is essential that air pollution controls come equipped with odor control systems. These systems often mask the disagreeable smell with a stronger more pleasant scent, though this is a temporary solution.
Alternatively, odor controls may neutralize odors by absorbing them with specially configured powders, sprays, and filters. The latter and more permanent solution is often preferable, particularly in industrial atmospheres where smelly gasses can accumulate in large quantities. As such, these systems are often used in the waste industry, in landfills, solid and liquid waste management, and sewers, where untreated scents can attract rodents and insects. In facilities that produce large amounts of methane, such as pulp and paper plants or livestock processing, mist collectors and oxidizers are used as odor control systems. Air handling equipment, chemical manufacturing, and pesticide and herbicide manufacturing also use odor control systems in their facilities. Odor control systems should be installed in all environments in which unpleasant scents lead to direct or indirect impingement on quality of life and product.
How Odor Control Systems Work
There are many different methods of controlling odors in industrial settings. As aforementioned, some “air fresheners” simply mask odors while serious odor control systems neutralize it. This involves the use of sprays, filters, or granules, which use chemical compounds to attack and dissipate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce odors. Granules are made of porous materials, such as activated carbon to dissolve odors. Sprays bind to and inactivate enzymes and odor causing anaerobic bacteria. Filters are among the most variable and may work in conjunction with sprays and granules. Carbon filters, caustic scrubbers, biofilters, mist collectors, and oxidizers are variations of this technique. Carbon filters use activated carbon for air purification in waste management applications, like keeping sewage systems cleaner.
Caustic scrubbers and bioscrubbers are used in waste-water treatment plants to remove odorous gasses by biotrickling filter technology. In workplaces that have unpleasant odors caused by welding, plastic processing, high speed machining with coolants, tempering, and quenching, mist collectors remove odors from gas streams. In order to manage smoke and exhaust odors, thermal oxidizers use chemicals that incinerate pollution in the air. Biofilters are small and fit inside pipes or tubes and remove sewer gas odors before the contents come in contact with humans. Atomization, vaporization, encapsulation, or infusion are all popular delivery systems for odor control. They may be marketed for specific odors or designed to break down a broad spectrum of odors.
Five Technologies Used in Odor Control Systems
Odor control systems are an important utility for organizations and industries. Most industrial processes reseal toxic and unpleasant odors that affect the environment and our health adversely. These odors are not just harmful for the workers but also for the people living around the plant. Each country has its own environmental regulations that industries are required to follow. For that end, industries have to install avant-garde odor control systems at their premises so they can lower the amount of noxious odor generated in their processes.
These are five technologies regularly used to reduce odors and gases:
- Vapor-Phase Odor Control Technology
- A vapor-phase mechanism works on the main sources of the problems that create the odor. These problems could be wet wells, head works, drains, duct pipes, and packed but not properly ventilated rooms. For the treatment of polluted and packed air, the vapor-phase odor control technology involves a negative pressure to create and maintain ventilation. This negative force further helps in averting problems like leakage in a room, chamber, supply drains, or ducting.
- Wet Air Scrubbing
- Wet scrubbers can be labeled as one of the most effective and flexible technologies for air pollution control. Air scrubbers scrub the untreated, polluted airflow, and ensure that only fresh air passes through the exhaust stream. Wet air scrubbers are a variant of this technology that can remove polluting contaminants from a moist airflow and liquid stream. Contaminants that this tiny device can eradicate are hydrogen sulfide, organic odors, and particles and chemicals soluble in the vapor. The biggest attraction of this odor control system is that it is very reliable when it comes to treating chemical-rich smog.
- Liquid Redox Technology
- If the process equipment releases some liquid, it will also release some kind of odor. And, to treat that liquid, Liquid Redox Technology is a solution. Although an old technique, it is not that frequently used by the industry. Mainly, gas production and petroleum refinery sites use this technology; however, many petroleum production businesses consider it an expensive and intricate method of odor control. The machineries that support this technology are not easily available; in addition, they need an expert hand to operate. With this method, largely found in ventilation systems, you can remove hydrogen sulfide from a liquid exhaust stream.
- Biofiltration
- Biofiltration technology is taken into consideration if there is a need to remove biodegradable contaminants from a liquid flow. Mostly found in a biofilter, this technology solubilizes the odor-causing contaminants. It can effectively work on the vapor as well as the aqueous phase while on the surface of an organic medium, including as compost, mulch, or peat. This method can curb a number of sulfur-based compounds; for example, hydrogen sulfide organic sulfide and mercaptans. However, it may not be a potent solution for nitrogen-rich odor generating agents.