Lenzing Technik: setting up two biological exhaust air purification facilities for Tyrolit  

TYROLIT Schleifmittelwerke Swarovski KG is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of grinding tools. In order to satisfy the strict requirements placed upon environmentally-compatible production processes, Lenzing Technik GmbH is setting up two state-of-technology biological exhaust air purification facilities. These BRI BIOReaction models are to be located at Tyrolit’s main production base in the Tyrolean city of Schwaz, Austria. Lenzing Technik’s great expertise in environmental technologies secured it the commission. The company had showcased this expertise in handling a project for CaseTech in Germany. The first facility in Schwaz is to be assembled in autumn, and will be put into operation a few weeks later. The second facility will follow suit in summer 2012.

Each of the facilities will use ultra-advanced biological methods to scrub 17,000 m3/h of exhaust air. The new system thus has a significantly higher rate of performance and an ease of maintenance than the previous one. “The patented BIOReaction process facilities the efficient removal of stenches and of volatile organic compounds,” emphasizes Herbert Hummer, Lenzing Technik’s managing director. To do such, the process joins two proven technologies of exhaust gas treatment: one chemical/physical and the other biological. In the first stage of the system, a bio-washer is used to remove water-soluble components from the exhaust air. The second stage is comprised of a biofilter containing the optimized Bio•Matrix™ bedding materials. These are comprised of fillers filled with specially processed compost. Its bacteria and fungi handle the oxidation of the pollutants found in the raw gas. The organic components are transformed into oxygen, water and CO2. The contaminants are then adsorbed and, in the final step, biologically degraded.

Record speed of revamping
In autumn, the team from Lenzing Technik will take apart the first of the two biofilters in Schwaz. The filter has come to the end of its operating life. The next steps will be to adapt the foundations and to then – within only three weeks – assemble the higher-performance BIOREACTION facility. The same procedure is planned for summer 2012. The second facility will treat the exhaust from the second production unit, which features a large number of dry kilns used in production of synthetic resin-faced grinding wheels. The extremely-tight schedule of revamping results from agreements reached with authorities and from the fact that Tyrolit’s full order books do not permit any long production downtimes. Meeting this schedule is a must. “Our team sees this as a sporting challenge,” stresses Herbert Hummer. Thanks to his company’s offering a comprehensive range of products and services, Hummer views his team as being excellently equipped to master this challenge.

Challenging engineering
This expertise had been most recently showcased by Lenzing Technik in handling a project for CaseTech GmbH, a producer of sausage casings based in Walsrode, Lower Saxony, Germany. The project involved setting up four Biogat model columns within a very confined space. The columns are used to rid carbon disulphide and hydrogen sulphide from the exhaust air. The space available was originally foreseen for the installment of two columns. This made intelligent engineering a must, so as to enable the new facility to be into operation on schedule in August. This project enabled CaseTech to double in one fell swoop its capacity of exhaust air purification – and to create reserves for use when ramping up production operations. “I am pleased at our ability to employ our experience and knowhow in engineering environmental technologies to complete this exciting project in Germany,” notes Herbert Hummer with satisfaction.

For further information:
Ing. Mag. Robert Canins Marketing Manager Lenzing Group 
Business Unit Engineering Telephone: +43 (0) 7672 701-2311
E-Mail: r.canins@lenzing.com