Cure for the Baghouse Blues

Ammonia. Who would have known that the introduction of ammonia would have such troubling effects on baghouses at cement plants?

Take, as an example, an established cement plant in the southwestern part of the United States. Its baghouses were thirty years old and had experienced very little to no wear, and they had never experienced any rusting at all. However, due to NOx levels in the system, the EPA and the company’s environmental department made them introduce ammonia into the system for the purpose of reducing the levels. That worked. Unfortunately, the side effects were devastating. Because of the ammonia and condensation from varying humidity levels, a very aggressive and corrosive reaction began. The PH levels began to fluctuate between eight and nine. Actual flakes of rust from the corroding baghouses were blown out of the stack and were seen all over the parking lot and on vehicles.

Upon further inspection of the baghouses, it was found that holes had begun to develop and were leaking as well. The cement company’s environmental department saw this as an environmental hazard. The leakage in the baghouse needed to be sealed up and stop the rusting as well.