VOC emission control using paint process expertise

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VOC emission control using paint process expertise

Milojevic, D. / Lannefors, H.

Primary tasks of an automotive paint finishing plant are to provide a satisfactory corrosion protection and a good quality of the surface finish of the car bodies. However, the task of reducing the emissions of evaporated organic solvents, called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), as well as particulates, liquid and solid wastes from the painting processes has received lately a comparable importance, both within the conscience of the society and the environmental pollution legislations. This has led in the last few years to a strong reduction of the VOC, particulate and waste heat emissions, due to a successful cooperation of car manufacturers, paint and process equipment suppliers mostly in USA, Germany and Sweden, but the same trends are expected in other parts of the world. This paper gives and overview of the state of the art of the VOC emission control process technology with an aim to enable a further reduction of the air pollution from the automotive paint shops. The application of the process simulation computer software is introduced in order to make possible the optimization of the systems, processes and equipment for the VOC emission control. In order to accelerate such development, the process simulation software package Aspen Plus and the corresponding computer expert system Model Manager were licensed from the company Aspen Technology Inc. Cambridge, USA, thus providing a necessary standard framework for own developments.