ASPHALT-MIXING PLANT EMISSIONS

Ammann’s efforts start with the burner and the built-in efficiencies that not only meet, but surpass, the world’s tightest emissions standards.

The efforts go beyond fuel burn. We dissect every stage of the asphalt mixing process and search for steps where we can remove dust, odour and noise.

  • Our highly proficient baghouses further lower exhaust dust to less than 10 mg/m³, an exemplary benchmark.
  • Bitumen fumes are the primary source of odour. As we do with dust, we have odour reduction points – in this case, they are in the bitumen tanks, the skip and load-out levels, and the stack.
  • Noise reductions start with equipping burners with quiet variable speed motor drives and stack silencers, which control exhaust noise. Sound suppression options even include cladding of the plant.

A modern, properly operated asphalt-mixing plant control system can deliver an abundance of environmental benefits. Minimising material usage and fuel burn are the biggest opportunities.

Ammann’s as1 Control System is intuitive, so plant operators are able to leverage the built-in smart features. The system also includes modules that enable an operator to focus on a particular area, such as fuel burn.

The as1 can be added to existing plants as a retrofit. This upgrade results in immediate sustainability improvements.

AS1
CONTROL
SYSTEM

RETROFITS

A retrofit can make an existing asphalt-mixing plant smarter – and preserve the natural resources that were used to build the original product.

Retrofits, which can be applied to plants from Ammann or those built by other manufacturers, can bring recycling to the customer. The upgrades also enable the use of foam bitumen, waxes and other additives. Special bitumen and alternative mixing cycles can be incorporated as well. These efforts improve road life, optimise recycling and reduce temperatures – and the resulting emissions – needed to produce mix.

A retrofit can include use of more modern, environmentally friendly bitumen tanks and baghouses. It can also result in noise reductions.

Ammann offers training that makes existing operations greener.

The best asphalt- and concrete-mixing plant in the world will underperform if the operator is unable to leverage the built-in value. The same goes for the advanced technology in Ammann machines.

Training makes operators – of both machines and plants – more proficient, thereby lessening waste and emissions.

TRAINING

ELECTRICALLY HEATED
BITUMEN TANKS

Ammann has uncovered hidden opportunities to trim carbon dioxide emissions. One is the bitumen tank farm.

A traditional farm consists of horizontal tanks heated with thermal oil. Changing to an electrically heated, vertical tank farm results in considerable advantages. There is no oil consumption and therefore no direct emissions.

Electric heating is cost-effective, too. In fact, electrically heated bitumen tanks have become standard in all of Europe and other parts of the world.

Ammann Asphalt-Mixing Plants are capable of producing traditional mixes at significantly lower temperatures.

While conventional asphalt is produced at around 170°C, newer processes allow lower production temperatures of around 100°C. Lowering the manufacturing temperature reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Low temperature asphalt impacts the entire production process – including drying, mixing sequences and recycling.

LOW TEMPERATURE ASPHALT

ECOdrop

Machines that enhance both sustainability and profitability? Ammann is delivering exactly that through its innovative ECOdrop initiative.

ECOdrop starts by maximising engine efficiency, which trims both emissions and fuel costs.

ECOdrop also involves reconfiguring key systems and components to minimise the operational fluids required to run them. This results in lower costs for both acquisition and disposal of the fluids.

The initiative offers more convenient access to service points as well, making maintenance faster – and preventing fluid spills.

A closer look at one specific product, the Ammann ARS 70 Soil Compactor, highlights the key features and benefits. With ECOdrop, the ARS 70 has seen declines of:

  • 22% in fuel consumption
  • 26% in the required hydraulic fluid
  • 10% in the needed vibratory system fluid

 

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SERVICELINK

ServiceLink provides customers with data that makes job sites more profitable – and more environmentally friendly, too.

ServiceLink for light equipment enables fleet managers to monitor battery charge at remote locations. Doing so prevents operators from driving long distances and burning considerable fuel, only to discover a machine with an uncharged battery.

For heavy equipment, ServiceLink helps monitor fuel usage and RPMs, allowing crew leaders to quickly adjust and make machines more efficient.

Ammann APF 15/40, APF 15/50 and APF 20/50 Forward Moving Vibratory Plate Compactors offer a reduced carbon footprint.

The plates, and their Vanguard 160 petrol engine, offer extended maintenance intervals, lower sound levels, and air filters that last hundreds of hours longer.

The plates also feature a control that prevents the mixing of fuel and oil during transport. Oil that becomes diluted must be removed, disposed of and then replaced. Avoiding this dilution is significant. A Vanguard study reveals that rental companies estimated the diluted oil increases a compactor’s environmental impact by 69%.

PLATE
COMPACTORS’
ENVIRONMENTAL
FOOTPRINT