PM10 & PM2.5 Filtration Standards in Urban Street Sweepers: The Essential Role of the Filtration System

Fine dust on urban roads comes from more than soil, sand, leaves and visible debris. Traffic, tire and brake wear, and environmental conditions also contribute to the accumulation of small particles on road surfaces. As vehicles pass or street cleaning takes place, some of these particles may become airborne again.

For this reason, the performance of a street sweeper should not be assessed solely by its ability to collect visible debris. Its ability to manage dust generated during operation, particularly PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter, is also an important consideration when selecting urban cleaning equipment.

1. What Are PM10 and PM2.5, and Why Does Fine Dust Control Matter?

Particulate Matter (PM) refers to small particles of solid or liquid material suspended in the air. Two commonly monitored categories are PM10 and PM2.5:

• PM10: Particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres (µm) or less.
• PM2.5: Particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometres (µm) or less. These finer particles are included within the PM10 size range.

Because of their small size, these particles can remain suspended in the air and be inhaled. Roadside particulate matter may originate from soil, road dust, traffic activity and other emission sources.

During sweeping, mechanical brushes without an appropriate dust-control solution may disturb fine particles and cause some of them to become airborne again. This is why the suction and filtration system should be evaluated alongside the sweeping mechanism when assessing a street sweeper’s overall performance.

2. The Role of the Filtration System in Urban Street Sweepers

In suction-based street sweepers, the filtration system plays an important role in treating the dust-laden airflow collected from the road surface.

Collecting and Retaining Dust During Operation

After the brushes direct debris and dust towards the collection area, the suction system moves the air through the machine. The filter retains particles according to the characteristics and construction of its filtration material before the air passes through the subsequent stages of the system.

Helping Reduce Dust Re-entrainment

A suitable filtration system helps manage fine particles carried by the airflow during operation. Actual performance depends on the overall machine design, filter material, filtration area, suction airflow and maintenance condition.

Maintaining Operating Performance

The filter affects not only dust retention but also airflow and suction performance. Selecting the appropriate filter configuration and carrying out cleaning and maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations help maintain stable operation under suitable working conditions.

3. Dulevo D-TEX Filtration Technology

Dulevo develops a cleaning system that combines mechanical action, continuous suction and dust filtration. According to the manufacturer's published information, the D-TEX filter range includes different configurations designed for specific operating conditions.

D-TEX – Polyester Fabric Filter

D-TEX uses a bag filter made from polyester fabric. Dulevo presents this configuration as a durable filtration solution designed for extended operating periods.

D-TEX Pro – Polyester with an ePTFE Membrane

D-TEX Pro adds an ePTFE membrane to the polyester structure. According to Dulevo, this construction supports more uniform filtration and suction performance when handling fine particles, including PM10 and PM2.5.

D-TEX Ultra – PTFE Structure

D-TEX Ultra features an advanced PTFE structure. The manufacturer describes it as lightweight and water-resistant, making it suitable for consideration in operating conditions involving high humidity or rain, where maintaining consistent suction airflow is important.

Note: The installed filter configuration may vary depending on the sweeper model and version. The technical specifications of the specific model should be checked before selection.

4. EN 15429-3 and the Evaluation of Fine Particulate Collection Efficiency

To assess the dust-control performance of road sweepers, businesses and municipal authorities can refer to European Standard EN 15429-3 – Sweepers – Part 3: Efficiency of Particulate Matter Collection – Testing and Evaluation.

This standard establishes a test method for evaluating two main aspects:

• Particle removal and collection: Assessing the amount of test material, consisting of particulate matter and coarser fractions, that a sweeper removes from a road surface during a controlled test run.
• Limiting airborne particulate matter: Measuring airborne PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations generated during the test sweeping process.

Test results are reported in quantitative numerical form, allowing performance comparisons between similarly classified machines. The standard does not establish one universal pass-or-fail threshold for all street sweepers.

Therefore, when evaluating equipment, businesses should review the specific test results for the model under consideration rather than relying solely on a filtration technology name or general marketing statements.

5. Key Factors When Selecting a Street Sweeper for Fine Dust Control

In addition to filtration technology, dust-control performance depends on how different components work together within the overall machine design. Businesses and municipal authorities should consider the following factors:

Brush System and Collection Mechanism

Brush design, installation position, road-surface contact and the mechanism that directs collected material towards the suction inlet all influence the collection process.

Suction Airflow and Airflow Design

The suction system must be compatible with the machine design and operating conditions. Suction airflow, air ducts and integration with the filtration system should be assessed together.

Filter Material and Filtration Area

The characteristics of the filter material, filtration surface area and suitability for actual working conditions affect system performance. Equipment should not be compared based on a product name or a single specification alone.

Maintenance Requirements and Operating Costs

Businesses should review filter cleaning and replacement intervals, spare-parts availability and maintenance requirements. These factors influence the total operating cost throughout the equipment's service life.

6. Selecting the Right Dulevo Street Sweeper for Urban Cleaning Requirements

Urban areas present different operating conditions, ranging from busy city roads and major routes to industrial zones and locations with high levels of dust and fallen leaves. Street sweeper selection should therefore take into account the cleaning area, type of debris, operating frequency and dust-control requirements.

For municipal authorities and urban cleaning operators, key considerations should include not only sweeping productivity and debris collection capacity, but also the suction and filtration configuration, the installed filter type and relevant particulate collection test data for the specific model.

Dulevo offers street sweeping solutions with integrated sweeping, suction and filtration systems designed for different equipment ranges. Identifying the appropriate model and filter configuration helps ensure that the machine is better suited to actual operating requirements.

Conclusion

Fine particulate control is an important aspect of urban street cleaning. An effective street sweeper relies on the coordination of its brush mechanism, suction system and suitable filtration components, rather than focusing solely on the collection of visible debris.

Dulevo’s D-TEX filter technologies offer different filtration material configurations for specific operating conditions. When selecting equipment, businesses should review the specifications of each model, actual operating requirements and relevant PM10 and PM2.5 test results to make an informed decision.

Contact PAN for advice on selecting Dulevo street sweepers, understanding filtration configurations and obtaining technical information suited to your urban cleaning requirements.

PAN Trading JSC
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