Address: Cedersdalsvägen 1, SE-186 40 Vallentuna, SwedenTel.: +46 (0)8 514 505 70 | Fax: +46 (0)8 514 505 79E-mail: industrial@disab.com | www.disab.com

DISA- CLEAN

AN INFORMATION BROCHURE PUBLISHED BY DISAB

VACUUMING REDUCES THE LEVELS OF HAZARDOUS

PM10 PARTICLES IN THE AIR

THE SECRET BEHIND WORLD

RECORDS IN DRAG RACING

THE DUST IS RECYCLED

INTO PRECIOUS METALS

THE TRAMWAYS ARE KEPT CLEAN

USING VACUUM

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Have you ever looked closely at the tarmac beneath your feet? Have a look and you will

discover that the street surface is full of pores and holes. Then fetch an ordinary brush and see what happens when you try to brush away sand, dust and other debris. A great deal disappears down the holes, while other particles swirl up into the air.

The effect is the same when you use rotating brushes attached to a loading unit for tractors or under lorries to clean. The dust is stirred up, creating a cloud around the vehicle. Alternatively, water is used while brushing to prevent disturbing the dust, mean-ing that you spread the dust across the entire area being cleaned so that later, once it has dried, it will start swirling up again.

There is only one way to remove dust, sand and other pollutants and that is by vacuuming up and disposing of it.

DISAB is a world leader when it comes to remov-ing, transporting and recycling valuable industrial waste products. The company was established 35 years ago and has unbeatable expertise within vacuum technology and its applications, within a number of different areas.

Disa-Clean 130 represents our unique vacuum expertise on wheels. It has been specially developed to clean streets, roads and large surfaces. The ma-chine is particularly suitable for roads with high levels of microscopic particles, smaller than PM10. The particles are sucked up and remain in the vehicle with the help of a 4-step filter system.

Disa-Clean 130 does not use water, which mean s that the vehicle can be used even when it is cold and there is a risk of ice formation. Elevated levels of PM10 can be prevented and controlled during most of the year, which results in the vehicle being used frequently.

Comparison tests show that our technology works better than other, established methods of road main-tenance. The particles are sucked up instead of being brushed away into the tarmac.

You do not need to bend down to see the dif-ference that Disa-Clean makes. Contact DISAB for a demonstration.

Lars Lind,

MD DISAB TELLA AB

WHAT MAKES DISA-CLEAN 130 SO MUCH BETTER?

High levels of very small particles in the air has for many years been considered one of Stockholm's most serious environmental problems. Hornsgatan has become a symbol of this, being one of a handful of streets in the country where the use of studded tyres is banned.

“High particle levels is a problem on several roads,“ says Tord Larsson, road operations engineer at the traffic department at Stockholm City.

As of a few years ago, the particle levels on some 35 centrally located streets are being constantly moni-tored using measurement stations. This monitoring programme is now part of ongoing research efforts at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI). The programme is also described elsewhere in this brochure.

There are three possible solutions to the problem. That is, to reduce the amount of particles, which the ban on studded tyres deals with, binding par-ticles to the ground using SMA or removing them.

“We tested the vacuum suction technique on

e.g. Sveavägen, and this has worked as a comple-ment to other efforts against the particles,“ says Tord Larsson.

The tests were carried out using the Disa-Clean 130, the only street sweeper on the market which uses powerful vacuum to suck up dust, sand and other pollutants.

For the last two years, two Disa-Cleans have been in operation on designated PM10 streets in Stockholm. These include Hornsgatan, Sveavägen, Folkkungagatan, Odengatan and Norrlandsgatan. During the warmer part of the year vacuuming is combined with street rinsing.

“One advantage of Disa-Clean is that it sucks dry and does not add any water which then could freeze on the streets,“ says Tord Larsson.

A CLEANER CITY

In the past two winters conditions have been un-usually favourable, with little snow. As a result, the vehicles have been able to run for longer into the winter season and get going earlier in spring. This has helped reduce the levels of PM10 to the lowest level seen since measuring started.

“Researchers are still evaluating the initiative,

but the Disa-Clean clearly collects PM10 particles,“ says Tord Larsson.

Vacuuming removes more than just PM10. The technology captures everything from the winter's grit to last year's leaves and rubbish. The result is a healthier and a cleaner city.

A HEALTHIER STOCKHOLM WITH HELP FROM VACUUMING

The ban on studded tyres is not in itself enough to bring particle levels down to acceptable levels. Disa-Clean vacuuming is needed in order to achieve this.

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PM10 is a collective term for particles measuring less than 10 micrometres, which is one hundredth of a millimetre. These particles are so small that they can pass through the nose and throat and force their way into the lungs. Once there they can cause pulmonary damage and illnesses, as well cardio-vascualar problems.

These types of small particles occur naturally in our environment and are produced by, for example, volcanic eruptions and forest fires. They can also be carried long distances by the wind. However, in re-

cent years levels have increased dramatically, due to human activities, while the volume of particles which arrive in Sweden by the wind has fallen.

The biggest source of PM10 in built up areas, according the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, is road abrasion. Furthermore, the particles are created and spread through, for example, incin-eration, energy production and industrial processes.

Because people fall ill as a result of inhaling PM10, work is underway to reduce particle levels. Limit values which are not to be exceeded have been set out in an EU directive and in the Swedish Air Quality Regulation. Yet they are exceeded, with Hornsgatan in Stockholm being the most

well-known example. One contributing factor to the high levels of airborne particles is the weather. In northern Sweden it is particularly common during winter when there is poor air circulation in combination with vehicle traffic and wood-fired heating. In the south the dominant factor is dust stirred up from roads.

“Stirred up dust can dramatically increase the levels of PM10,“ writes the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

There are three ways of reducing the levels of PM10 in the air. Reducing emissions, binding particles to stop them being stirred up or removing them.

How can road maintenance be improved to create a better environment as well as improved accessibility and safety in built up areas? That is the question put by the research project OptiDrift, financed by Vinnova, which will run until 2018.

DISAB and Disa-Clean are involved in the project.

The project is led by the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), in col-laboration with SLB analys, Stockholm City, PEAB, Svevia and DISAB. In 2011 another research project was carried out, in which VTI compared the ability of a conventional street sweeper to re-move fine dust from the road surface with that of DISAB's developed vacuum technology.

“We spread stone dust for the vehicles to suck up. Disa-Clean produced a better result than cleaning machines using brush and water“, says Mats Gustafsson, researcher at VTI.

He is also heading up the evaluation project for Stockholm's efforts to counteract PM10, and the newly launched OptiDrift project, and has, since the initial tests, continued to study the effects of different street operation measures aimed at coun-teracting high levels of particles.

Much of this work focuses on the particle problem in central Stockholm. Several streets have exceeded the maximum limit for the finest particles, PM10. Disa-Clean is currently being used to help bring the levels down.

PUZZLING MEASUREMENTS

“The vacuum technology gathers up more of the finer dust from the streets than conventional street sweepers. However, we are not seeing an imme-diate overnight reduction in particle levels“, says Mats Gustafsson.

This has confused the researchers.

“Analyses show us that Disa-Clean lifts PM10. Al-though the levels on those streets where measure-ments have been taken in recent years, the direct effects seem to be attributable mainly to dust binding.

The effect of vacuuming is harder to evaluate, but is likely contributing to lowering the average levels over the winter and spring seasons by pre-venting road dust from building up and adding to the elevated levels in the air.

“Currently, the combination of dust binding and vacuuming seems to be a success when it comes to reducing particle levels, but the result is also affected by the weather during the season in question,“ says Mats Gustafsson.

WILL RUN UNTIL 2018

The purpose of OptiDrift, which was launched at

the beginning of 2015 and will run until 2018, is to develop and test technologies and strategies for optimising road maintenance in urban areas. Stockholm City is collaborating directly in the project, while Gothenburg, Uppsala, Umeå and the Swedish Transport Administration form part of the project's reference group.

WINTER VACUUMING

One of the hypotheses is that particle levels in spring can be reduced by removing road dust and snow during winter. If this is not done, there is a risk of dust swirling up again once the streets have dried in spring.

You do not want to use water when cleaning in winter conditions. It can freeze and cause slipping hazards. That is why Disa-Clean is used in the project, as it can vacuum without the use of water.

RESEARCHERS HAVE PUT DISA-CLEAN UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

PM10 AND WHY PARTICLES ARE DANGEROUS

“One of the hypotheses is that particle levels can be lowered by removing dust during the winter,“ says Mats Gustafsson, leader of the research project OptiDrift in which DISAB is involved.

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Svevia is responsible for the operation of one of the two Disa-Clean vehicles vacuuming Stockholm's streets.

“We drive 2,500-3,000 hours per year,“ explains Johan Thuresson, machine manager at Svevia.

Last year Stockholm city put out a request for tenders and specified that the contract was to be carried out using Disa-Clean 130, the only se-ries-manufactured vehicle currently using vacuum technology. Before Svevia submitted a tender, a visit was made to the factory in Eslöv where the equipment is fitted to the vehicle.

“We came away with a good impression and bought DISAB's demo car which was in produc-tion at the time. The entire process, from bid to operation, was therefore unusually quick,“ explains Johan Thuresson.

TRAINED BY DISAB

He also noted that this vehicle was rather different in terms of construction and handling. Svevia therefore chose operators who were trained by DISAB and received certification based on a sat-isfactory test result.

“We have a system which means that only certified operators can start the vehicle. It reads the driver's ID06 identity card,“ explains Johan Thuresson.

This explains in some way how the vehicle is able to run more or less continuously without pro-longed stoppages and with excellent results. The drivers also gain higher professional status and make a special effort to do a good job.

THE DUST IS REMOVED

The hazardous PM10 particles end up inside the truck instead of swirling around in the air and are later disposed of as hazardous waste. According to

Johan Thuresson, this waste will require special management.

“This is just the beginning. PM10 is a problem across the entire country and there will be many more of these kinds of vehicles,“ he says.

Svevia is one of Sweden's leading road and contracting companies with 2,000 employees and it work across the country. It is owned by the state but is an independent company which competes with other market stakeholders.

CERTIFIED OPERATORS DRIVE DISA-CLEAN AROUND THE CLOCK

Kent Eriksson is one of Svevia's certified Disa-Clean drivers.

Svevia has brought Disa-Clean into service to help reduce levels of dangerous PM10 particles in the air.

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Trams are back in Stockholm. And with them the need to keep the tracks clean, especially in winter.

The solution is to use Disa-Clean like a giant vacuum cleaner.

Disa-Clean was launched as a replacement for the traditional street sweeper. However, Leif Bro-berg saw something else.

“My company, Vattholma Svets & Mekaniska, is a supplier to DISAB and we received some early information about the development project,“ he explains.

What he saw was a giant, rolling, air-filtering vacuum cleaner with significant potential in several areas. Together with Sören Vallgårda he started the company SL Road Cleaning which invested in a Disa-Clean 130.

VACUUMS ICE AND SNOW

In addition to being used as a sweeper, the vehicle was fitted with a rail vacuum with a specialised nozzle. The company's customers include both of the city's tram and local rail operators, Arriva and Stockholms Spårvägar.

“Disa-Clean makes it possible for us to operate all year round. The nozzle crushes ice which is then sucked up,“ explains Leif.

Another problem is sand and other materials

blocking embankments made from tarmac to ensure sufficient drainage. Over time the embankments become blocked. SL Road Cleaning is developing a method for vacuuming up the pollutants with-out removing the stones, thus preventing damage and expensive repairs. Trial runs show that the technology works.

However, this type of vacuuming can be used for so much more than just cleaning streets and rails. Leif gives some examples of services that SL

Road Cleaning performs:We have moved sand, relocated grain after a

fire, sanitised tunnels and sucked out double floor-ing. What we are dealing with here is a powerful vacuum cleaner with effective filters. When it comes to using the Disa-Clean, your imagination is the only thing setting the limits.

SL Road Cleaning also works on the country's leading drag racing track, Tierp Arena, which is described elsewhere in this brochure.

SAFER TRAMWAYS WITH DISA-CLEAN

The specially-developed nozzle makes it possible to clean the track effectively.

Uppsala has been working to cut the levels of PM10 particles for several years.

“We prioritise the streets which have a lot of pedestrians,“ says Pär Blom, department manager for streets, technology and services at Uppsala local council.

As of two years ago the council has its own vehicle for street vacuuming.

Uppsala is Sweden's fourth largest city and there is a lot of motor vehicle traffic in the city centre. In the spring in particular, levels of PM10 are high and have, on several occasions, been just below the maximum limit. The council has been working actively with this issue for several years.

In 2013, Uppsala municipality invested in a Disa-Clean 130 to remove the finest particles from the streets. This has been combined with other initiatives, such as a ban on studded tyres on two streets, and high pressure spraying.

“We have had the best results when we have sprayed the streets, pushing the dust to the sides, and then used the vehicle to vacuum it up,“ says Pär Blom.

The result is a measurable improvement in

particle levels. Because the vehicle has a different function compared to other similar vehicles, there is only one person who drives. In contrast to Stockholm there are no particular PM10 streets. Instead efforts are made where they are needed and in areas with large numbers of people.

“The vehicle works well. The only thing we have noticed is that some parts wear out faster than in similar vehicles, which is because the air has a much

higher speed,“ says Pär Blom.In addition, Uppsala local council uses the ve-

hicle to vacuum up leaves in autumn and to some extent for cleaning, even though it is not capable of vacuuming up PET bottles, newspapers and oth-er larger objects. However, there are other vehicles which can do so. Disa-Clean 130 has been de-signed to be most effective on particles less than 10 micrometres in size.

UPPSALA VACUUMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEDESTRIANS

Uppsala local council uses Disa-Clean for dust-free street cleansing on streets where footfall is high.

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Delete is a company specialising in environmental services. In the town of Skellefteå, Disa-Clean is being used to improve the environment at Boliden's Rönnskär plant, recycle precious metals and prevent fires in saw mills.

Rönnskär is the Boliden Group's melting plant. Here, copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver are pro-duced. The plant share the problem of dust diffusion with heavily trafficed streets in the country’s biggest cities. The difference is that here the dust contains precious metals. Delete has therefore been contracted to vacuum areas outside and inside the plant warehouses.

BETTER ENVIRONMENT

“Disa-Clean works like a dream. The cleansing is almost completely dust-free. This makes it perfect for use in environments where people are present during its operation,“ says Joacim Ericsson, business areas manager at Delete.

Previously, the dust at the Rönnskär plant was bound using the water drenching technique. How-ever, this could only be done in the warmer months of the year. At that time it was not possible to recycle the heavy metals contained in the dust.

Disa-Clean came to Rönnskär in 2013 and has become an important part of the environmental work here. Dry vacuuming makes it possible to recycle the metal and the factory-area environment has improved.

PREVENTING FIRES

The vehicle used has a unique design. Its func-tionality and performance are the same as those of the standard-issue Disa-Clean 130. The dust con-

taining metal is corrosive. Therefore, the parts that come in contact with the dust are manufactured using more hard-wearing materials, e.g. acid- resistant steel.

Delete also uses the vehicle to reduce the risk of fires at Boliden's saw mills. Saw mills and planing workshops are susceptible to fires and with a common Disa-Clean, the risk of fire is signifi-cantly reduced while the working environment is improved.

The main argument for Disa-Clean is that vacuum technology effectively captures particles smaller than PM10. But this was not why Ragn-Sells ordered its first vehicle at the start of 2015.

“We needed a vehicle for cleaning larger areas,“ explains Mattias Mann, vehicle specialist at Ragn-Sells.

Ragn-Sells is a market leader in Sweden within recycling and environment and has one of the coun-try's largest vehicle fleets. The group's core offering relates to recycling and containers, sludge suction

and irrigation, cleansing, sanitation and hazardous waste, land and aquatic environments and differ-ent treatment services. In addition, they offer tailored solutions for waste and environment matters.

“We carried out a survey among our customers which demonstrated that there was demand for vac-uum technology for streets and other large surfaces,“ explains Mattias Mann.

The positive feedback resulted in rapid action. The decision to invest was taken and a vehicle under construction at DISAB was procured. It was delivered in February 2015 and went into operation immediately.

“Today it is in operation in cogeneration plants, fuel stores and in our own facilities in the Stock-holm area,“ says Mattias Mann.

Ragn-Sells has a number of similar vehicles. What sets Disa-Clean apart is that it is suitable for cleaning large surfaces and that it vacuums without water, meaning that it can be used in winter time.

Robin Martinussen is a division manager at Ragn-Sells and has responsibility for the machine.

“The customers like the results. It is significantly cleaner and it does not generate dust like the usual machines. The new vehicle was introduced without any issues,“ he says.

The ability to capture tiny particles represents an additional advantage which means that Ragn-Sells can also offer PM10 services.

CLEANING OF LARGE SURFACES

DELETE FINDS PRECIOUS METALS

Because Disa-Clean vacuums without adding water, Boliden can recycle the precious metals contained in the dust.

Ellinore Kramnäs handles the vacuum unit via a touchscreen.

Disa-Clean is the right tool for cleaning large surfaces.

RAGN-SELLS CHOSE DISA-CLEAN FOR THE

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DELETE FINDS PRECIOUS METALS

Tierp Arena is considered one of the world's fastest drag racing tracks. One of the reasons is that the track is cleaned using a vacuum.

“Disa-Clean came as if sent from above,“ says Leif Andreasson, the track's promoter and one of Europe's leading drag racing drivers.

Drag racing is about one thing: Grip. All forms of contamination on the track decrease grip and jeopardise safety.

“I drove over a little piece of metal at 420 kilometres an hour and one of the back tyres exploded. Thank goodness I survived the incident with only two teeth knocked out and a concussion,“ says Leif.

He competes in the Top Methanol Funny Car class. The engine delivers 4,000 hp and the acceleration is dizzying – 0-160 km/h in under a second. The pressure on the driver is 4.5 G in acceleration and -5 G when the brake screens are unfolded. A little sand on the track is enough to jeopardise safety.

BETTER IN HALF THE TIME

Drag racing used to take place at closed-off air-ports. Today the power of the engines and the demands are much higher. Competitive times call for perfect tracks. Preparing Tierp Arena for the season takes a whole month. All the rubber and adhesive from the previous year must be removed, the track must be cleaned and new adhesive needs to be sprayed on. The Disa-Clean helps achieve significantly better results, reducing the seasonal maintenance need.

Disa-Clean comes in handy even during com-petitions. After rainfall, the track needs to be dried. This is done with the help of a jet engine

which uses heat to make the moisture evaporate. At Tierp, the water is vacuumed up by the Disa-Clean before the jet engine is brought out. This makes it possible to dry the track in half the time.

The same happens after an oil spill. First Disa- Clean removes the oil and the cleansing agent, then you burn off what remains.

“We drive in front of a paying audience, so we can't have long disruptions,“ says Leif.

GREAT INTEREST IN THE USA

He drives on tracks across Europe and in the USA. He knows why drivers achieve world record-breaking times at Swedish Tierp. The grip is better thanks to Disa-Clean.

“If we were to take Disa-Clean with us to USA, it would stay there for the entire season. There is a lot of interest in this technology,“ says Leif.

He also does track racing and can see a signifi-cant need for the product here too. After several heats the outer tracks of the curves are covered in rubber, which means that the drivers risk crashing if they go too wide. If all the rubber was vacuumed

up, then safety would improve and the drivers would not have to stick to the same 'cross-country ski tracks'.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SPORT

Disa-Clean is a tool for a better environment. How does this relate to drag racing and DISAB spon-soring Leif Andreasson and his horse power-laden Funny Car?

“Motor sports are environmentally friendly today. We use 100% ethanol, which is renewable and carbon neutral,“ he says.

Discussions about the environmental impact of motor sports have got him thinking about the environment from a broader perspective. For example when it comes to street maintenance. Like when the sand used to combat icy streets in winter is swept up by rotating brushes attached to the front of a tractor.

“The dust is stirred up onto the balconies. In cities and residential areas, there ought to be a ban on brushes when there is technology capable of vacuuming up the sand,“ says Leif Andreasson.

A LITTLE SAND IS A BIG THREAT TO SAFETY AND GOOD RESULTS

Good grip is everything in drag racing. Thanks to Disa-Clean, Tierp Arena is one of the world's fastest tracks.

DISA-CLEAN 130 is a highly effective industrial vacuum fitted to a truck chassis. The vacuum pump is run by its own turbo-loaded diesel engine of 130 kW, 175 hp, and vacuums through a nozzle underneath the vehicle which is as wide as the vehicle.

In front of the vacuum nozzle there are 1-4 brushes depending on the desired working width, which is 2.5 to 2.8 metres. The brushes release particles from the road surface for immediate capture. The result is dust-free cleansing, which makes Disa-Clean suitable for city centres and other places with large numbers of pedestrians, or other areas where there are problems with dust and pollution, e.g. in ports, the cement industry etc.

The method is completely dry. As no water is used, Disa-Clean can also be used during the winter months of the year.

Outbound air passes through a highly efficient and self-cleaning filter system which captures the PM10 particles. Hazardous particles are not re-released into the air, but remain in the container.

The material collected is stored in a five cubic metre container, which is emptied using hydraulic tipping.

The entire structure is monitored and controlled by a user-friendly control system (PLC). There is a large touch screen in the cabin. The driver can focus on the actual driving and on safety.

EFFECTIVE

Main brushes vacuum sealed

Vacuum nozzle (1,600 kg lifting power)

Side brushes vacuum sealed

Disa-Clean 130. 90-95 per cent PM10

has been removed

Traditional sweeper 5 per cent PM10 has been removed.

THIS IS WHY DISA-CLEAN IS SO

About Disa-CleanMethod of cleansing: Dry vacuum suctionLifting power, vacuum: 1,600 kgPower:The attachment has its own 130 kW-engine.Working width: 2.5–2.8 metres depending on the number of brushesContainer volume: 5 cubic metres.Air out: Highly effective and self-cleaning filter.

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