Vipel® technology helps the composite components resist the highly acidic nature of the odour control system by Bay Products Inc.As the anti-odour process creates a highly acidic internal operating environment with pH levels down to 2, Bay Products manufactured the system’s composite components using Vipel K022C bisphenol A epoxy vinyl ester resin from AOC. In addition to its corrosion resistance, the Vipel resin with minimal synergist addition meets the site’s requirement for an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E84 Class 1 fire rating.
The flat composite panels were assembled into a shell measuring 10 ft (3 m) x 36 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m). The panels and composite damper components were made by hand lay-up of alternating layers of resin-impregnated fibreglass chopped strand mat and fibreglass woven roving.
The 16 inch (40.6 cm) diameter cylindrical ductwork composite components for moving air were filament wound of continuous fibreglass roving wet-out with the Vipel vinyl ester.
Surfaces that are directly exposed to the odour-scrubbing process were manufactured with a layer of synthetic surfacing veil. This technique resulted in a resin-intensive layer providing corrosion protection of the reinforcing fibres encapsulated within the composite.
The FRP composite components using AOC’s vinyl ester resin included the vessel, ductwork and isolation dampers tested to protocols established by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA).
The odour control system serves the 7.6 acre Montopolis Park and Recreation Area, Austin, Texas, USA, which is in a low-lying, riverside area that includes an underground wastewater conveyance tunnel that emits sewer gases.
Bay Products is headquartered in Stateline, Nevada, USA, and specialises in equipment for the air and water industry.