What Technology Aims to Reduce Pollutant Particles in Monterrey by Up to 54%?

Air quality in Monterrey is a primary environmental challenge for the industry, which seeks to adopt technologies to reduce the dispersion of pollutant particles. As part of these efforts, Ternium has installed new windbreak barriers at its Guerrero Plant, located in Monterrey, Nuevo León. The project aims to reduce the suspension of PM10 particles caused by wind in material storage yards by up to 54%, according to company information. Furthermore, the initiative stands out for incorporating 100% Mexican steel from Ternium with structures designed to withstand demanding industrial operating conditions.

How Do the Barriers Reducing Pollution in Monterrey Work?

The new structures, known as windfences, surround the main material storage yards at the Guerrero Plant. In these open spaces, wind can lift mineral particles and other materials, transporting them to different locations. To mitigate this phenomenon, the barriers reduce wind speed and limit its capacity to suspend particles. According to Lucía Betanzos, Environmental Director at Ternium, the structures can reduce PM10 particle suspension by up to 54% due to wind action. PM10 particles are suspended in the air with diameters up to 10 micrometers. However, the reported percentage specifically corresponds to particle suspension in the intervened yards and therefore does not represent an equivalent reduction in the metropolitan area’s total atmospheric pollution. Additionally, Omar Kassam, project director, explained that this

offers an alternative for large-scale industrial yards where completely covering storage surfaces is not always feasible.

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Technology and Engineering to Control Particle Dispersion

Before construction began, Ternium’s team studied wind conditions within the Guerrero Plant. Mariana Cortez, engineer and project lead, explained that they analyzed historical data on wind direction and speed. They also considered buildings and other structures that modify wind behavior within the facilities. Subsequently, they conducted simulations to identify locations where the barriers would yield the best results. This analysis enabled the selection of strategic points to reduce wind corridors that traverse the storage yards. Thus, the project integrated simulation, structural engineering, and environmental analysis to control a specific source of particle dispersion.

20-Meter Barriers and 150 Tons of Mexican Steel

One of the project’s main challenges was constructing large-scale structures without interrupting industrial operations. The barriers incorporated 20-meter-long posts designed to withstand winds of up to 126 kilometers per hour. The construction also required the following materials and work:

30 boreholes six meters deep.
150 tons of 30-inch pipe.
3,500 square meters of mesh to contain particle dispersion.
Participation of Mexican companies in manufacturing, civil works, and assembly.

Initially, the post dimensions posed a challenge in finding suppliers. However, Ternium identified that some of its own clients had the capacity to manufacture them. Consequently, Mexican companies developed 100% of the project, utilizing steel produced by Ternium. National participation also allowed for the incorporation of local industrial capabilities into a specialized environmental control solution.

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What Impact Will the Project Have on Monterrey’s Air Quality?

The installation is part of the environmental plan Ternium has been developing for over a decade at the Guerrero Plant. During execution, teams faced interferences and old foundations in various work areas but completed the assembly without halting yard operations. Esmer Rubio, Head of Construction, highlighted the coordination between Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Safety, Facilities, and Environment departments. The company aims for these structures to contribute to reducing particle dispersion around its facilities. Similarly, the technology could serve as a reference for other industrial operations with open-air storage yards. The impact on metropolitan air quality will depend on environmental conditions and the behavior of other pollutant sources. Ultimately, with this project, Ternium is implementing a Mexican engineering solution to reduce fugitive particle emissions while maintaining its industrial operations.