Wet scrubbers purify air by capturing particulate matter on moist surfaces and dissolving gases in the liquid. In some cases, the gasses react with chemicals in the liquid. Small liquid droplets are more effective per unit volume of scrubber liquid because they have more surface area than fewer, larger droplets. Very small liquid droplets, however, are difficult to remove from the airstream after they absorb or react with the gasses. PM is collected by physically impacting the PM into droplets or onto wet surfaces. PM is affected on droplets or moist surfaces in various manners, depending on the type of scrubber utilized.
While wet scrubbers can effectively remove gasses and PM, their use is limited in some facilities because of their high-pressure drop and relatively high initial and operating costs. Scrubbers also require a system to handle the scrubber liquid effluent. The development of low-cost and high-efficiency wet scrubbers that do not significantly affect axial fan operation needs further study. Some of the challenges are:
- Clogging. Wet scrubbers clogg with accumulated PM if the air being treated has high PM concentrations. Particulate matter can accumulate in the packing material and restrict or block the airflow. The risk of wet scrubber clogging can be reduced by increasing the liquid flow or using either a cross- or concurrent flow configuration.
- Water Use. Wet scrubbers need to have sufficient and economical water supplies. Wet scrubbers can consume substantial quantities of water. Wastewater handling is an important consideration. Even if chemicals are not used, the gasses dissolved in the water make the scrubber liquid effluent unsuitable for discharge to public waters (i.e., streams, lakes, or wetlands). Scrubber effluent can be applied to cropland or added to a manure storage unit or treatment system in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Recycling scrubber effluent reduces wastewater generation.
When a regular wet air scrubber frequently becomes blocked, is costly to operate, or requires maintenance, businesses generally turn to us. Our Scroiler™ is devoid of wet air scrubber drawbacks while operating at the same efficiency.
Every wet air scrubber currently installed worldwide can be replaced by a Scroiler™ for more effective air pollution control. The reference list includes more than 100 Scroiler™s installed since 2011 with 3,000 – 200,000 cfm capacity. Our reference list is available on our website: scroiler.com if you have any questions, please contact us at scr@optromix.com