Wet Air Scrubbers: Common Applications and Challenges

Wet air scrubbers: common reasons for using and problems

What is the most inexpensive way to eliminate the particles to a permissible emission standard? Wet scrubbing typically achieves high removal efficiencies since dust particles are trapped in the water droplets. The particle size increases making it easier to remove the dust. A smaller dust particle is surrounded by a larger water droplet. The combined dust particles and water droplets are then removed from the airstream together. Scrubbing systems encompass a variety of air pollution control devices utilized to eliminate particles and/or gases from industrial exhaust emissions. Traditionally, wet scrubbers have been defined as air pollution control systems that utilize liquid to “scrub” undesirable pollutants from a gas flow. Currently, scrubbers refer to systems that introduce a dry reagent or slurry into a polluted exhaust stream to “remove” acid gases. Scrubbers represent one of the main instruments used to regulate gaseous emissions, particularly acid gases. Wet scrubbers can be classified by pressure drop as follows:

  • low-energy scrubbers have pressure drops of less than 12,7 cm of water
  • medium-energy scrubbers have pressure drops between 12,7 and 38,1 cm of water
  • high-energy scrubbers have pressure drops greater than 38,1 cm of water

Scrubbers are often perceived as overly costly. However, they are very simple devices and are often the least expensive and most reliable device for the removal of particulates from a gas stream. The ongoing capital and operational expenses for any separation device rely on assessment. In the case of wet air scrubbers, the cost analysis is often dependent upon the availability of water and the infrastructure for waste treatment or disposal. There are several common process reasons for using scrubbers for particulate separation:

  • wet scrubbers are simple to build and operate
  • wet air scrubbing is the most efficient way to cool high-temperature process gases for air treatment by quenching them with water
  • wet scrubbers may be more compact than other industrial tools
  • gaseous and particulate contaminants may be collected in the same device
  • wet scrubbers may be the safest way to hounding potentially explosive, pyrophoric, or combustible dust
  • wet air scrubbers can operate reliably on sticky or highly hygroscopic materials

All wet air scrubbers incorporate mist eliminators or entrainment separators to remove entrained droplets. The process of contacting the gas and liquid streams results in entrained droplets, which contain the contaminants or particulate matter. The most common mist eliminators are chevrons, mesh pads, and cyclones. Chevrons are simply zigzag baffles that cause the gas stream to turn as it passes through the mist eliminator. Mesh pads are made from interlaced fibers that serve as the collection area. A cyclone is typically used for the small droplets generated in a venturi scrubber. The gas stream exiting the venturi enters the bottom of a vertical cylinder tangentially. The droplets are removed by centrifugal force as the gas stream spirals upward to the outlet.

Wet air scrubbers are susceptible to several operating problems. The most common of these include inadequate liquid flow, liquid re-entrainment, poor gas-liquid contact, corrosion, and plugged nozzles, beds, or mist eliminators.

Scroiler™ is a new type of wet air scrubber that is devoid of many wet air scrubbers’ drawbacks while operating at the same efficiency. Scroiler™ can replace any wet air scrubber as a whole, and in some cases, we can use old scrubber – primarily it’s body – as a basis for a Scroiler™ system. Being a new type of wet scrubber, Scroiler™ cleans air from gases, dust, vapors and other admixtures using water or other cleaning liquid. Scroiler™ produces the cleaning mist differently from other scrubber systems, which results in running costs that are much lower than for a common wet scrubber.

If you would like to purchase Scroiler™, please contact us at info@optromix.com