Wet Scrubbers

Wet Scrubbers

Wet scrubbers are a device used to eliminate various pollutants from the air using liquid spray or pools which extract contaminants. This purifying process can remove either particulates or gaseous impurities using chemical reactions and absorption techniques. As this air pollution control method can handle various temperatures and moisture contents, it is very versatile and can remove nearly any type of pollutant. Some scrubbers even abate both particulates and fumes, although the optimal operating conditions differ for each. Industries using methane or propane gases often use wet scrubbers as do paper and electronic power generation plants. The pollutants produced in these environments, such as volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbon and solvent fumes can have serious environmental and biological ramifications if not properly disposed of.

Spray and pool scrubbers offer two different manners of wet scrubbing, though both contain many of the same components. Every arrangement needs ductwork and a fan or pump system to draw the polluted gas into the collection area. Pumps are also required within the collection area to pressurize the spray. In the pool variety a saturation chamber is needed as well. In these chambers the pollutants are extracted either by absorption or chemical reactions. Additional filters can be added both before and after scrubbing for increased efficiency. After the air has been scrubbed, an elimination system is needed to remove the now contaminated liquid, treat it and return it to circulation. The clean air is most often expelled into the atmosphere. Although permanent mounted industrial wet scrubbers were once the norm, scrubbers have also become smaller, more portable and even mobilized devices for localized cleansing.