Wet Dust Collectors

Wet Dust Collectors

Also called wet scrubbers or orifice scrubbers, some systems 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. Industries that produce fire hazardous dust such as aluminum and titanium often must use wet dust collectors as dry processes heighten the potential dangers of these flammable byproducts. In removing dust and particulates from the air, these scrubbers improve worker safety and equipment longevity. Additionally, wet dust collectors can improve productivity as useful slurry, the dust itself, can easily be collected, returned to circulation and reused.

Spray and pool systems offer two different manners of dust collection, though both contain many of the same components. There are three main steps to the process of collection and removal. Humidification of the air must be the first step as it increases the size of fine dust particles, making their collection easier. Second, the cleaning liquid, most commonly water, must come into contact with the air. Finally, the dirty liquid must be separated from the clean air. The contaminated scrubber liquid is cleaned in a clarification tank or drag chain tank to either be released into the environment or returned to the system. Every arrangement needs ductwork and a fan or pump system to draw the polluted air into the collection area. Pumps are also required within the collection area to pressurize the liquid 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 dust collectors were once the norm, scrubbers have also become smaller, more portable and even mobilized devices for localized cleansing. Wet dust collectors are classified as low, low-medium, medium-high, or high energy on the basis of pressure drop.