Scrubber Basics

In a wet scrubber process air is drawn through a mist of water made by

spray nozzles, then through separators where water droplets with dust and
particles are removed
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Air scrubbers are commonly used in process-air applications to eliminate potentially harmful
dust and pollutants. A liquid, in general water added with active chemicals adapted to the
process, is sprayed in to the air flow. Aerosol and gaseous pollutants in the air stream are
removed by either absorption or chemical reactions with the water solution.
A schematic drawing of a typical spray nozzle scrubber configuration is shown below.

Water with chemicals are sprayed with high pressure through nozzles into the air flow. Some of
the water evaporates, especially if the process-air is hot, and disappear with the exhaust. Water
droplets are separated from the exhaust and re-circulated back to the water reservoir.
Evaporated water is replaced by fresh water and chemicals. Dust and pollution products from
the process are removed periodically through the drain.

Wet Scrubber Basic Configurations

The basic scrubber configurations are:
Orifice scrubbers - air or gas velocity is increased through an orifice - increased

turbulence atomize the water droplets

 Venturi scrubbers - air or gas velocity is increased through a venturi shape - increased

turbulence atomize the water droplets

Fiber-bed scrubbers - air passes through wet-laden fiber mats where mists are collected.

Not suited if solid particles are present in the air since the fiber mats may plug
Mechanical scrubbers - a mechanical driven rotor produces the fine water droplets in the

air
Impingement-plate scrubber - vertical scrubber with horizontal plates, air flows from

bottom to top, water flows from top to bottom

Spray nozzle scrubbers - water are sprayed with high pressure through nozzles to

produce the droplets in the air

Typical Scrubber Data

Cleaning efficiency: 70% of fine dust and 80% of coarse dirt
Air velocity through the washer: 2 - 3 m/s
Air flow pressure drop resistance: 50 - 140 N/m2
Water pressure before nozzles: 100 - 170 kN/m2
Water consumption: 0.45 - 0.55 l/m3 air (depends on the temperature of the process air)

Scrubber humidifying efficiency

Some industrial processes need more cleaning than a single scrubber can provide. In smell
polluted processes, like exhaust air from fish meal or fish feed dryers, bio beds are commonly
used. A bio bed, which is an organic organism, require process air with as little dust as possible
and temperature and humidity within certain limits.

The humidifying efficiency of the scrubber may be expressed as:

h = (t1 - t2) / (t1 - tw) 100%

(1)

where
h = scrubber humidifying efficiency (%)
t1 = initial dry bulb temperature (oC)
t2 = final dry bulb temperature (oC)
tw = initial wet bulb temperature (oC)

Scrubber Efficiencies
Typical nozzle scrubber efficiencies
60-70 % with one bank of nozzles downstream
65-75 % with one bank of nozzles upstream
85-100 % with two banks of nozzles

Note! Be aware that low temperature scrubbers can be a potential source for the Legionella
disease. Special cleaning and disinfection precautions should always be taken when the
temperature in the scrubber is in the "Legionella range".