Designing a dust collection system is all about matching a dust collector to your specific dust management needs. Just like with baghouses and dry dust collectors, choosing the right wet scrubber will come down to picking a scrubber that is uniquely designed for your application, dust and air quality requirements.
That is why, in order to make certain that you get the right scrubber, you need to learn more about your operation. Taking the time to analyze your unique application and dust collection requirements will ensure that you get the most out of your wet scrubber, enabling:
- Safer workspaces
- A more productive workforce
- Easier regulatory compliance
- Enhanced throughput and less downtime
Is a Wet Scrubber Right for Me?
Wet scrubbers, also known as wet dust collectors, are perfect for a variety of industrial applications. When used correctly, wet scrubbers can achieve extremely high collection efficiencies of over 99 percent.
However, to capitalize on those high collection efficiencies, you need to make sure that your application is right for a wet scrubbing system. A wet scrubber is often a good choice if you have any of the following:
- Wet or sticky particulate
- Mixes of solid particle and gases/vapors
- Humid air or moisture in your gas stream
- Light dust loadings with soluble particles
- Fine particles and mists
- Combustible dust
If you don’t have any of the above, a wet scrubber may still work, but it may not be the most efficient solution for your application. In that case, consider looking into a baghouse or dry dust collector. Baghouses are great for handling both light and heavy dust loadings in an efficient manner, making them versatile dust collectors for various industrial applications. The experts at Sly can work with you to help determine if a wet scrubber or a baghouse is better for your unique application.
How Do I Make Sure I Get the Right Scrubber?
Once you know that a wet scrubber is right for you, it’s time to dig deeper into the specifics of your application. Here are some of the questions that you should ask to help determine your dust collection requirements:
What type of dust/pollutants do I have, and what is my dust loading?
You will want to determine various characteristics of your dust, such as if it is sticky or hygroscopic, or if it is soluble in water.
What is my dust loading?
Heavier dust loadings will require a higher energy scrubber, so it is best to determine your dust loading in order to maximize efficiency.
What are the particles of my dust like, and how big are they?
Apart from the overall qualities of your dust, you will also want to look at the particles themselves. This is where you will want to note characteristics such as thin fibers, ragged edges, and abrasive particulate. Micron size is also factor, as is your particle size distribution.
To help with the selection process of your wet scrubber, Sly’s particle analysis service can help you to better understand the individual characteristics of your dust.
How efficient does my dust collection system need to be?
Some applications face stricter efficiency and air quality control requirements from regulatory agencies like OSHA.
Do I have any dust recovery needs?
Product recovery can be an important part of dust collection systems for certain operations. Having a wet scrubbing system that is designed to better facilitate recovery can lead to substantial cost savings.
How do I want to dispose of any collected dust/pollutants?
Facility managers often go for systems that generate a smaller filter cake, wanting to minimize the material that they need to dispose of. Having a cake or slurry that is easily contained and manageable will help to make operations easier reduce the change of fugitive emissions.
Are there any space or noise limitations for the scrubbing system?
The last thing you want to do is build an advanced wet scrubber, just to have it not fit at the on-site location. Installing the scrubber on a platform can help where space is limited. If the scrubber is going to be nearby workers, it will often need to meet low-noise standards.
Is water costly in my area?
The cost of water can vary from one location to another. If water is costly in your area, you may want to choose a wet scrubber that minimizes water use.
Which Wet Scrubber is Best for My Application?
After you have a thorough understanding of your application and dust management needs, it should be easy to work with a dust collection expert like Sly to determine which type of wet scrubber is right for your facility. Here are the main types of wet scrubbers and when to use them:
Impingement Scrubbers
Impingement scrubbers are used to collect various particulate, as well as clean, cool and absorb vapors and gases from industrial airstreams. They offer high collection efficiencies (99% @5 microns) and low water consumption. Impingement scrubbers are best used on particles 5 microns or larger, mixes of particulate and gases/vapors, and applications with high hydraulic loadings.
Venturi Scrubbers
Venturi scrubbers efficiently collect fine particulate and mists. In addition to collecting ultra-fine and submicron particles, they can also be used for fumes and liquid aerosols.
Eductor Scrubbers
Eductor scrubbers can remove soluble gases and particulate from industrial air supplies by inducing a gas flow using high-pressure liquid focused into a venturi throat. They are best used on sticky or gummy particulate and gases that decompose with water.
Packed Tower Scrubbers
Also called packed bed or packed column scrubbers, packed tower scrubbers are designed to chemically scrub contaminants from an airstream. They are typically used to remove gas-phase emissions like sulfur dioxide and other odors/acids.
Better Wet Scrubbers at Sly
With our nearly 150 years of dust collection expertise, Sly can help you find the perfect wet scrubber for your unique application. Once we find you the best scrubber for the job, we will work with you to size and customize your wet scrubber to maximize the performance and efficiency of your scrubbing system. Learn more in our new handbook, The Complete Guide to Getting Started with Wet Scrubbers.
Contact the dust collection experts at Sly today to learn more!
