Gravitational Settling Chambers

Simple gravity separation is the basis of one of the oldest collection

devicesthe settling chamber. A settling chamber is a long, enlarged
section in the exhaust system. As the cross-sectional area increases,
there is a corresponding decrease in the exhaust gas velocity, which
permits coarser particles to fall from the air suspension. Settling
chambers offer the advantages of modest construction, simple
operation, dry collection, and small pressure drops. Structural space
requirements are a significant disadvantage and are generally the
limiting factor in use of settling chambers as primary collection
methods. The design of a settling chamber is based on the settling
velocity of the particles to be removed. Generally, chambers will have
flow-through velocities less than 3 m/s and will effectively remove
particles greater than 50 m in size. Dry collectors, such as scrappers
and screw conveyors, are used to collect the settled particles.

Gravimetric Efficiency : It is defined as the ration of the weight of

the material collected or retained by the collector to the total amount
entering the collector.
G E (%) 100 x

Wc
We

Where, GE is Gravimetric Efficiency, Wc is weight of material collected

and We is the weight of material entering the collector.

Wet Scrubbers : Using a variety of methods, wet scrubbers are

collection devices that wet particles in order to remove them from the
gas stream. They utilize inertial impaction and/or Brownian diffusion as
the particle collection mechanism, and droplets, sheets, and jets as the

liquid collection mechanism. Wet scrubbers typically use water as the

cleaning liquid. Water usage and wastewater disposal requirements are
important factors in the evaluation of a scrubber alternative, and both
are influenced by the quantity of particles collected, the size
distribution of the particles, and the presence of dissolved
contaminants in the wastewater. Many applications recirculate the
scrubber liquid, which reduces consumption demand but will lead to
higher particulate and dissolved solids concentrations, requiring
treatment and disposal.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wet Scrubbers

Advantages

Disadvantages

Absorbs gas phase emissions

suggests pollution
Compact size
Efficient through wide loading range
temperature gases
Insensitive to moisture content

Condensate plume

Low capital cost

handling required
Low operating and maintenance cost
Re-entrainment rare
Versatility for hazardous emissions

Corrosion
Inefficient with highRequires high power input
Waste scrubber liquid

Fabric Filters
One of the most efficient devices for removal of particulates is
the fabric filter collector. Fabric filters have the capability of
maintaining collection efficiencies above 99% for particle size down to
0.3 m. The basic features of a fabric filter unit consist of woven or
felted fabric, usually in the form of tubes (bags) that are suspended in
a housing structure (baghouse). The emission stream is distributed by
means of specially designed entry and exit plenum chambers,
providing equal gas flow through the filtration medium. The particle
collection mechanisms for fabric filters include inertial impaction,
Brownian diffusion, interception, gravity settling, and electrostatic
attraction. The particles are collected in dry form either on a dust cake
supported by the fabric (most efficient) or on the fabric itself. The
process occurs with a relatively low pressure drop requirement.
Periodically, most of the dust cake is removed for disposal; the residual
dust serves as an initial filtration aid while the new dust cake develops.

1As particles adhere to the fabric, the removal efficiency

increases, but so does the pressure drop. The pressure drop is the sum
of the pressure drop owing to the fabric and the drop owing to the
caked or adhered particles, and is expressed as
x f xp

K f K p

2where

x
K

=
=
=
=
=

overall pressure drop in meters of water,

superficial gas velocity through the fabric (in m/s),
gas viscosity (in P),
thickness of filter (/) and particle layer (p) (in m), and
filter (f) and particle layer (p) permeability.

Electrostatic Precipitators
Electrostatic Precipitation Systems. The classification of
electrostatic precipitators may be as dry or wet systems and/or as
single- or two-stage systems.
Dry Systems. The dry precipitator with plate-type collection
electrodes is the predominant type of system in industrial applications
and is the process most discussed in this section.
Wet Systems. The primary difference in wet and dry systems is the
method by which collected particles are cleaned from the collection
electrode. Three common wet precipitator configurations are the plate
type with horizontal gas flow, the concentric plate type with vertical
gas flow, and the conventional pipe type with reversing vertical flow.
Electrostatic precipitators use electrical energy to charge and collect
particles. They have high removal efficiencies; in addition, they are
effective for a variety of source categories and emission gas
characteristics.

3The collection efficiency of an electrostatic precipitator may be

estimated by an empirical equation
- A d

R 1 - exp

Where
4A = total area of the collecting surface of the collection electrodes
(m2),
Q
= flow rate of gas through the pipe (m3/s),
d

= drift velocity 5( velocity of the particles toward the collecting

electrode) = 0.5 d (m/s)
D
= diameter of the particle ( m)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Electrostatic Precipitation
Advantages:
1. Highly effective collection with efficiencies exceeding 99% in
some cases.
2. Low power requirements and associated low operating power
costs.
3. Capable of removing very small particles, even those not
removable by other treatment schemes.
4. Dry dust collection often used, which may be useful for product
and by-product recovery.
5. Pressure drops are small.

6. Temperature changes are small with dry systems; most impacted

in spray-wet systems.
7. Low maintenance requirements due to few or no moving parts.
8. System tolerant to high temperatures, with no special provisions
below 535C (1000F).
9. Collection efficiency and system capacity can be easily expanded
with larger or additional units.
10. Some pollutants, such as acid and tar mists, are effectively
collected by other schemes.
Disadvantages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Capital investment is high.

Space requirements are relatively large.
Very low or high resistivity particles are difficult to remove.
Relatively constant operating conditions are needed for efficient
collection.
Gaseous wastes are not affected.
Safety is a concern due to high voltage.
Wet systems produce sludges that may require dewatering before
disposal.