Control Efficiency of Submicron Particles by an Efficient Venturi Scrubber System

An efficient venturi scrubber system combining a particle growth device and a traditional venturi scrubber was designed and tested in the laboratory. Before the venturi scrubber, saturated steam at 100°C was mixed with normal temperature waste stream to achieve supersaturation conditions allowing submicron particles to grow into micron sizes. Hence the control efficiency of submicron particles was greatly enhanced at a reasonably low pressure drop as compared to that found in the literature. At a flow rate of 250 L∕min and a liquid to gas ratio of 2.5 L∕ m3 , the control efficiency of the present venturi scrubber system for NaCl particles greater than 100 nm is greater than 90%, and pressure drop is only about 44 cm H2 O (4.3 kPa) . In comparison, to remove only 50% of 0.6 μm particles at the same liquid to gas ratio, the pressure drop needed will be greater than 200 cm H2 O (or 19.6 kPa ). Theoretical calculation has also been conducted to simulate particle growth process and the control efficiency of th...