Air Cleaning Devices

Is An Air Cleaner Needed ?

Toxicity of materials discharged
Amount of material to be discharged
Value of material to be discharged
Local government regulations

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Selection Of Dust Collection

Equipment
WILL MAINLY DEPEND ON
Contaminant characteristics
Efficiency required
Gas stream characteristics
Energy considerations
Dust disposal

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Air Cleaning Devices

Dust collectors
Electrostatic
Fabric
Wet
Dry

precipitators

collectors

collectors
centrifugal collectors

Air filters

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Dust Collector Types

Electrostatic precipitators (ESP)
Mechanism:
Ionizing the gas
Charging the dust particles
Transporting the particles to the collecting
surface
Iv) neutralizing the dust particles
V) removing the dust from the collecting surface

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Electrostatic Precipitators
TYPES :
i ) Cottrell or Single-stage - Combines ionization and
collection in a single stage
ii ) Penny or Two-stage - Ionization and collection in
different stages
ADVANTAGES :
Large gas volumes & high collection efficiency for
small particles needed
PROBLEMS :
Not suited where exhaust gas is flammable or explosive
Lose of efficiency between cleaning cycles if not
maintained properly

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Dust Collector Types

Fabric Collectors

Collection mechanism :
I ) impaction
Ii ) interception
Iii) diffusion
Design features :
I ) type of fabric
Ii ) fabric configuration
Iii) intermittent or continuous service
Iv) type of reconditioning
V) housing configuration

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FABRIC COLLECTORS
of filter area depends on:
( Amount
Contd.)

Release characteristics of dust

Porosity of dust cake
Concentration of dust in carrier gas stream
Type of fabric and surface finish if any
Type of reconditioning
Reconditioning interval
Air flow pattern within the collector
Temperature and humidity within the gas
stream

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Fabric Collectors ( Contd.)

Advantages:
Can handle varying exhaust gas flow
rates & particle loading
Problems :
Bag failure
Abrasion
Chemical degradation of fabric
Exceeding temperature limit of fabric

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Dust Collector Types

Wet Collectors
Collection mechanism :
Contact particles with water or another liquid
Collect the droplets
Types :
I ) chamber or spray tower
Ii) packed towers
Iii) wet centrifugal collectors
Iv) wet dynamic precipitator
V) orifice type
Vi) Venturi

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Wet Collectors ( contd.)

ADVANTAGES:
Can handle high-temperature and moistureladen gases
Dust which represent explosion or fire hazards in
the dry form can be wetted and collected
PROBLEMS :
Use of water may introduce corrosive conditions.
Freeze protection needed if the collectors are
used outdoors in cold climates.
Plugging of nozzles due to chemical imbalances
in scrubbing liquids

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Dust Collector Types

Dry centrifugal collectors
Collection efficiency is influenced by
I ) size, shape and weight of the particles
Ii) size and design of the collector
Iii) inlet velocity
Iv) concentration of dust
Types :
I ) gravity separators
Ii) inertial separators
Iii) cyclone collectors
Iv) high efficiency centrifugals

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Dust Collector Types

V) GASEOUS CONTAMINANT COLLECTORS
TYPES :
i ) Absorbers
ii) Adsorbers
iii) Thermal oxidizers
iv) Direct combustors
v) Catalytic oxidizers
VI) UNIT COLLECTORS :
Small fabric collectors having capacities in the range
200 - 2000cfm

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Gaseous Contaminant Collectors

Absorbers: these remove soluble or chemically reactive
gases from an air stream by contact with a suitable
liquid. Water is the most frequently used absorbent.
Packed towers are typical absorbers.

Adsorbers: Adsorbers remove contaminants by

collection on a solid. Activated carbon or molecular

sieves are popular adsorbents.

Thermal oxidizers: thermal oxidizers, or afterburners,

may be used where the contaminant is combustible.
Most combustible contaminants can be oxidized at
temperatures between 1000 and 1500 F.

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Gaseous Contaminant Collectors

Direct Combustors: Direct Combustors differ from thermal
oxidizers by introducing the contaminated gases and
auxiliary air directly into the burner as fuel.
Auxiliary fuel, usually natural gas or oil, is generally
required for ignition.

Catalytic Oxidizers: These may be used where the

contaminant is combustible. The contaminated gas stream
is preheated and then passed through a catalyst bed which
promotes oxidation of the combustibles to carbon dioxide
and water vapor.

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Dust Collecting Equipment Cost

The following factors should be evaluated while
estimating the equipment cost
Price versus capacity
Accessories
Installation cost
Special construction

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Dust Collecting Equipment Cost

Price versus capacity: prices per cfm of gas will
vary with the gas flow rate for all the dust
collectors. The smaller the flow rate, the higher the
cost per cfm.
Accessories included: meticulous analysis of
components of equipment included is essential.
Some of the collector designs include exhaust fan,
motor, drive, and starter. Dust connections
between elements may be included or omitted.
Recirculating water pumps or setting tanks may be
required but not included in the equipment price.

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Dust Collecting Equipment Cost

Installation cost: installation cost can equal or exceed the
cost of the collector. Factory installed media will reduce the
installation cost. The cost can also be greatly influenced by
the need for water and drain connections, special or
extensive electrical work, and expensive material handling
equipment for collection material disposal.

Special construction: prices shown in any tabulation must

necessarily assume standard or basic construction. The
increase in cost for corrosion resisting material, special
high-temperature fabrics, insulation or weather protection
for outdoor installations can introduce a multiplier of one
to four times the standard cost.

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Selection Of Air Filtration

Equipment

The selection of air filtration equipment is

based on

Efficiency
Dust holding capacity
Pressure drop

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Methods Of Air Filtration

Following are the five basic methods of air filtration

Straining

Impingement

Interception

Diffusion

Electrostatic

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Methods Of Air Filtration

Straining: straining occurs when a particle is larger than
the opening between fibers and cannot pass through. It is a
very ineffective method of filtration because the vast
majority of particles are far smaller than the spaces
between fibers.

Impingement: when air flows through a filter, it changes

direction as it passes around each fiber. Larger dust
particles, however, cannot follow the abrupt changes in
direction because of their inertia. As a result, they do not
follow the air stream and collide with a fiber. Filters using
this method are often coated with an adhesive to help
fibers retain the dust particles that impinge on them.

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Methods Of Air Filtration

Interception: interception is a special case of impingement
where a particle is small enough to move with the air stream
but, because its size is very small in relation to the fiber,
makes contact with a fiber while following the tortuous air
flow path of the fiber.
Diffusion: diffusion takes place on particles so small that
their direction and velocity are influenced by molecular
collisions. These particles do not follow the air stream, but
behave more like gases than particulate. Diffusion is the
primary mechanism used by most extremely efficient filters.
Electrostatic: A charged dust particle will be attracted to a
surface of opposite electrical polarity. Most dust particles are
not electrically neutral, therefore, electrostatic attraction
between dust particle and filter fiber aids the collection of
efficiency of all barrier type air filters.

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Radioactive And High Toxicity

Operations:

There are three major requirements for air cleaning

equipment to be utilized for radioactive or high toxicity
applications:
1.
2.
3.

High efficiency
Low maintenance
Safe disposal

High efficiency is essential because of extremely low

tolerances for the quantity and concentration of stack
effluent and the high cost of the materials handled

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Radioactive And High Toxicity

Operations
The need for low maintenance is of special importance
when exhausting any hazardous material.
For many radioactive processes, the changing of bags in
a conventional fabric collector may expend the daily
radiation tolerances of 20 or more persons, so infrequent,
simple and rapid maintenance requirements are vital.
Disposal of radioactive or toxic materials by air, water or
land is a serious and very difficult problem.
For example, scalping filters loaded with radioactive dust
are usually incinerated to reduce the quantity of material
that must be disposed of in special burial grounds.

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