Colector Ventury
Colector Ventury
Colector Ventury
To cite this article: Edward Kristal , Richard Dennis & Leslie Silverman (1957) A Study of a
Multiple Venturi Wet Collector, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, 6:4, 204-213, DOI:
10.1080/00966665.1957.10467754
An experimental model of a new type throat, whereas in the experimental col- A special feature of this collector is
wet collector was investigated in the lector water sprays are introduced in the spray generating device which uses
Harvard University Air Cleaning Lab' plenums prior to and following the Ven- mechanical means rather than air or
oratory at the request of the Division of turis. Furthermore, the pressure drop in water pressure to produce a fine water
Engineering of the U. S. Atomic Energy a Venturi scrubber ranges from 20 to 40 spray.
Commission. in. of water (due to energy requirements
This unit consists of single or multiple of atomization) as compared to 12 in. This report describes results of tests
collection stages, each containing a Ven' of water for the 4 stage unit. The rapid with representative aerosols under a
turi tube and 2 spray generators. The expansion of the saturated gas stream variety of operating conditions. Dust
principal collecting mechanism is the taking place in the Venturi throat is concentrations varied from 2 gr./lOOO
impingement of dust particles and water stated by the manufacturer to produce ft.3 to 2 gr./ft. 3 and water rates from 6
droplets in the spray chamber and in the cooling (adiabatic expansion), which to 12 gal./min./spray generator. Several
Venturi tube where the saturated gas results in condensation on the dust par- combinations of spray generators were
stream reaches a maximum velocity of ticles. This effective increase in particle employed during multi-stage operation.
12000 fpm. This unit is not directly com' size then allows the particles to be more
parable to the Venturi scrubber since, readily removed. Description and Operation
in the latter device, water is atomized
Description
by the main gas stream at the Venturi
The experimental washer consists of 4
* Presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of similar collection stages in series, each
the Air Pollution Control Association held stage containing one Venturi tube and 2
at Buffalo, N. Y., May 20-4, 1956. spray generators as shown in Fig. 1 and 4.
f This study was made under Contract No. Oversized spray generators were installed
AT (30-1)841 between the U. S. Atomic in the test unit since the manufacturer
Energy Commission and Harvard Univer' could not obtain smaller spray genera-
sity. Opinions expressed are those of the
authors and do not necessarily represent the tors. Therefore, water rates were stated
views of the U. S. Atomic Energy Com- Fig. 1. Schematic Diagram of Experimental 4 to be higher for the 4 stage collector
mission. Stage Wet Collector. (120 gal./1000 cfm.) with respect to
burning undiluted iron pentacarbonyl in this unit has been determined with repre' 120 [\
\
a high temperature air-butane flame. sentative aerosols for several dust load' S.8
S
The iron pentacarbonyl is conveyed to ings, several water rates, and 1'2' and il6
the gas flame by entrainment in a nitre 3'Stage operation. Some data have also
gen stream in order to eliminate fire and been obtained on the percentage of
t 14
sV
12
decomposition problems. Reference (10) wetted dust passing the droplet elim- N
10
contains an electron photomicrograph of inator as compared to the total quantity
8
the iron oxide particles produced by this of dust in the collector effluent. Pressure 1
6
method. This procedure for generating loss characteristics of the collector were —.
iron oxide is superior to the burning of also determined. 3
iron powder since no metallic iron parti' 0
cles are injected into the gas stream. A Results AY GENERATOR
f 7
/
A
f Aerosol Weight Collection
Efficiency %
2 spray
Passage % Inlet
Loading
gr./ft.3
2 spray 1 spray 1 spray
generators generator generators generator
7, / Fly Ash
CaCO 3 (I1)
99.4
93.4
98.7
91.2
0.6
6.6
1.3 1.65
A
/ 8.8 1.5
Talc 96.2 94.4 3.8 5.6 1.5
H2SO4 95.5 94.0 4.5 6.0 2.5/1000
(") Efficiencies given are based on gross (wetted and dry dust) effluent samples.
/ /
2 3 4 5 6 7 8910
stages did not furnish sufficient droplets pressure loss varied as the 1.75 power of
to bring about efficient contact with the the velocity for a fixed number of
AIR FLOW 100 Cfm small particles entering the second stage stages. Operation of the spray generators
Fig. 7. Pressure Loss Characteristics of Ex' of the collector. Relatively high effici' was found to produce no measurable ef'
perimental Wet Collector at Room Tempera' encies for one stage operation were attri' feet upon the pressure loss.
ture. buted to removal of the coarser fraction
of the aerosol. List of Symbols—consistent units
of about 2%. However, passage in'
creased by as much as 50%. With 2 Sulfur Dioxide Removal D Target (droplet) diameter of average
stage operation (use of 2 Venturi Sulfur dioxide was selected for investi' volume.
tubes) removal of the fourth spray gen' gating the collection efficiency of the Dp Particle diameter
erator, located downstream of the second experimental washer on gases which may DT Target diameter.
Venturi tube, decreased the water rate accompany operations where iron fume
by 25% and caused no significant and fly ash are created. For an inlet gas K Target concentration'number/unit
volume.
change in either collection efficiency or concentration of 180 mg./m.3 and with
penetration (Table VI). When either 3 stage operation a collection effi' No Initial target concentration'number/
the second (lower) or third (upper) ciency of 91.4% was obtained. Since unit volume.
spray generators were shut off, a signifi' high water rates frequently necessitate §L Air flow rate
cant reduction in collection was ob' recycling, the accumulated acids in this
t Time.
served in comparison to normal 2 collector (or any wet collector) may pre'
stage operation. Based upon a rated 2 sent a corrosion problem unless neutrali' Va Gas velocity.
spray generator /stage, water demand in zation or precipitation practices are em' VT Target velocity.
these cases was reduced by 25%. Collec ployed. As the percentage of sulfurous
tion efficiencies were reduced from 32 acid in the spray water increases, it is V Approach velocity.
to 20% for iron oxide fume and from expected that the collection efficiency w Water rate.
98 to 96% for copper sulfate micro' would be reduced.
Ei)p Dt Fractional target efficiency for given
spheres. Results of these tests indicate The Effect of Air Velocity and T^umher si2;e parameters.
that the concentration of water droplets of Stages on Pressure Loss
V Target efficiency
is an important factor in multi'Stage Pressure loss data for single and multi'
operation. This agrees with the theoreti' pie stage operation of this collector are pP Particle density.
cal relationship employed by Feild(17) presented in Fig. 7. These values include li Gas viscosity.
between per cent passage and droplet the pressure loss through the vertical exit A Target of average projected area.
concentration. pipe employed as the droplet eliminator.
One spray generator between Venturi At a rated flow of 600 cfm. a pressure Theoretical Discussions
loss of 4.5 in. water was measured for In order to estimate the performance
(17)
R. B. Feild. Collection of Aerosol Par- single stage operation. An increase in of any wet collector which depends upon
ticles by Atomized Sprays, AEC Contract pressure loss ranging • from 2 to 3 in. intimate contact of water droplets and
No. AT (30-3) -28, Tech. Rept. No. 5, water/collection stage was found for
Engineering Experimental Sta., Univ. dust particles for air cleaning, the evalu'
Illinois (1951). multi-stage operation at 600 cfm. The ation of individual droplet target effi'
ciencies (for collection of dust particles
TABLE VI of a specified diameter) is of primary
importance. Although various functions
Weight Collection Efficiencies for Various Combinations of Spray Generators during Two
Stage Operation of the Experimental Unit at 9 gpm./Spray Generator and an Air Flow of have been suggested as a means of defin'
600 cfm. at Room Temperature ing target efficiencies*12'16* the impac
tion parameter suggested by Langmuir
Spray Generators Inlet Loading Weight Collection and Blodgett has been employed in this
Aerosol Used'10 gr./lOOO ft.3 Efficiency %
study.
Iron Oxide 1,2 10 19.9
Fume 1.3 14 • 20.6 PpVPp
Target efficiency = v=f '
1,2.3 • 10 30.1 18 fi DT
1,2,3,4 15 31.6
Copper Sulfate 1,2 0.4 86.8 (a)
Microspheres 1,2,3 0.4 98.0 For a given system containing water
1,2,3,4 0.4 98.0 droplets and dust particles, each of uni'
<a> Number refers to a specific spray generator and indicates its location relative to direction form size, the relative (approach) velc
of air flow. city between droplets (targets) and dust
FEBRUARY 1957 208 JOURNAL
particles determines the target efficiency. plex when gas stream turbulence also in' relationship of the terms defining s in
Therefore, to apply Equation (a) to the fluences particle motion. Equation (f). For decreasing droplet
physical conditions existing in the ex' Once the target efficiency for an indi' diameters, t] increases while V decreases.
perimental washer, the magnitude of ap' vidual droplet is known, the total effi' At the same time the droplet concentra'
proach velocities within the plenum ciency of a segment of the washer may tion is decreasing. Target efficiencies
chamber and Venturi tubes must be be calculated in the following manner. also do not increase appreciably for dust
known. Spray droplets are presumed to The fraction collected for a system in' particles ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 ju. in
leave the spray generators at velocities volving uniform diameter dust particles diam. (representing the major portion
approaching the tangential velocity of and water droplets is expressed by the of fine dust).
the blades. Since the air velocity within following equation(17)
the plenum chamber is low (about 2 It should be noted, however, that the
fps), a high relative velocity between %Dp,Dt = 1 — exp droplet diam. defining average projected
droplets and dust particles is maintained
regardless of spray angle. Average target
efficiencies within the plenum for water
[ — \
Jo
vHvDT°
4 (b)
area (A) and that describing average
volume (D) are identical only when the
spray is uniform. The proper value for
droplets ranging from 400 to 50/x, in The volume concentration of the the term D T in Equation (f) is the re'
diam. vary from 30 to 42% with respect water droplets increases in a converging ciprocal of the surface area/unit vol.
to 0.5 ii copper sulfate spheres. Al'" gas stream since their inertia prevents (A 2 /D 3 ). This term may be calculated
though droplet Reynolds numbers rang' them from attaining the gas stream velo- from the mean size by count or weight
ing from 335 to 35 actually place the city. Since the mass flow of water must according to the Hatch-Choate Equa'
motion in the intermediate flow range, be constant the spray droplet concentra' tion.(5)
estimation of droplet projection velocities tion at any distance along the Venturi
within the plenum were based upon tur' Comparison of Experimental Washer
relative to the initial value (No) must
bulent flow conditions. This is in accord' with Several Wet Collectors
ance with Dalla Valle's statement,(18) " 1 / follow the relationship
the fluid is in turbulent motion, the mo' Collection efficiency data from a pre-
tion of a particle injected into it will be vious investigation of a mechanical cen-
turbulent regardless of the relative velo' trifugal wet collector are available for
city between the particle and the fluid" Substituting in Equation (b) several of the dusts employed in this
A constant drag coefficient of 0.44 was study. The wet collector studied(7) was
p,Dt = 1 — exp tested at 900 cfm. with a total water
assumed in calculating approach velo'
cities. v Ho ( Va
VT
\ ITDT'
Vdt
rate of 6.5 gpm. at 5 to 15 psi. A com'
parison of the collection efficiencies of
The estimation of target efficiency in this collector and the experimental collec
a Venturi tube is difficult due to the tor is shown in Table VII for similar
The initial spray droplet concentration aerosols. Although the present unit has
acceleration and deceleration of the air may be defined in terms of water rate
stream while passing through the Ven' the higher collection efficiency, for one
(w) and gas glow rate (Q). stage operation, the water consumption
turi tube. It is assumed that submicron
dust particles will remain essentially at is considerably higher (4 times). Collec
the same velocity as the accelerating air (e) tion efficiency data for a cyclonic scrub'
stream. The relatively large water drop' ber,(8) a venturi scrubber,(8) and a fog
lets, due to their greater inertia, will lag Substituting in Equation (d) tower,(9) are also shown in Table VII.
the air stream in the converging section The cyclonic. scrubber has a lower effi'
p,Dt = 1 — exp ciency than the experimental washer for
of the Venturi. The droplet velocity lag
(or lead in the diverging section if the a coarser fly ash aerosol, but uses about
initial droplet velocity is sufficiently one'third as much water. The cyclonic
high) will result in a significant ap' scrubber has a higher efficiency for sul'
proach velocity and target efficiency. The integral portion of Equation (f) fur dioxide which may be due, in part,
Experimental measurements are neces' represents the effective length of travel, to the use of a weak alkali spray liquid.
sary to determine the absolute velocity of s, of the water droplet through the gas The venturi scrubber has a much higher
water droplets in accelerating gas streams stream in the plenum chamber or in the collection efficiency for a similarly sized
in order to permit calculation of target Venturi section. iron oxide fume (99%) than the present
efficiencies in a Venturi tube since the unit (22%). It should be noted, how
Application of Equation (f) toward ever, that the test fume generated in this
computation of drag forces becomes com' evaluating the efficiency of the Venturi laboratory was 100% iron oxide in con'
<12> generators near or immediately above trast to mixtures of iron oxide fume and
C. J. Stairmand. Dust Collection by Im- section is feasible if droplet velocities can
pingement and Diffusion, Trans. Inst., mineral dusts encountered in field appli'
Chem. Eng. (London) 28, 30 (1950). be determined at the Venturi inlet. The cations. Furthermore, since the concentra'
(W>
I. Langmuir and K. B. Blodgefct. Rept. No. numerical value of s varies by only tion of the fume in the venturi scrubber
RL-225, General Electric Research Lab., ± 2 5 % for droplet diameters ranging was approximately 100 times that used
Schenectady, N. Y. (1944). from 200-50 /x, provided that initial in this study, agglomeration may partially
<14) Handbook on Aerosols, USAEC, Wash- droplet velocities approximate that of account for better collection. The fog
ington, D. C. (1950).
<15)
F. D. Ekman and H. F. Johnstone. Ind. the air stream. This is due to the inverse tower appears superior to the experi'
Eng. Chem., 43, 1358 (1951). <17) mental unit in the collection of sulfur
(18)
See Footnote 17, page 208.
J. H. Perry. Chemical Engineers Hand- (5>
See Footnote 5, page 206. (8)
book, 3rd ed., p. 1022, McGraw-Hill Book (T)
M. W. First, et al. Air Cleaning Studies, L. C. McCabe. Proc. U. S. Conf. on Air
Co., N. Y. (1950). Progress Rept. AEC Contract No. AT Pollution, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.,
<18)
J. M. Dalla Valle. Micromeritics. 2nd ed., (30-1) 841, USAEC, NYO-1586, Harvard N. Y. (1942).
(9)
p. 40, Pitman Publishing Corp. (1948). Univ. (Feb. 1953). See Footnote 9, page 205.
We thank Mr. Krieble and the Phoenix Since experimental data indicate that the in 0.03 sec. according to Sinclair Handboo\
Iron and Steel Company for providing a plenum section (acting as a simple spray on Aerosols. However, this phenomena would
speially fabricated unit adaptable to laboratory washing tower) removes most of the dust, occur naturally before the fume ever reached
testing. In reply to Mr. Krieble's comments, the function of the Venturi as a particle con' the collector or Venturi tubes. In addition,
experimental data obtained since formal prc ditioning device does not appear to be an the large water droplets would have no effect
sentation of this paper contradict certain important factor in the performance of this on the Brownian diffusion or coagulation
aspects of his discussion. particular collector. process because of their size and minimal
In regard to spray generator performance, The theoretical maximum quantity of concentration (4 x 10s droplets/ml.). Even
our studies on a single unit indicated that water condensed upon the dust particles based if the average fume diam. increased to 0.1 p
initial droplet velocities are close to the tan- upon actual temperature measurements is (representing a 1000 fold decrease in number
gential blade velocity. Spray photographs about the same3 as predicted by Mr. Krieble concentration) the presence of the water
indicated a mean droplet diam. of 400 p, and (0.0136 gm./ft. of gas). However, he states droplets would have no bearing on agglomera'
an average projection height of 5 ft. Based that the condensation process, which is limited tion. Therefore, any dust contacting that oc'
on the theoretical trajectory, the heights to to the converging Venturi section, produces curs within the Venturis must be due to
which 200 and 500 yt droplets will rise when a very thin layer of water on the particle sw inertial mechanisms. Calculations not shown
the projection velocity is 150 fps. are 2.5 faces. We acknowledge that such wetting in the present paper indicate that significant
and 6.7 ft., respectively; the assumption that might insure better cohesion between dust collection of 1 p. particles is theoretically
V o is approximately 150 fps. is justified. particles and water droplets when they collide possible in the Venturi tubes if the droplet
Under these circumstances, the* water droplets but emphasize the fact that mere wetting does concentrations are sufficiently high. These
must travel at high velocities relative to that not alter the mechanics of the contacting data will appear in an extended study at a
of the gas stream within the plenum and process. later date.
therefore be responsible for a very significant The agglomeration effects mentioned by It was also pointed out by Mr. Krieble that
part of the total dust removal attained within Mr. Krieble only become important when certain pyrophoric dusts or mists (Fe2O3 or
the collector. Data reported in this paper for particle concentrations are very high or r e H2SO4) may not acquire a liquid film due
dry Venturi operation (no upstream spray) tention time is very long. The concentration to localized heat emission. If this is true it
indicate 60 to 70% removal of copper sulfate of an iron oxide aerosol with a mean size of3 is difficult to see how one can expect satis'
particles in a single downstream plenum 0.0112 jit at an initial concentration of 1 gr./ft. factory collection of such dusts if surface
chamber using but one spray generator. (10 particles/ml.) would be reduced 90% wetting is considered a necessary adjunct.