Scrubber systems remove harmful materials from exhaust gases before release into the environment. Wet scrubbing uses a wet substance to remove dust and particulates, while dry scrubbing sprays dry reagents to neutralize or build up harmful materials. Dry cleaning produces less waste material and is more common, but wet cleaning is still necessary for certain contaminants and heat dissipation.
A scrubber system removes harmful materials from the exhaust gases before they are released into the environment. There are two main methods of cleaning exhaust fumes: wet scrubbing and dry scrubbing. Both systems have the same basic methods of operation and the same ultimate goal; they simply reach them through different materials. Scrubbers are one of the primary ways to remove acid gases from exhaust gases before they are released into the sky where they cause acid rain.
Wet scrubbing was the original type of scrubbing system. In a common wet scrubbing system, gas is driven through an area where a wet substance is actively sprayed. Water is used when gas needs the removal of dust and particulates. Sometimes other chemicals are added that react specifically with certain contaminants in the air. Because this process adds so much steam to the exhaust, if the gas is vented, it typically looks like billowing white smoke.
The sprayed liquid collects at the bottom of the area. This liquid is piped away from the spray chamber and collected for disposal. Because the liquid contains a wide range of potentially harmful materials, it cannot be reused or simply poured down the drain. The volume and weight of the liquid are very large and are some of the main reasons why dry cleaning was developed.
Dry cleaning systems spray a collection of dry reagents down the drain. These reagents can have a number of different effects depending on the material they target. Some will simply neutralize a harmful material through a chemical reaction. Others cause one material to react and build up into a different substance that is large enough to fall out of the gas stream or get caught in a particle screen. Because the vapor in these gases is very low, they are usually dark or invisible when vented.
The system produces very little waste material, at least compared to a wet scrubber. Most of the material sprayed into the exhaust stream can escape, burn in the heat of the stream, or be caught in a filter. As a result, the collection requirements for a dry cleaning system are much lower than for a wet one. This reduces the cost of the system and removes wastewater transportation and storage costs.
In modern facilities, dry cleaning is far more common, but wet cleaning still has its uses. Some contaminants, such as mercury, are extremely harmful and can only be removed with a wet compound. The other common use for a wet system is heat dissipation and recycling. A wet system will collect and potentially reuse the heat before the gas is vented. This is both better for the environment and allows a business to recoup some of the wet scrubbing system expenses.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
