ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Code No. MP 323

Lec. No 5a

By

Dr. Abdel-Moneim M. Nassib

Mechanical Engineering Department
University of Assiut
2021-2022

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 CHAPTER THREE
ENGINEERED SYSTEMS FOR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
The principles involved in the natural atmospheric
cleansing processes.
3-1 ATMOSPHERIC CLEANSING PROCESSES
1- Dispersion‫ التشتت‬.
2- Gravitational settling.
3- Flocculation ‫التجميع‬.
4- Absorption (involving washout and scavenging).
5- Rainout.
6- Adsorption
1- Dispersion of pollutants by wind currents
lessens the concentrations of pollutants in any one
place.
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2- Gravitational settling
Particles smaller than 0.1 μm can be settled out by
flocculation. Two particles bump together to form
a unit, and the process is repeated until a small
flock )‫ (زغب من القطن أو الصوف‬particle is formed
that will be large enough and heavy enough to
settle out.
3- The natural absorption process, in this process
particulates or gaseous pollutants are collected in
rain or mist, then settle out with that moisture.
This phenomenon, known as washout or
scavenging. SO2 gas, which is simply dissolved
into rain, falls with the droplets as SO2. However,
SO2 may also react with rainwater to form H2SO3
(sulfurous acid) or H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) mists
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4- Rainfall through uncontaminated air has
a PH of 5.6 to 6.0. As noted earlier, acid
rain runoff can cause extensive erosion
of some surfaces (notably limestone) and
can change the PH in streams and rivers,
thereby influencing the species of algae
which predominate in those streams.
5- Rainout rainout occurs within clouds
when submicron particulates serve as
condensation nuclei around which drops
of water may form.

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6- Adsorption occurs primarily in the friction layer
of the atmosphere, the layer closest to the
earth’s surface. In this phenomenon, gaseous,
liquid, or solid contaminants are attracted
(generally electrostatically) to a surface, where
they are concentrated and retained.
Effects of air pollution:
1. Clothing is soiled.
2. Particles are deposited on buildings and other
surfaces.
3. Plants are damaged.
4. Visibility is reduced.
5. Human respiratory problems are increased.
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3-2 APPROACHES TO CONTAMINANT CONTROL
There are two broad approaches to the control
of particulate and gaseous contaminants—
dilution of the contaminants in the atmosphere
and control of the contaminants at their source.
1- Dilution , dilution of contaminants in the
atmosphere can be accomplished through the
use of tall stacks.

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Control at Source
Control of pollutants at their source can be
accomplished by several different means:
1- Substituting an alternative power source (i.e.,
hydraulic, geothermal, or solar energy for fossil-
fuel-derived energy)
2- The traditional fossil fuel can be replaced by
another fuel of lower air pollution potential.
3- Coal or natural gas can be refined to
desulfured, liquefied natural gas (LNG) or to
liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

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4- The proper use of existing equipment by the
proper operation and maintenance of equipment.
5- The regular, competent automotive inspection
and maintenance .
6- Industry can decrease emissions from stationary
sources by proper operation and maintenance of
equipment.
7- NOx emissions from ore- and gas-fired boilers
have been reduced by modification of
combustion conditions.
8- Changing the process being used . For example,
replacing open-hearth furnaces with controlled
basic oxygen furnaces or electric furnaces.
9- Controlling emissions of air pollutants at their
sources is to install control equipment
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 10- Control devices are usually designed to
control gaseous pollutants and particulates
from stationary sources .
Control Devices for Particulate Contaminants
1. Gravitational settling chamber.
2. Centrifugal collectors.
3. Wet collectors.
4. Electrostatic precipitators.
5. Fabric filters.

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 Device Minim Effici Advantages Disadvantages
um ency
particl %
e size . (mass
µm basis)
Gravitational >50 <50 Low pressure loss, simplicity Much space required; low
settler of design and maintenance collection efficiency
Centrifugal 5-25 50-90 Simplicity of design and Much head room required
collector maintenance Low collection efficiency of
Little floor space required small particles
Dry continuous disposal of Sensitive to variable dust
collected dusts Low to loadings and flow rates
moderate pressure loss
Handles large particles
Handles high dust loadings
Temperature independent
Wet collector >10 <80 Simultaneous gas absorption Corrosion, erosion problems
Spray tower >2.5 <80 and particle removal Ability to Added cost of wastewater
Cyclonic >2.5 <80 cool and clean high treatment and reclamation
Impingement >0.5 <99 temperature, moisture laden Low efficiency on submicron
Venturi gases Corrosive gases and particles Contamination of
mists can be recovered and effluent stream by liquid
neutralized Reduced dust entrainment Freezing problems
explosion risk Efficiency can in cold weather Reduction in
be varied buoyancy and plume rise
Water vapor contributes to
visible plume under some
atmospheric conditions
Electrostatic >1 95-99 99+ percent efficiency Relatively high initial cost
precipitator obtainable Very small particles Precipitators are sensitive to
can be collected variable dust
Particles may be collected wet loadings or flow rates
or dry Pressure drops and Resistivity causes some
power material to be economically
requirements are small uncollectable
compared with other high- Precautions are required to
efficiency collectors safeguard personnel from high
Maintenance is nominal unless voltage Collection efficiencies
corrosive or adhesive materials can deteriorate gradually and
are handled imperceptibly
Few moving parts Can be
operated at high temperatures
(300 to 450°C)
Fabric filtration <1 >99 Dry collection possible Sensitivity to filtering velocity
Decrease of performance is High-temperature gases must
noticeable be cooled to 100 to 450° C
Collection of small particles Affected by relative humidity
possible (condensation)
10 High efficiencies possible Susceptibility of fabric to
chemical attack
Particle characteristics as
1- Size distribution.
2- Shape, density, stickiness, hygroscopicity.
3- Electrical properties.
4- Carrier gas properties.

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Table 3-2 Industrial process and control summary
Industry or
Source of emissions Particulate matter Method of control
process
Blast furnaces, steel- Cyclones, baghouses,
Iron and steel Iron oxide, dust,
making furnaces, sintering electrostatic precipitators, wet
mills smoke
machines collectors
Iron oxide,
Gray iron Scrubbers, dry centrifuge
Cupolas, shake-out making smoke, oil
foundries collectors
dust, metal fumes
Nonferrous Smoke, metal Electrostatic precipitators,
Smelters and furnaces
metallurgy fumes, oil, grease fabric filters
Cyclones, electrostatic
Petroleum Catalyst regenerators, Catalyst dust, ash
precipitators, scrubbers,
refineries sludge incinerators from sludge
baghouses
Kilns, driers, material- Fabric filters, electrostatic
Alkali and
Portland cement handling systems precipitators, mechanical
process dusts
. collectors
Recovery furnaces, line Electrostatic precipitators,
Kraft paper mills Chemical dusts
kilns, smelt tanks venturi scrubbers
Acid
Thermal processes, Acid mist, dust Electrostatic
manufacture—
phosphoric, precipitators, mesh mist
rock acidulating, grinding
sulfuric eliminators
Coke Oven operation, quenching, Coal and coke Meticulous design, operation
manufacture materials handling dust, coal tars and maintenance
Acid mist,
Glass and Furnaces, forming and alkaline oxides,
Fabric filters, afterburners
fiberglass curing, handling dust,
12 aerosols
• 3-3 GRAVITATIONAL SETTLING CHAMBERS

Fig. 3-1 Gravitational settling chamber.

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 vt vh (3-1)
=
H L
where vt = terminal settling velocity as defined
in Eq. (3-1), m/s
H = height of settling chamber, m
vh = horizontal flow-through velocity, m/s
L = length of settling chamber, m
vhH
vt =
L
g( p −  a )d 2
vt =
18

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 1/ 2
 18v h H  (3-2)
dp =  
 gL 
 p 

Fig. 3-2 Baffled gravitational settling chamber.

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Example 3-1: Designing a settling chamber
Calculate the minimum size of the particle
that will be removed with 100 percent
efficiency from a settling chamber under the
following conditions.
Air: Horizontal velocity is 0.3 m/s.
Temperature is 77°C.
Particle: Specific gravity is 2.0.
Chamber: Length is 7.5 m., Height is 1.5 m.

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 1/ 2
 18v h H 
dp =  
 gL 
 p 

1/ 2
 18x 2.1x10 kg / m.sx0.3m / sx1.5m 
−5
d p =  2 2 3

 9.81m / s x7.5mx 2000kg / m 
dp = 4.81x10-5 m
dp =48.1 µm
Gravitational settling chambers are simple in
design and operation, but they require a large
space for installation and have relatively low
efficiency.

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