What Is a Wet Dust Collector?
A wet dust collector is a device that uses water to capture particles from the air. It serves as a treatment device for exhaust gases and dust, effectively removing small particles and harmful substances from the air.
Wet dust collectors not only capture particles but also remove harmful components from the air, posing less fire hazard and generating less static electricity than dry dust collectors. They also serve as a noise control measure due to their lower exhaust volume.
Applications for Wet Dust Collectors
Wet dust collectors are widely used in industrial settings, construction sites, and medical facilities.
1. Industrial Fields
In industrial environments, wet dust collectors remove dust and particulates from production processes, maintaining a clean work environment. They are also used in woodworking shops for collecting wood chips and debris.
2. Construction
At construction sites, wet dust collectors reduce dust impact generated by machinery and tools, helping to protect workers and the environment.
3. Medical Field
In hospitals and research facilities, wet dust collectors help remove airborne particulates to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and microorganisms.
Principle of Wet Dust Collector
Wet dust collectors operate by using water to capture airborne particles. They have an inlet to draw in dust, with a tank or vat where water is stored. Particles impinge on the water’s surface, dissolving or being absorbed, effectively separating them from the air.
Types of Wet Dust Collectors
There are two main types of wet dust collectors: wet scrubbers and Wet electrostatic precipitators.
1. Wet Scrubber Type
Wet scrubbers use water to clean airborne particles and harmful substances. Air is passed through a flue where it contacts water, with particles and toxic substances being removed via separators and filters. This method is effective for particulates and gaseous substances and is widely used in industrial environments and exhaust gas treatment facilities.
2. Wet Electrostatic Precipitator
A wet electrostatic precipitator is a wet dust collector that collects minute particles and dust in the air using static electricity. The basic structure consists of a collection chamber with collecting plates and electrodes, a liquid storage tank, and a high-voltage source.
First, air containing dust is introduced into the collection chamber where DC high voltage is applied, and the dust is attracted to the collecting plates by electrostatic force. The collecting chamber is supplied with water, which dissolves the dust attracted to the collecting plates and washes it away.
An electrostatic precipitator is characterized by the fact that the particles it can collect are smaller in size than those collected by other methods. The use of water also has the effect of cooling the heat generated in the equipment. Large rectifiers and other devices are used as DC high-voltage sources and are often installed at the top of the equipment.
They are widely used in metal smelting processes. In addition, since the dust collection plates are generally washed with water periodically, multiple units are often installed in parallel for backup purposes.