The report gives results of an experimental bench-scale investigation of the comparative performance of particulate scrubbers that draw contacting power for gas/liquid contacting from the gas stream and from the liquid stream. The three synthetic polydisperse test aerosols used had similar particle-size distributions, but mass-median particle diameters of 1.05, 0.68, and 0.42 micrometers. The different contactors were compared on the basis of collection efficiencies at given contacting power levels, using the performance of an orifice contactor as a reference level. A series contactor, consisting of staggered multiple orifices in series, gave essentially the same performance as the single-orifice contactor at the higher contacting power levels, but poorer performance at the lower power levels. Six different pressure spray nozzles were tested, one in combination with a single orifice. All configurations gave poorer performance than did the reference orifice scrubber at the same total contacting power. All but one of the spray contactors gave very similar performances at comparable conditions, despite radical differences in spray nozzle designs and spray configurations.

Work performed under Contract 68-02-2103, ROAP No. 21ADJ-005, program element 1AB012. Issued Nov. 1977. Includes bibliographical references.