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Virtually all large industrial sectors, e.g. cement, agro-industries, petrochemicals, mining, incinerators, fertilizers, galvanizing plants, thermal power plants, must address the problem of gas phase filtration , whether in the form of micron/submicron particulate emissions , acid gases or other constituents.

Fortunately, there is a sophisticated range of alternative technologies, from simple cyclones and settling tanks to elaborate systems using bag filters , venturi -type scrubber towers , and electrostatic precipitators . 

Fortunately, the availability of excellent technical equipment is also a reality today.

Access to a large number of historical guidelines, along with the assistance of spreadsheets, allows for a better evaluation of project alternatives and facilitates dialogue   and interaction with different suppliers, who are often accustomed to presenting equipment to audiences of users with little opportunity to respond to an argument or even standardize   the different proposals in order to compare the best alternative.

Therefore, these notes are intended primarily as an aid in interpreting proposals rather than a comprehensive treatise on the subject of gas-phase filters.   As the industrial user base and integrators/contractors acquire more tools to formulate and analyze proposals, thereby increasing the quantification of the application/problem, the resulting [technical] differentiation can only benefit the parties involved, i.e., the industrial user and specialists, as well as the responsible supplier.

We have visited petrochemical plants where outdoor conversation is impossible due to the presence of ammonia , which the plant manager claims is under control ; we have witnessed cement plants where sleeves need replacing every three months ; we have seen beverage tanks, originally white, gradually turning yellow .   While reflecting different problems, this industrial reality clearly provides a fitting backdrop for this inaugural edition.

It is a great pleasure to acknowledge the help and contributions of Dr. BJ Lerner . The material developed by the University of North Carolina remains one of the best perspectives on the issues across various technologies. It is also a small pleasure to thank Dr. Madison of Southern Illinois University for his instruction  on atmospheric behavior and concepts. The material and comments kindly provided by Charles Brunner, O. Holland, and Bill Ball have been truly invaluable.  

Without the patience and generosity of Tom Irwin, our resident environmental scientist, this site would probably never have been possible. Without his comprehensive understanding of environmental issues, including the gas phase, we would likely have simply perpetuated, like many others, the mere transfer of a gas-phase problem to a liquid-phase problem.

Like the other minisites in the JCY/B&B series , we hope that this modest initial version will facilitate technical access to global environmental issues, enabling plant managers, engineering firms, researchers, and students to address and successfully resolve a growing number of environmental engineering instances.  

 

In order to obtain more information and/or request courtesy capacity plannings or case assessments, please send us an e-mail to answers@engineeringfundamentals.com cc.: balestie@umich.edu.

It is recommended to include a brief initial description of the case, ideally no more than one page, or project in progress / under study. The possibility of receiving and handling individual technical consultations has been foreseen but are limited as per availability. Alternatively make contact later on via sms/telephone +1 917 300 3024