air pol 8 pager Mar03 3/26/03 1:02 PM Page 1

Wet Scrubbers
For Acid Gas Absorption
AirPol SYSTEMS
Particulate Control
Venturi and Cyclonic Scrubbers

Acid Gas Control

Absorbers

Particulate/Heavy Metal Control

Wet Electrostatic Precipitators

Integrated Systems
Semi-Dry Scrubber Systems

AirPol, Inc.
199 Pomeroy Road
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054-3728 USA
Phone: (973) 599-4400 Fax: (973) 428-6048
E-Mail: info@airpol.com
Website: www.airpol.com
A wholly owned subsidary of MPM Technologies, Inc.
Air Pollution Control Systems
THE ULTIMATE CHOICE SM
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AirPol Air Pollution Control Systems

THE ULTIMATE CHOICE SM
AirPol ABSORBERS
This brochure describes AirPol’s three major absorption
scrubbers:
• Open Spray Towers
• Packed Towers
• Tray Towers
Acid Gas Control
There are many kinds of industrial acid gases. The most
common are sulfur dioxide (SO2 gases), hydrogen chloride Material Selection
(HCl), hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen bromide (HBr), The material of construction in
hydrogen sulfide (H2S), etc. In order to efficiently remove a wet absorber is of utmost
these contaminants from a gas stream a chemical reaction importance. Gas temperature, type
with an alkali reagent is usually required. of acid gas, particulate erosion,
composition of the recycle liquid,
Reagents
etc. must be considered.
The most common reagents used by AirPol are:
• Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) also called caustic soda or
caustic
• Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) also called soda ash
• Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH) 2)
• Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2) derived from lime
• Hi-Mag Lime (calcium hydroxide with magnesium additive)

Two FRP Absorption Systems for a Hazardous Waste Thermal Oxidizer

SYSTEMS EXPERTISE

AirPol supplies air pollution control systems on an “Engineering Only”

or a “Complete Turnkey” basis, as well as anything in between. We
have outstanding expertise in design and supply of complete systems.

We specialize in combination systems for applications such as AirPol Packed Tower for a
hazardous waste incineration, requiring quenching of the gases gas Hazardous Waste Incinerator
AirPol Absorber for a 60 MW Coal from 2,500°F to the adiabatic saturation temperature in a split second
Fired Co-Generation Plant to prevent the creation of dioxins. Further treatment may include AirPol supplies any conceivable type
particulate removal, acid gas absorption, subcooling of the gas and of scrubber material such as:
final treatment for particulate and heavy metals removal in an AirPol • Stainless Steels
wet electrostatic precipitator. • Alloy Steels
• FRP
Airpol offers a “Total Service” concept. Every system is specifically • Other Plastic Materials
designed for each application. We provide in-depth process knowledge • Rubber Lined Steel
For over 35 years and engineering expertise in addition to offering a complete package • Plastic Coatings
to meet any needs.
we have designed and
built over 1,400 wet AirPol air pollution control system consisting of two quench-absorber
scrubbing systems for trains for a hazardous waste incinerator plant.
all conceivable
applications in many
different industries.
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Open Spray Tower Tray Tower

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES OF AIRPOL
SPRAY TOWERS
• SO2 Absorption of boiler
flue gas • Very high absorption efficiency
• HF absorption in the • Low pressure drop
aluminum industry • No scaling or build up of solids
• Lime Sludge Kilns • No nozzle plugging
• Accommodate high gas
temperatures
• Tolerate high dust loadings
• High efficiency mist elimination
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES OF AIRPOL
TRAY TOWERS
The Tray Tower is used for
several purposes: • Good particulate removal
• Particulate Removal • High absorption efficiency
• Excellent gas cooling
• Acid Gas Absorption
• Accept high gas temperatures
• Gas Cooling
• Medium pressure drop
The trays are in principle
• Resistant to solids build-up
perforated plates, upon which
• High efficiency mist
a layer of liquid is kept at a
elimination
certain level by a weir. Typical
examples of trays are shown
below.
After leaving the top tray the
gas passes through a mist
eliminator for droplet removal.

MOST COMMON TRAYS

The Open Spray Tower is a vertical vessel with a

number of spray zones. At the bottom of the tower is a
liquid reservoir, from which recycle pumps supply liquid
to each spray zone. Above the upper spray header is a
Mist Eliminator that will remove all liquid droplets from Impingement tray Valve Tray Tubular Slot Tray Sieve Tray
the gas. The mist eliminator is provided with a fresh water
A dual layer tray provides An adjustable impinge- The tubular slot tray has A multi-orifice plate in
wash spray that prevents build up of reaction salts. intense gas-liquid mixing. ment tray maintains been designed especially which a gas stream is
It cools and absorbs constant efficiency and for gases with high par- sub-divided into numer-
gases and removes fine pressure drop via a ticulate loadings. It provides ous jets as it penetrates
particulate. The bottom movable self-adjusting excellent cooling and a layer of water on the
layer divides the gas cap for varying gas gas absorption and tray. It is used primarily
stream into a myriad of volumes. The tray design resists plugging from to cool a saturated gas
small bubbles while the also provides effective heavy concentration of stream, reduce gas volume,
upper layer provides a cooling capabilities and particulate and fibrous and condense steam
target area for impinge- gaseous absorption. material. plumes.
ment and additional
breakup of air bubbles
above each orifice.
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Packed Tower AirPol Integrated Systems

110° F The different Acid Gas Absorbers are in

14.9 PSIA
many cases integrated with Quenchers,
Particulate Scrubbers or Wet
INLET GAS
64.771 ACFM INTERMITTENT FLUS Electrostatic Precipitators (WESP) to
1,650° F 150 GPM FOR 2-3 MIN form combination systems in order to
EMERGENCY 17,66 PSIA TRAY
WATER 93° F EVERY 4-6 HOURS
200 GPM
COOLER
1.25 GPM (AVERAGE) attain the required end result. AirPol has
180 GPM 1,145 GPM 1000 CFM
RMER
many years of experience and expertise
182° F
400 GPM PURGE AIR
ACID WET WATER in a multitude of combination systems.
SCRUBBER WET
ESP
ESP
The AirPol Packed Tower TYPICAL APPLICATIONS One typical example is a Quencher
effectively absorbs acid • Incineration 83 GPM 432 GPM OUTLET GAS
Venturi, for temperature reduction and
33° F
mists, odors and gaseous • Fluorine Gases QUENCH 16.242 GAS
particulate control, followed by a Packed
compounds through the • Sulfur Dioxide gases VENTURI 1.25 GPM 111° F
(AVERAGE) 14.81 PSIA Tower, for acid gas absorption, and finally
counter-current flow of gases • Hydrogen Sulfide gases a WESP for heavy metals control.
TO THICKENER WWTP
and scrubbing liquid over a • Hydrogen Chloride gases PURGE PUMP
M THICKENER AREA 13 GPM 25% CAUSTIC
packed bed. The action • Chemical Processing 445 GPM 2.43 GPM Another example is the AirPol Dual Alkali
provides intimate contact • Plating Operations SUSPENDED SOLIDS
RECIRCULATION BELOW DOWN System, that combines the very high
25% CAUSTIC TANK
needed for efficient, thorough • Steel Pickling 89 GPM 1,137 GPM MAKE-UP WATER 16 GPM acid gas absorption with the simplified
absorption and chemical COOLING 93° F
HEAT
EXCHAN- SUBCOOLER
disposal of a lime by-product.
WATER GER RECYCLE TANK
reaction required for a wide BLEED SUBCOOLER
range of industrial processing 80 GPM RECYCLE
operations. PUMP

AirPol Dual Alkali System

The flow sheet shown is a simplified version of the
AirPol patented Dilute Dual Alkali System, using
caustic as absorption reagent in the Absorber and
hydrated lime as external reagent for disposal. LIME
SILO
Another version of the system uses soda ash as
Caustic
internal and pebble lime as external reagent. Both Tank
versions work equally well. Caustic
Hydrated Lime Ca(OH)2
The use of sodium in the Absorber has many Mix Tank
advantages such as the highest attainable acid gas
removal and ease of operation with no scaling and
ADVANTAGES OF AIRPOL PACKED TOWERS Bleed
build-up problems. ABSORBER
The counter-current Packed Tower will outperform • No moving parts or high velocity areas assure LIME
REACTOR
GAS
INLET
any scrubber available today. Some of the many maintenance and trouble-free operation. The external reaction between sodium and calcium TANK
WASH WATER
reasons are: regenerates the sodium for re-use in the Absorber THICKENER
• Gas channeling is prevented by proper spacing and yields a calcium based by-product, which can FILTER
• Higher collection efficiency for low cost operation. of internal components which results in increased FEED
TANK
be disposed of in a land fill without leaching into FILTER
THICKENER
• Lower pressure drop for economical energy use. efficiency. SLUDGE UNDERFLOW
the ground. PUMP CLARIFIER
• Offer a wide variety of packing materials to meet FILTRATE
• Other standard features include: access doors, RETURN
PUMP CLARIFIER
application requirements. lifting lugs, holddown lugs and best available The AirPol Dilute Dual Alkali System thus has a very UNDERFLOW RECYCLE
PUMP TANK

• Constructed of corrosion-resistant materials: packing for the specific application. high efficiency and low operating cost and combines
the best features of a sodium system with that of a CLARIFIER
re-inforced fiberglass, stainless steel and higher OVERFLOW
PUMP
alloys on request. lime based system. CLARIFIER RECYCLE