Air quality options fundamentally fall into two distinct categories pertaining to particle-phased pollutants and gas-phased pollutants. The use of either of these technologies will enable us to make the best possible decision whenever we are to make engineering designs that cater to air quality control and other related systems (Förstner, 2012). As a means to fully identify and understand the various pollutant control technologies we will categorically explain the functions and roles of each of the technologies in use in the subsequent section:
Gases & Vapours
Gas pollutants and their capture strategy include thermal oxidization using various oxidizers along with the use of flaring and catalytic systems. An additional capture strategy would also include absorption which is used via packed sorbent beds, scrubbing (another form of absorption), and in some cases biological treatment. The engineer designated to capture the air would need to effectively match the various diverse types of gas pollutants to the control that may enable a successful capture strategy (Popp, 2006). The most effective strategy among all the mentioned processes in neutralizing air pollutants is the use of catalytic systems. These catalytic systems or catalytic converters operate via a catalyst-filled filter that functions at high elevated temperatures ranging from 370 degrees Celsius to 480 degrees Celsius and treats gases near the LEL. One of the primary benefits of using Catalytic converters is the low maintenance requirements in the use of thermal oxidation and there is also low system drop which is indicative of electrostatic precipitators. Additional benefits include a lower carbon footprint and reduced fuel consumption with the use of technological advancements (Popp, 2006). A few disadvantages could include disruption of air filtration in colder weather and increasing the price of catalysts.
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Aerosol Particles
Particle capture strategies are robustly based on three distinct techniques that are effective in improving air quality. These processes include cyclonic collection, electrostatic collection, and various ways implemented through filtration collection. In addition to this aerosol particles can be removed using settling chambers, impingers, and cyclones which are categorically designed to capture large to medium-sized particles of all prominent types of pollutants. The primary source of particle capture is via the use of elutriators which are used for aerosol pollutants however cyclones are also implemented as they are very efficient in revoking aerosol centrifuges. The benefits of using these are low costs, very simple operating method, the durability of the design, and very useful in long-term use and the best of it all is the low maintenance that is required. The disadvantages are low efficiency for some particles that are not dense enough and smaller in nature, if the particles have erosion-like characteristics then elutriators become redundant as they cannot remove such impurities effectively while the installation requires large space to set up the equipment, and running of these would need to invest in the high skilled workforce that knows how to operate the mechanics of these instruments.
Noise Level of 900dBA at 1000Hz
Noise pollution can be attributed to an industrial mechanism having no filtration process that might muzzle the sound of 900 dBA at 1000 Hz. To combat such noise particles an engineer would need to check the insulation on any facilities that might have any medium for the sound to travel through. Silicon padding and noise reduction material such as planting trees since they absorb noise due to the insulator material in the soil. There are also muzzle converters that can be used to reduce the overall noise of an industrial complex and hence provide a noiseless environment. In the above process flow diagram, there are both control devices for particle and gaseous contaminants. We have segregated them based on the equipment and process that will be used. While separating the particle contaminants we have to use techniques like Gravitational settling, Cyclone separators, Fabric filters, and scrubbers such as spray towers, venture, and cyclonic scrubbers, however, for gaseous contaminants, we use both wet and dry absorption methods. Using this process flow diagram an engineer can easily identify which particles or gases require what type of treatment and hence can increase the overall efficiency of the cleaning process.
References
Förstner, U. (2012). Integrated pollution control. Springer Science & Business Media.
Popp, D. (2006). International innovation and diffusion of air pollution control technologies: the effects of NOX and SO2 regulation in the US, Japan, and Germany. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 51(1), 46-71.
Kulkarni, P., Baron, P. A., & Willeke, K. (Eds.). (2011). Aerosol measurement: principles, techniques, and applications. John Wiley & Sons.
Valipour, M., Mousavi, S. M., Valipour, R., & Rezaei, E. (2012). Air, water, and soil pollution study in industrial units using environmental flow diagram. J Basic Appl Sci Res, 2(12), 12365-12372.
