An efficient venturi scrubber system to remove submicron particles in exhaust gas

An efficient venturi scrubber system making use of heterogeneous nucleation and condensational growth of particles was designed and tested to remove fine particles from the exhaust of a local scrubber where residual SiH₄ gas was abated and lots of fine SiO₂ particles were generated. In front of the venturi scrubber, normal-temperature fine-water mist mixes with high-temperature exhaust gas to cool it to the saturation temperature, allowing submicron particles to grow into micron sizes. The grown particles are then scrubbed efficiently in the venturi scrubber. Test results show that the present venturi scrubber system is effective for removing submicron particles. For SiO₂ particles greater than 0.1 μm, the removal efficiency is greater than 80–90%, depending on particle concentration. The corresponding pressure drop is relatively low. For example, the pressure drop of the venturi scrubber is ∼15.4 ± 2.4 cm H₂O when the liquid-to-gas ratio is 1.50 L/m³. A theoretical calculation has been conducted to simulate particle growth process and the removal efficiency of the venturi scrubber. The theoretical results agree with the experimental data reasonably well when SiO₂ particle diameter is greater than 0.1 μm.