Removal of Small Particles from Air by Foam in a Sieve-Plate Column

Abstract

Particle collection by foam produced on sieve plate apparatus was studied in a 3 x 3 in. sq column and in a 2 in. diam circular column. Experimental data have been obtained for silica test dust, glass beads, sulfur aerosol, polystyrene beads, and extensively for methylene blue aerosol. A new technique utilizing the Goetz aerosol spectrometer was developed and was used to obtain the collection efficiency as a function of particle diameter. A correlation was developed based on inertial mechanism. In this correlation the collection efficiency is expressed as a function of inertial parameter and foam density. The pressure drop in the operating range varied from 2 to 4 in. of water.