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How a Cross-Flow Scrubber Removes Odours and Dust Particles
A cross-flow gas scrubber uses water as the transfer medium to remove airborne contaminants from industrial exhaust air. Odors typically consist of a wide variety of volatile compounds, most of which are highly water-soluble. As the process air passes through the scrubber, these odor-causing compounds dissolve in the water, effectively filtering them out of the airflow.
The air is literally “washed” with water. To minimize water consumption while maintaining high absorption performance, chemical additives are introduced into the water. These enhance the gas-to-liquid absorption capacity, increasing the system's overall efficiency.
When the incoming airflow contains particulate matter or fine dust, a pre-wash stage can be integrated as a dedicated dust scrubber, allowing for effective multi-phase air purification in a single system.
The Technology Behind a Cross-Flow Gas Scrubber
A cross-flow gas scrubber typically consists of multiple scrubbing stages. For example:
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In the first stage, sulfuric acid can be added to the water to bind and neutralize ammonia.
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The second stage may use a different chemical additive or rely on water alone to absorb remaining odor compounds.
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In the third stage, which is continuously sprayed with clean water, odors and dust particles are washed from the air.
These stages can be used independently or in combination, depending on the specific contaminants in the exhaust stream.
To ensure intensive contact between air and liquid, the scrubber uses plastic packing media with a high specific surface area — up to 250 m² per cubic meter. This large surface maximizes the transfer of airborne compounds from the gas phase to the water phase.
Because each gas component has a different chemical nature, multiple sequential scrubbing stages are used to achieve a high level of odor removal efficiency. Each stage can be individually dosed with different neutralizing agents, tailored to the compounds being treated.
Advantages of the AEC Cross-Flow Gas Scrubber
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Simple and proven technology – robust operation without complex controls
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Compact system design – minimal footprint for easy integration
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User-friendly interface – intuitive and safe to operate
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Indoor and outdoor installation options – flexible placement for all environments
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High removal efficiency – effective at eliminating odors, gases, and dust
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Versatile across industries – suitable for chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and more
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Quick and easy installation – plug-and-play setup minimizes downtime
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Low maintenance requirements – long operational life with minimal servicing
