Bubble Dynamics in a Diesel Exhaust Wet Scrubber

A wet scrubber is an air pollution removal device that eliminates particulate matter and acid gases from a diesel engine. The exhaust gas enters the scrubber beneath the liquid surface, causing a reduction in gas temperature and increases the relative humidity of scrubber outlet. In this study, bubble motion was captured with a high-speed video system in 16 test conditions. Heat transfer analysis was used to investigate the direct interaction between the bubbles and their surrounding liquid. The experimental results confirmed that there are three flow regions at the low inlet gas flow rate: inlet, bulk and exit region (at exit). At the departing region, the bubble diameter depended on the inlet gas volumetric flow rate. The bubble number ratio was a function of the inlet gas Reynolds number. The heat transfer between the bubbles and liquid depended on the inlet gas temperature ratio.