The Prediction of Overall Collection Efficiency of Air Pollution Control Devices from Fractional Efficiency Curves

The application of air pollution control devices requires the prediction of overall collection efficiency from the particle size distribution of the dust and the fractional efficiency of the air pollution control device. The cumulative particle size distribution of dust resulting from industrial processes can usually be represented by a straight line on logarithmic probability paper or a log normal function. The fractional efficiency curves of many air pollution control devices such as cyclones or wet scrubbers can also be adequately represented by a log normal function. Only two parameters are required to define a log normal function, a median diameter and a geometric standard deviation. Both of these can easily be obtained from a plot on logarithmic probability paper. The overall collection efficiency has been found to be Very simply related to the four parameters required to define the log normal functions representing the particle size distribution and the collector fractional efficiency. These four parameters are: the mass median diameter and the geometric standard deviation of the dust size distribution, the cut diameter (50% efficiency diameter), and geometric standard deviation of collector fractional efficiency curve. Using this relationship the prediction of overall collection efficiency is greatly simplified with no loss of accuracy.