I.

HUMIDIFIERS
Humidifiers are used to increase the relative humidity of air. The most
common humidification methods use either steam or fog.

DIRECT STEAM

Direct steam humidification, one of the most common humidification

methods, requires a central source of steam.

Direct steam humidifiers use a central boiler as a source of steam, which

is fed to the air through a dispersion grid system. A steam separator is
usually needed to condition the boiler steam.

MECHANISM
In direct steam humidifiers steam enters the system and flows into a strainer,
which removes solid impurities. The steam continues around the steam
jacketed dispersion tube, where its heat is used to reduce condensation of the
exiting steam. Next, the steam enters a separator, and condensate drains out.
The steam flows into a drying chamber that removes any remaining condensate
and reduces the noise of the escaping steam. The steam flowrate is regulated
by a valve. Finally, the steam is discharged through the dispersion tube,
usually into air ducts.
 ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGES
Excellent response to changes in setting Must have central steam source

Good humidity control

Low operating cost
No effect on air temperature

ELECTRONIC

Electronic humidifiers use electricity to

generate steam for humidification. They are often used when a central
steam source is not available.

In an electronic humidifier, electricity is used to generate steam. The

steam is then fed into air ducts through a series of dispersion tubes,
shown below. Most units also include automatic control systems to
ensure constant humidity.

MECHANISM
An electronic electrode humidifier uses
submerged electrodes to pass a current
through water, causing it to boil and
produce steam. The electrodes are
housed in the steam generator, shown
below. The steam is then fed to
dispersion tubes. The water used in
electrode humidifiers must be ionized
enough to conduct electricity, or the
water won't boil.
 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
No central steam source needed More expensive than other humidification
options

Low maintenance Average response to changes in settings

No effect on air temperature

WATER SPRAY

Unlike other humidifiers, water spray systems use room temperature

water instead of steam. The picture below shows a two head water spray
humidification system.

Spray humidifiers have specially designed nozzles that atomize water into
a very fine fog, which is quickly absorbed into the surrounding
atmosphere. As the liquid leaves the nozzle, the stream quickly expands,
forming small particles. For more information, see the Nozzles section of
the encyclopedia.

MECHANISM
The key to effective water spray humidification is in the nozzle design.
Impingement nozzles are usually used for humidification purposes because
they produce a very fine spray.
Air atomizing nozzles, such as the one shown, are also used for humidification.
A high velocity stream of air enters from the top, while a stream of water enters
from the bottom. The air stream serves to break up the water into small
particles, which are driven through the orifice, producing the atomized water
particles.
 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Low operating cost Slow response to changes in settings

Steam not needed Subject to corrosion and bacteria

problems

No moving parts wear out Can decrease air temperature

STEAM TO STEAM
For applications where chemical-free
steam is needed, boiler steam may not
be pure enough to use for
humidification. In these cases, a steam
to steam humidifier may be necessary.

MECHANISM
In steam to steam humidifiers, boiler steam is used only as a source of heat.
Boiler steam enters a heat exchanger, where its heat is used to generate
chemical-free steam from pure water. The boiler steam does not contact the
regenerated steam, keeping it chemical-free. The regenerated steam is fed
through a distribution tube and directly into an air duct. The regenerated
steam is usually at atmospheric pressure, which makes equipment location
very important.
 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

More efficient than electronic Slow response to changes in settings

humidifiers

Low operating cost Frequent maintenance required

Central steam source required

EVAPORATIVE
Evaporative humidifiers can also be used in large, industrial scale
situations to provide low energy humidification. A matrix, shown below,
is connected to the air handling unit or duct. Water is supplied to the top
of the matrix and flows down the surface. Warm air is then passed
through the moist matrix, evaporating the water. The air then leaves the
matrix to humidify the building or space.
 ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Low operating cost Prone to bacteria growth

Good vapor quality Slow response to changes in settings

No steam source required Small capacity per unit size

Pan subject to corrosion

Causes slight air temperature rise

 II. COOLING TOWERS
A cooling tower is a heat rejection device, which extracts waste heat to
the atmosphere though the cooling of a water stream to a lower
temperature. The type of heat rejection in a cooling tower is termed
"evaporative" in that it allows a small portion of the water being cooled to
evaporate into a moving air stream to provide significant cooling to the
rest of that water stream. The heat from the water stream transferred to
the air stream raises the air's temperature and its relative humidity to
100%, and this air is discharged to the atmosphere. Evaporative heat
rejection devices such as cooling towers are commonly used to provide
significantly lower water temperatures than achievable with "air cooled"
or "dry" heat rejection devices, like the radiator in a car, thereby
achieving more cost-effective and energy efficient operation of systems in
need of cooling.

MECHANISM
The principle of operation of cooling towers is very similar to that of the
evaporative type of condensers, in which the warm water gets cooled by means
of evaporation. Water evaporates as a result of the hot water droplet coming in
contact with the air (which is being pumped out by means of a fan). This
evaporating water also absorbs the latent heat from the water surrounding it.
By losing latent heat, the water is cooled.

MECHANICAL DRAFT COOLING TOWERS

The mechanical draft cooling towers are very much similar to that of the
natural draft cooling towers. As the name indicates, air is circulated inside the
tower mechanically instead of natural circulation. Propeller fans or centrifugal
fans may be used. It relies on power-driven fans to draw or force the air
through the tower.
OVER NATURAL DRAFT COOLING TOWERS
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

For the same capacity used, the More power is required to run the
mechanical draft are much smaller than system
of the natural draft

Capacity controlled is possible in Increased running cost due to increase

mechanical draft. By controlling the in maintenance of the fans, motors and
speed of the fan, the volume of the air its associated controls,
can be controlled, which in turn
controls the capacity
The natural draft can be located only in
the open space

III. SPRAY CHAMBERS

MECHANISM
In spray chambers or spray towers water is sprayed or dispersed in fine
droplets, normally via sprayers or nozzles at the top of the scrubber, while
gas is fed tangentially from underneath thus forming counter-current flow.
Due to the centrifugal effect, there will already be a pre-separation of larger
particles in the column. It is also possible to place spray-towers in co-current
or cross-current set-up.
High L/G ratios are required to remove fine particles.

APPLICATION
Is also used as a cooler to quench flue gases.
Spray scrubbers are used in a variety of settings, including:
The chemical industry, to separate dust and aerosols;
The metal industry for various types of waste gases;
Waste incineration installations;
Gasification processes;
Potato-processing industry for the removal of starch;
Glass industry;
Melting processes in metallurgy;
Foundries;
Sintering processes;
Drying processes
Fertilizer production;
Pharmaceutical industry;
Plastics industry

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Simple implementation Installation type with spray-heads with
small openings requires wclean
washing liquid

No risk of fouling or blockage in the Blockages in sprayers could lead to a

washing section large yield loss
In addition to dust, gaseous particles Not efficient for the removal of fine dust
are also separated particles
Available in various construction Mass transfer is not very efficient
materials
Able to deal with fluctuating gas flows
Low pressure drops
Little space required