Scrubber Troubleshooting Guide

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Scrubber Troubleshooting Guide

Scrubber Troubleshooting Guide

Particulate Scrubber Symptoms:

1. Collection Efficiency is lower than expected-Emissions are too high

Design basis is wrong

SOLUTION

Check vendor calculations and design data
Increase scrubber pressure drop and/or liquid rate

Scrubber is not running at design pressure drop or water rate

SOLUTION

Adjust system operations and settings
Repair or replace recycle pump.
If possible, visbly inspect water spray pattern while scrubber is not operating

Water is not distributed fully across venturi

SOLUTION

Check water rate and pressure
Check for and replace plugged or worn nozzles

Liquid entrainment carry-over

SOLUTION

(see below)

2. Liquid entrainment carry-over

Drain line(s) are not sealed

SOLUTION

trap or submerge liquid drain lines

Axial velocity is too high for separator

SOLUTION

Check design basis and actual flow rate
if too high, reduce flow or replace separator with larger size
Add secondary entrainment separation

Separator is flooded

SOLUTION

Clear plugged drain

Internal build-up

SOLUTION

Clean internal surfaces of separator

Holes or leakage into separator

SOLUTION

Repair holes

Solids concentration is too high in recirculation liquid

SOLUTION

Increase recycle bleed-off
Increase fresh water make-up
Change liquid injection system

3. Corrosion

Wrong material of construction

SOLUTION

Determine corrosive constituants.
Repair and add lining or coating that is resistant to corrosion and is abrasion resistant enough for process
Add PH control to neutralize corrosive constituants

Failure of PH control system

SOLUTION

Check PH sensor and control
Check caustic level
Check caustic metering pump

4. Abrasion

Abrasive solids

SOLUTION

Reduce venturi velocity if possible while still meeting emission standards
Increase water rate while maintaining or decreasing scrubber pressure drop
Add abrasion resistant lining
Rebuild worn parts out of more abrasion resistant material

Combined effects of abrasion accelerated by corrosion

SOLUTION

see “Corrosion” above

Gaseous Scrubber Symptoms:

1. Collection Efficiency is lower than expected-Emissions are too high

Design basis is wrong

SOLUTION

Check vendor calculations and design data
Increase packing height , liquid rate, and/or adjust chemistry

Scrubbing liquid rate is too low

SOLUTION

Adjust system operations and settings
Repair or replace recycle pump.

Water is not distributed fully across packing

SOLUTION

Check water rate and pressure
Check for and replace plugged or worn nozzles
If possible, visbly inspect water spray pattern while scrubber is not operating
Check distribution tray if used instead of spray nozzle

Liquid entrainment carry-over

SOLUTION

(see below)

Packing is Flooded

SOLUTION

Gas or liquid flow rate is too high for packing

Packing is plugged w/solids

SOLUTION

Add precleaner to remove solids
Check chemistry to ensure salts or precipitates are not forming
Ensure adequate liquid flow rate and distribution to packing

2. Liquid entrainment carry-over

Drain line(s) are not sealed

SOLUTION

trap or submerge liquid drain lines

Axial velocity is too high for separator

SOLUTION

Check design basis and actual flow rate
if too high, reduce flow or replace separator with larger size
Add secondary entrainment separation

Separator is flooded

SOLUTION

Clear plugged drain

Internal build-up

SOLUTION

Clean internal surfaces of separator

Holes or leakage into separator

SOLUTION

Repair holes

3. Corrosion

Wrong material of construction

SOLUTION

Determine corrosive constituants.
Repair and add lining or coating that is resistant to corrosion and is abrasion resistant enough for process
Add PH control to neutralize corrosive constituants

Failure of PH control system

SOLUTION

Check PH sensor and control
Check caustic level
Check caustic metering pump