A wet filter unit, sometimes known as a wet scrubber, typically separates solid particulate from the air stream by passing it through an atomized liquid whereby particles get encapsulated by droplets and then submerged into a tank where sedimentation occurs. As the method of separation is provided by a liquid which is recovered and re-used within the unit, there is no requirement for replaceable filter elements such as those in a dry unit.
Wet collectors are more suited to particles with heavier mass, and they function by generating very fine droplets or aerosols in the 'spray generation zone'. These droplets will impinge on, and encapsulate dust particles of similar momentum.
Wet units usually require dusts of relatively high specific gravity (>2500kg/m3) and with particle sizes >10 microns to achieve acceptable filtration efficiencies of >99%. They are recommended when machining reactive white metals such as aluminium, titanium and magnesium etc. due to their highly volatile nature and the wet collector’s inherent ability to quench any incoming ignition sources. They are also ideal for handling sticky particulates or dusts extracted with liquid moisture dependent on the contaminant characteristics.
A wet extractor is a highly efficient and reliable solution for eliminating noxious mechanically generated dusts generated within the workplace. Specifically designed to handle flammable metal dusts, wet dust collectors offer an optimal solution for filtering and gathering combustible dust generated by various processes such as grinding, fettling, linishing, deburring, polishing, and trimming metals like Aluminium, Magnesium, Titanium, Zirconium, Lithium, and Tantalum. Dust produced from these activities is deemed highly explosive.
The wet dust settles at the bottom of the water chamber, forming a compact layer of sludge. The collected sludge is agitated and discharged manually or automatically, and water volume is maintained by level control systems that ensure optimal performance at all times. Clean air is then discharged from the top of the unit - either direct to atmosphere or back into the working environment, depending on where the unit is sited and whether secondary filtration can be applied.