US3795089A - Wet scrubber for air purifying systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A wet scrubber for an air purifying system comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet for gas flow through the housing. The scrubber includes wetting means in the form of a plurality of jet banks mounted in the housing for wetting the gas flowing through the housing with a liquid purging agent. The jet banks are mounted in the housing for installation and removal transversely of the longitudinal axis of the housing. One or more packings are mounted in the housing and are retained therein in such a manner that the packings can be installed and removed in an axial or longitudinal direction with respect to the housing when the jet banks are moved.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Reither 1 WET SCRUBBER FOR AIR PURIFYING SYSTEMS [75] Inventor: Karl Reither,Troisdorf/Spich,

Germany [73] Assignee: Kunststofletechnik G.m.b.H. & Co.

KG, Troisdorf, Germany [221 Filed: Jan. 21, 1972 .[21] Appl. No.1 221,458

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 10, l97l Germany 7104981 [56] i References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,222,54l 4/1917 Donham 55/94 1,788,306 l/l93-l Kline 261/98 2,160,549 5/1939 Kurthi. 261/98 [4 Mar. 5, 1974 2,226,127 12/1940 Harmon 55/230 I 3,064,409 11/1962 Schmitt 1 55/259 3,228,755 1/1966 Lottinville 55/485 3,353,799 11/1967 Lions et al. 55/228 3,556,735 l/1971 Ebelman..- 55/485 2,057,579 10/1936 Kurth 55/223 g I FOREIGN PATENTS 0RAPPLICATIONS 6/1933? Great Britain 55 231 Primary Exdminer-Bemard Nozick Attorney, Agent, or FirmReising, Ethington & Perry [57] ABSTRACT A wet scrubber for an air purifying system comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet forgas flow 36 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 5W 3.795.089

sum 1 or 5 a 1 Z T 3 56 1a 14 l l 5I T 15 6 v PATENTED 5W4 3 795 089 SHEET 2 BF 5 Fig- 2 PATENTED 3.795.089

SHEET 3 0F 5 PATENTED 5'974 3.795.089

SHEET &- BF 5 Fig. 5

WET SCRUBBER FOR AIR PURIFYTNG SYSTEMS This invention relates generally to air or gas purifying systems, and is particularly concerned with the construction of wet scrubbers for use in such systems.

Wet scrubbers are used to remove contaminants from air, or other gases, by treating the gas with water or other liquid purging agents. The impurities are collected in the liquid purging agent and carried from the scrubber through a liquid discharge outlet, while the cleaned air or gas exits through a separate gas outlet.

In one type of wet scrubber, the gas flows through one or more packings, and contaminants or impurities are removed at the packings and carried away by the liquid purging agent. The cleaned gas exits from the scrubber downstream of the packings.

An object of this invention is to provide a wet scrubber constructed and arranged to provide a thorough wetting of the incoming, contaminant laden gas into the scrubber.

Another object is to provide a wet scrubber having one or more packings and a plurality of jet banks for spraying a liquid purging agent into the gas flowing through the scrubber wherein the various components can be installed and removed with ease as necessary for repair and replacement.

A further object is to provide a web scrubber having a plurality ofjet banks for spraying liquid purging agent into the gas flowing through the scrubber with one or more packings arranged in series with the jet banks wherein each of the components can be installed and removed with relative ease for replacement and repair as necessary, and wherein the components can be easily inspected externally of the scrubber to determine if they are operating properly.

In carrying out the foregoing, and other objects, a wet scrubber according to the present invention may include a cylindrical housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through the housing. Wetting means is provided in the housing for wetting the gas flowing through the housing with a liquid purging agent, and one or more liquid discharge openings are provided in the housing for conducting the liquid purging agent supplied by the wetting means from the housing.

The wetting means is in the form of a plurality ofjet banks spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the jet banks are mounted on the housing in such a manner that they can be installed and removed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the housing. A plurality of packings are positioned in the housing and are spaced from each other along the length thereof. Each packing is located between an adjacent pair of the jet banks, and is removably retained in the housing in such a manner that it can be removed and installed in a longitudinal direction with respect to the housing when some of the jet banks are removed.

In the preferred embodiment, the first jet bank adjacent to the inlet of the housing is arranged to spray the liquid purging agent in the direction of the gas flow, while the other jet banks, downstream of the first jet bank, are each arranged to spray the liquid purging agent in a direction opposite to the direction of gas flow.

In one embodiment of the invention, the packings are maintained in position by removable retaining rings located within the housing, and in another embodiment, the packings are held in position by removable retaining pins extending through the wall of the housing.

The scrubber may be connected in a system having a reducer connected with the outlet, and a droplet separator connected with the reducer for removing the residues of entrained liquid purging agent after the gas has passed through the reducer. The liquid purging agent can be recirculated through a container by a pump to maintain a steady supply of the liquid purging agent for the jet banks.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: I

FIG. l is a diagrammatic illustration of an air purification system including a wet scrubber according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the wet scrubber of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged sectional view along lines Ill-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional detailed view along lines IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, partially in section, ofa second form of wet scrubber according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of a modified construction, this construction being of that portion of the scrubber encompassed by circle VI in FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 illustrates an air .purification system including a wet scrubber designated collectively by reference numeral l. and having aninlet 7. Contaminant-laden air or other gas flows into the scrubber l atinlet 7. The gas flows from the scrubber 1 through areducer 2 connected at the discharge end of the scrubber, adroplet separator 3 connected with thereducer 2 on the downstream side thereof, a tube or conduit 4 extending from thedroplet separator 3 to a radial fan 5, and is discharged through theoutlet 8 through the tube orconduit 6 connected with the fan 5.

The system shown in FIG. 1 also includes acontainer 9 for liquid purging agent, and arecirculation pump 10 for removing the liquid purging agent from thecontainer 9 and discharging the liquid purging agent through asupply line 11 to wetting means supported in the wet scrubber bymounting plates 12, 13 and 14. As the gas moves through the scrubber, it is-intermixed with the liquid purging agent from spray devices ofthe wetting means, and the liquid purging'agent removes impurities from the gas and returns to thecontainer 9 through asump 15 connected with thecontainer 9 through a connectingflange 16.

The cleaned gas passes through thereducer 2 into thedroplet separator 3, wherein residues of the liquid purging agent entrained in the stream of gas are separated from the gas. The liquid removed by thedroplet separator 3 is collected in asump 18 and flows through areturn line 19 connected thereto by a connectingflange 17 into thepurging agent container 9. The cleaned gas then passes from thedroplet separator 3 via the connecting tube 4 into the radial fan 5 and is discharged through theoutlet 8 of thetube 6.

The construction of the wet scrubber is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 through 4.

FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate wet scrubbing apparatus comprising ahousing 42 having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through the housing. Thehousing 42 is cylindrical, and theinelt 7 of the housing is defined by aninlet flange 20, and the outlet of the housing is defined by anoutlet flange 33.

Wetting means is provided in thehousing 42 for wetting the gas flowing through the housing with a liquid purging agent. The wetting means is in the form of three jet banks, each of which is indicated collectively byreference numerals 21, 22 and 23 in FIG. 2. Thejet banks 21, 22 and 23 are each operable to spray liquid purging agent supplied thereto in a generally axial dimotion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing. As shown in FIG. 2, thefirst jet bank 21 sprays the liquid in the direction of the gas flow from theinlet 7 to the outlet defined byflange 33, while the twojet banks 22 and 23 each spray the liquid purging agent in a direction opposite to the gas flow, or in a direction toward theinlet 7. The liquid purging agent sprayed from thejet banks 21, 22 and 23 is conducted from the housing throughliquid discharge openings 35, 36, 37 and 38 formed in the side wall of the housing. Mounting means to be described in detail herein-below removably mount the wetting means, orjet banks 21, 22 and 23, in thehousing 42 in such a manner as to permit installation and removal of the jet banks transversely of the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Thehousing 42 is divided into three compartments by twopackings 24 and 25 which are spaced axially from each other along the longitudinal axis of thehousing 42. Thepackings 24 and 25 permit the passage of thegas flow without forming a significantly high resistance to the gas flow. However, as the gas flow with the liquid purging agent entrained therein flows through thepackings 24 and 25, the liquid purging agent is collected by the packings and falls therefrom into the sump through one of theopenings 35, 36, 37 and 38. The specific construction of thepackings 24 and form no part of the present invention, any conventional form of such packings being suitable for use in the present invention. 3

As shown in FIG. 2, thesump 15 does not extend over the entire length of thehousing 42 of the wet scrubber 1, the length being only that necessary to encompass theliquid discharge openings 35, 36,. 37 and 38 in the wall of the housing. Thesump 15 may be of substantially V-shaped cross-section as shown in FIG.

4. Thesump 15 is mounted on the outer side wall of the housing and communicates with theliquid discharge openings 35, 36, 37 and 38. As shown in FIG. 2, a liq uid discharge opening is located on each side of each of the packings. Mounted in thesump 15 is adrain tube 41 having anattachment flange 16 located externally of thesump 15. Theupper end of thedrain tube 41 is elevated above the bottom of the sump to provide a minimum liquid level in the sump, that is, the sump is always'filled with the liquid purging agent to the height of thedrain tube 41, the level indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2.

Extending beneath each of the twopackings 24 and 25 into thesump 15 are two separatingwalls 39 and 40. Thewalls 39 and extend from thehousing 42 into thesump 15 below the liquid level determined by the upper end of thedrain tube 41. Since theseparating walls 39 and 40 have their lower ends immersed in the liquid, the gas cannot bypass thepackings 24 and 25 as it flows from the inlet of thehousing 42 to the outlet thereof. Thus, the gas cannot flow from opening 35 through the sump to opening 36, or from theopening 37 through the sump to theopening 38. The amount of overlap of the top edge of thedrain tube 41 with the bottom edges of the separatingwalls 39 and 40 can be varied depending on the pressure differential to be expected on both sides of each packing to insure that the gas cannot bypass the packings.

Thepackings 24 and 25 are supported in the housing by packing retaining means which removably retain the packings in thehousing 42 for installation and removal along the longitudinal axis of the housing from the right-hand end of the housing-42 as viewed in FIG. 2, that is, the endadjacent flange 33.

The packing retaining means includes a fixed retainingring 26 secured to the inner wall of thehousing 42 by welding or other conventional means. The fixed retainingring 26 is located generally in the first third of the housing between theopenings 35 and 36. The fixed retainingring 26 is engaged by one side of packing 24 near the periphery of the packing 24. The fixed retainingring 26 extends in a radial direction only to the extent necessary to provide a reliable abutment for the packing 24 without significantly obstructing. the gas flow through the packing 24. j

The packing retaining means further includes aremovable retaining ring 27 which is axially installable and removable in the housing for engagement by the other side of the packing 24 near the periphery of the packing 24. The packing 25 is held in position in the housing by removable retaining rings 28 and 29 located on each side of the packing 25. The removable retaining rings 27, 28 and 29 have substantially the same dimensions as the fixed retainingring 26. Aremovable retaining ring 32 is located adjacent the outlet end of the housing and abuts the flange 34 of thereducer 2.

The packing retaining means further comprises a pluv rality ofspacer rods 30, each having one end secured to the retainingring 27 and its other end secured to the retainingring 28. Similarly, the packing retaining means includes a plurality ofspacer rods 31 extending between the removable retaining rings 29 and 32. The respective ends of thespacer rods 30 are firmly secured to the retaining rings 27 and 28, and similarly, the respective ends of thespacer rods 31 are firmly secured to the retaining rings 29 and 32. Consequently, thespacer rods 30 and retaining rings 27 and 28 arejoined together into a unitary assembly, and thespacer rods 31 and retaining rings 29 and 32 are similarly joined to define a unitary assembly.

The twopackings 24 and 25 are thus axially supported and located in thehousing 42 between thestationary retaining ring 26 and the flange 34 of thereducer 2 by the assemblies of the spacer rods and removable retaining rings. When thereducer 2 is de tached from the outlet end of the housing, and when thejet banks 22 and 23 are removed from the housing in the manner set forth below, the removable retaining rings 27, 28, 29 and 32 as well as thepackings 24 and 25 can be withdrawn axially through the right-hand end of the housing as viewed in FIG. 2.

The constructions of thejet banks 21, 22 and 23 are identical in the illustrated embodiment, and consequently, only thejet bank 21 will be described in detail. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, thejet bank 21 comprises a central distributor body defined by aninner tubular member 50 open axially at both ends, and a largertubular member 49 concentrically encompassing thetubular member 50. Thetube member 49 is closed at both ends and is shorter than theinner tubular member 50 as shown in FIG. 2.

Thejet bank 21 further includes jet spider means mounted on thedistributor body 49, 50. The jet spider means includes a large spider and a small spider, the spiders being spaced axially from each other. Each of the spiders includes a plurality of jet tubes projecting radially from thedistributor body 49, 50 The large spider has a plurality ofindividual jet tubes 51 each having aspray nozzle 52 on the outer end thereof, and the small spider has a plurality ofshort jet tubes 57, each of which is equipped with jets orspray nozzles 58 Thetubes 51 and 57 radiate from the center of thetubular members 49 and 50. The construction of thejet bank 21 is illustrated clearly in FIG. 3, wherein, for the sake of simplicity, the section line III-III of FIG. 2 is taken in such a way that only the large diameter jet spider is shown.

As pointed out previously, mounting means is provided for removably mounting the jet banks in the housing in such a way that the jet banks can be installed and removed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the housing. As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting means for thejet bank 21 includes an opening in the side wall of the housing and aremovable plate 12 covering the opening. The opening covered by theplate 12 is of sufficient size to permit installation and removal therethrough of thejet bank 21. An outwardly projectingcollar 43 surrounds the opening,collar 43 having aclosure flange 44 on its outer end. A suitable seal is disposed between theplate 12 andflange 44. Theplate 12 is secured to theflange 44 bybolts 64.

The mounting means further includes asupply tube 45 extending radially outwardly from thejet bank 21 with its outer end projecting through theplate 12 for connection with a supply of liquid purging agent. Thesupply tube 45 extends through the large rectangular opening in the wall of thehousing 42 which is surrounded by thecollar 43.

The mounting means further includes gusset means extending between thesupply tube 45 andplate 12. The gusset means includes a pair ofinner gussets 46 extending between thesupply tube 45 and the inner surface of theplate 12, and a pair ofouter gussets 47 extending between thesupply tube 45 and the outer side ofplate 12. The reinforcement ribs orgussets 46 located inside thecollar 43 are larger than the reinforcement ribs orgussets 47 on the outside of thecollar 43 and theplate 12. At its outer end, thesupply tube 45 carries a connectingflange 48 to which a supply line for the liquid purging agent may be connected.

In the illustrated embodiment, thehousing 42,sump 15,collars 43,supply tubes 45,distributors 49, 50, and thejet tubes 51 and 57 may all be made of plastic, preferably polyvinyl chloride. Theflange plates 12, 13 and 14 are preferably composed of a transparent plastic and are either welded or adhesively bonded to thesupply tubes 45 and to thereinforcement ribsor gussets 46 and 47. The size of the openings and therespective collars 43 are sufficient to permit the associatedjet banks 21, 22 or 23 to be respectively withdrawn transversely from thehousing 42 after releasing thebolts 64. When thebolts 64 are released, therespective flange plate 12,

, merals with the letter asupply tubes 45,distributor body 49, andjet tubes 51, 57 can be removed as a unit from thehousing 42.

end which are engaged with the female threads of a retainingcap 55. Thus, the retaining cap 'overlies a retaining pin opening in the wall of thehousing 42, and the retainingpin 54 projects through the retaining pin in threaded engagement with the retainingcap 55. When thejet bank 21 is removed from thehousing 42 by withdrawing it through thecollar 43, the retainingpin 54 can be unscrewed from thecap 55 and removed.

As pointed out previously, thejet tubes 51 extend radially from thedistributor body 49, 50 and each of thetubes 51 is provided withjet nozzles 52 of a conventional construction at the free ends. The jet nozzles 52 are arranged at the ends of therespective tubes 51 in such a manner that the cleaning liquid is sprayed axially and outwardly of the nozzles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The jet nozzles 52 and 58 of thejet bank 21 are disposed to spray the liquid in the direction of the gas flow as shown in FIG. 2, while the corresponding nozzles of thejet banks 22 and 23 are arranged to spray the liquid in a direction opposite to the direction of the gas flow, or toward theinlet 7.

In order to facilitate inspection of the jet banks in operation, an inspection socket, orsight socket 56 is provided in thehousing 42 at the location of each of thejet banks 21, 22 and 23. Each inspection socket is closed by atransparent cover plate 61 by means ofbolts 62. To facilitate inspection, alamp holder 63 may be provided on each of the inspection sockets for carrying a lamp.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified arrangement wherein the wet scrubber is disposed vertically. Parts of the scrubber of FIG. 5 corresponding to parts of the scrubber of FIG. 2 are indicated by the same reference nuappended thereto.

Thewet scrubber 1a of FIG. 5 comprises a cylindrical housing 42a having aninlet 7a and an outlet defined at flange 330 at the upper end of the housing. The housing 42a is formed with asemi-spherical bottom 15a serving as a sump. Mounted in the bottom 15a is a short drain tube having a connecting flange 16a, the drain tube and flange 16a extending along the axis of the housing 42a and being located at the lowermost point of thesemispherical bottom 15a.

The inlet for receiving the gas flow into the housing is defined by an inlet tube mounted in the side wall of the housing 42a near to the bottom 15a, the inlet tube having a flange 20a. The gas mixture to be purified enters the housing 42a in the direction ofarrow 7a through the inlet tube. v

The upper end of the housing 42a is closed by acover 20 which at the same time serves as a reducer and terminates in a connecting flange 33a which defines the outlet for the cleaned gas.

As in the previously described embodiment, wetting means in the form of threejet banks 21a, 22a and 23a are disposed in alternating relationship with packings 24a and 25a. Adroplet separator 59 of conventional construction is located above theuppermost jet bank 23a. Thedroplet separator 59 of FIG. replaces the droplet separator indicated byreference numeral 3 downstream of thehousing 42 in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the FIG. 5 embodiment, the jet banks are connected by means of their respective supply tubes toflange plates 12a, 13a and 14a in a similar manner to thecorresponding flange plates 12, 13 and 1.4 in the FIG. 1 and 2 construction. Thejet banks 21a, 22a and 23a can thus be withdrawn from the housing in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing'42a. Theflange plates 12a, 13a and 14a are preferably transparent as in the previously described embodiment. The embodiment of FIG. 5 also includes inspection or sight sockets 56a for each of the jet banks for inspecting the jet bank. As in the previously described embodiment, an inspection lamp can be mounted on the coverplate for each of the inspection sockets.

The packing 24a is supported on stationary abutment means 60 by means of a removable retaining ring 26a.

Supported above the packing 24a is a removable retaining ring 27a connected by spacer rods 30a to a retaining ring 280. The second packing 25a is supported on the retaining ring 28a, and a retaining ring 29a is supported on the upper side of the packing 25a.Spacer rods 31a secured to the' packing 29a support at their upper ends a retaining ring 32a on which thedroplet separator 59 is supported. Since the housing 42a is dis posed vertically, a retaining ring above thedroplet separator 59 is not required.

Thus, as in the previously described embodiment, FIG. 5 illustrates a wet scrubbing apparatus including a housing 42a having an inlet at a and an outlet at 33a permitting gas flow through the housing 42a; wetting means 2la, 22a and 23a in the housing 42a for wetting gas flowing through the housing with a liquid purging agent; a liquid discharge opening at 16a in the housing 42a for conducting liquid purging agent supplied by the wetting means from the housing; and mounting means removably mounting the wetting means 21a, 22a and 23a in the housing permitting installation and removal of the wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis of the housing. Similarly, packings 24a and 25a are mounted in the housing by packing retaining means 60, 26a, 27a, a, 28a, 29a, 31a and 32a for removably retaining the packings 24a and 25a in the housing for installation and removal axially of the housing.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified packing retaining means for retaining the packings in the wet scrubber housing, particularly thehousing 42 of the FIG. 2 arrangement. In'FlG. 6, corresponding parts are identified 'by the same reference numerals 'as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1t0 3 with the letter b appended thereto.

In FIG. 6, the packing retaining means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining pin assemblies, each of which includes a retainingpin projecting radially inwardly from the side wall of the housing for engagement by the periphery of one of the packings. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining pins 69 extend radially inwardly throughcomplementary holes 65 in the wall of the housing 42b, and provide an abutment .for the packing 24b in'an axial direction. The retaining pins 69 are provided with threadedplugs 71 at their ends which are positioned outside of the housing and which have ahexagonal head 73. The threaded plugs 71 are screwed intosockets 67 which are provided with female threads. The female threads of thesockets 67 are positioned in alignment with ahole 65, and the socket is welded to the outside of thehousing 42.

Theshell 75 of the packing 24b has one .end supported directly on the retaining pins 69 and its other end supported on a retaining ring 27b held in position by retaining pin constructed identically to the retainingpin 69. The retaining pins 70 extend throughholes 66 in the housing 42b and are connected to threadedplugs 72 each having anhexagonal head 74. The threaded plugs 72 are screwed intosockets 68 provided with female threads which in turn are secured to the housing 4212 by welding.

Packing 25 may also be supported by two groups of retaining pins having a construction identical to thepins 69 and 70 on the associated plugs. Thespacer rods 30 and 31 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 are thus not required as the retaining pins serve to axially locate the removable retaining rings in position along the length of the housing. The retainingring 32 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 is also not required when the retaining pin assembly of FIG. 6 is utilized.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that'the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown. Alterations in the construction and arrangement of parts, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim: I

1. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing between said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid dischargeopening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent supplied by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting means in said housing permitting installationand removal of the said wetting means transversely of .the longitudinal axis of said housing; said wetting means comprising at least one jet bank, and said mounting means including an opening in the side wall of said housing and a removable plate covering said opening, said opening being of sufficient size to permit installation and removal therethrough of said jet bank; said mounting means further including a supply tube extending radially from said jet bank with its outer end projecting through said plate for connection with a supply of liquid purging agent; said mounting means further including gusset means extending between said supply tube and said plate; said gusset means including a pair of inner gussets extendingbetween said supply tube and the inner surface of said plate, and a pair of outer gussets extending between said supply tube and the outer side of said plate; said mounting means further including a retaining tube projecting radially from said jet bank; and a retaining pin extending radially inwardly from the housing wall and received in said retaining tube.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a retain: ing pin opening in the wall of said housing, and aretain- 9 ing cap overlying said retaining pin opening, and wherein said retaining pin projects through said retaining pin opening into threaded engagement with said retaining cap.

3. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said jet bank comprises: a central distributor body, and jet spider means mounted on said distributor body.

4. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 3 wherein said jet spider means includes a large spider and a small spider, said spiders being spaced axially from each other.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said spiders includes a plurality of jet tubes projecting radially from said distributor body, the jet tubes of said large spider each having a greater length than the jet tubes of said small spider, each of said jet tubes having jet nozzles at their outer ends for spraying liquid purging agent in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to said housing.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including an out wardly projecting collar surrounding said opening, said plate overlying the outer end of said collar.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wetting means comprises a central distributor body, andjet spider means mounted on said distributor body.

8. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 7 wherein said jet spider means includes a large spider and a small spider, said spiders being spaced axially from each other.

9. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 8 wherein each of said spiders includes a plurality ofjet tubes projecting radially from said distributor, the jet tubes of said large spider each having a greater length than the jet tubes of said small spider, each of said jet tubes having jet nozzles at their outer ends for spraying liquid purging agent in a generally longitudinaldirection with respect to said housing.

' 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet.

11. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 10 including packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing.

12. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 11 wherein said packing retaining means comprises a fixed retaining ring secured to the inner wall of said housing for engagement by one side of said packing near the periphery thereof, and a removable retaining ring axially installable and removable in said housing for engagement by the other side of said packing near the periphery thereof.

13.'Apparatus as claimed inclaim 12 wherein said packing retaining means further comprises a plurality of spacer rods each having one end secured to said removable retaining ring and extending axially therefrom, and a second removable retaining ring secured to the other ends of said spacer rods.

.14. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 13 further including means providing an abutment for said second removable retaining ring.

15. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 11 wherein said packing retaining means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining pin assemblies each including a retaining pin projecting radially inwardly from the side wall of said housing for engagement by the periphery of said packing.

16. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 11 wherein said wetting means comprises at least one jet bank, and said 10 mounting means includes an opening in the side wall of said housing and a removable plate covering said opening, said opening being of sufficient size to permit installation and removal therethrough of said jet bank.

17. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 16 wherein said mounting means further includes a supply tube extending radially from said jet bank with its outer end projecting through said plate for connection with a supply of liquid purging agent.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a sump mounted on the outer side wall of said housing communicating with said liquid discharge opening.

19. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 18 including a liquid discharge opening on each side of each of said packings communicating with said sump, and a drain tube in said sump for conducting liquid from said sump.

20. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 19 wherein the upper end of said drain tube is elevated above the bottom of said sump to provide a minimum liquid level in said sump. v

21. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 20 further including a plurality of separating walls extending from said housing into said sump to a depth below the upper end of said drain tube to prevent gas flowing through said housing from bypassing said packings. I

22. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing be tween said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent supplied by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting meansin said housing permitting installation and removal of said wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis of said housing; at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing; said wetting means comprising at least one jet bank, and said mounting means includes an opening in the side wall of said housing and a removable plate covering said opening, said opening being of sufficient size to permit installation and removal therethrough of said jet bank; said mounting means further including a supply tube extending radially from said jet bank with its outer end projecting through said plate for connection with a supply of liquid purging agent; said mounting means fur ther including a retaining tube projecting radially from each jet bank, and a retaining pin extending radially in,- wardly from the housing wall and received in said retaining tube.

23. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 22 wherein said jet bank comprises: a central distributor body, and jet spider means mounted on said distributor body.

24. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing between said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purgingagent supplied by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting means in said housing permitting installation and removal of said wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis of said hous ing; at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing; said packing retaining means comprises a fixed retaining ring secured to the inner wall of said housing for engagement by one side of said packing near the periphery thereof, and a removable retaining ring axially installable and removable in said housing for engagement by the other side of said packing near the periphery thereof; said packing retaining means further comprising a plurality of spacer rods each having one end secured to said removable retaining ring and extending axially therefrom, and a second removable retaining ring secured to the other ends of said spacer rods; means providing an abutment for said second removable retaining ring.

25. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 24 wherein said last named means includes a second packing supported in said housing.

26. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing be tween said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid discharge opening-in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent supplied by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting means in said housing permitting installation and removal of said wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis if said housing; at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing; said packing retaining means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining pin assemblies each including a retaining pin projecting radially inwardly from the side wall of said housing for engagement by the periphery of said packing, said retaining pin assembly each includes a socket member mounted on the outer wall of the housing, and a co-axial retaining pin opening formed in the wall of said housing for receiving a respective retaining pin.

27. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 26 wherein said retaining pin assembly further includes a plug threadedly mounted in said socket member, said plug having an internally threaded opening, the respective retaining pin being threadedly received therein.

' 28. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 27 including one group of said retaining pin assemblies located on one side of said packing, a retaining ring engaging the other side of said packing at the periphery thereof, and a second group of said retaining pin assemblies engaging the side of said retaining ring opposite said packing.

29. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing 12 having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; a plurality of jet banks mounted in .said housing between said inlet and outlet and spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of said housing for spraying liquid purging agent into said housing; each of said jet banks including a central distributor body located in said housing coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said housing and a pair of jet spiders mounted on said central distributor body in axially spaced relationship with respect to each other, each of said spiders including a plurality of jet tubes projecting radially from said central distributor body with a jet nozzle on the outer ends of each of said jet tubes for spraying liquid purging agent in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to said housing, the jet tubes of one of said spiders being of greater than the jet tubes of said other spider; a plurality of packings in said housing, each of said packings being located between an adjacent pair of said jet banks; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent from said housing; mounting means for mounting said jet banks in said housing for installation and removal in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said housing; and packing retaining means for supporting said packings in said housing for installation and removal in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said housing.

30. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 24 wherein the jet bankilocated nearest said inlet is disposed between said inlet and the packing located nearest said inlet, and is disposed to spray liquid purging agent in the direction of said outlet and hence toward the packing located nearest said inlet, and wherein the other jet banks are disposed to spray liquid purging agent in the direction of said inlet.

'31. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 29 including a droplet separator located downstream of the jet bank nearest said outlet.

32. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 31 including a re ducer secured to said outlet.

33. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 32 wherein said reducer is located downstream of said droplet separa- 1 tor.

34. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 32 wherein said droplet separator is located downstream of said reducer.

35. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 33 wherein said housing is disposed vertically with said reducer mounted on the upper end thereof.

36. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 35 including a semi-spherical bottom secured to the lower end of said housing and defining a sump for liquid purging agent, and a drain tube mounted in the lowermost point of said semi-spherical bottom.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE CORRECTION Patent No. 3,795,089 Dated Ma h 1974 Inventor(s) Karl Reither It is certified that error appears in' the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent .are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8,line 45 before "said" delete ".the".Column 12,line 28 "24" should be -29--.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M'. GIBSON JR; C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Petenrs FORM ponoso uo-ss) v USCOMWDC 371mm 1 U.S. GOVERNMED IT PRINT NG OFFICE: I909 0-356-314

Claims (36)

1. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing between said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent supplIed by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting means in said housing permitting installation and removal of the said wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis of said housing; said wetting means comprising at least one jet bank, and said mounting means including an opening in the side wall of said housing and a removable plate covering said opening, said opening being of sufficient size to permit installation and removal therethrough of said jet bank; said mounting means further including a supply tube extending radially from said jet bank with its outer end projecting through said plate for connection with a supply of liquid purging agent; said mounting means further including gusset means extending between said supply tube and said plate; said gusset means including a pair of inner gussets extending between said supply tube and the inner surface of said plate, and a pair of outer gussets extending between said supply tube and the outer side of said plate; said mounting means further including a retaining tube projecting radially from said jet bank, and a retaining pin extending radially inwardly from the housing wall and received in said retaining tube.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a retaining pin opening in the wall of said housing, and a retaining cap overlying said retaining pin opening, and wherein said retaining pin projects through said retaining pin opening into threaded engagement with said retaining cap.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said jet bank comprises: a central distributor body, and jet spider means mounted on said distributor body.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jet spider means includes a large spider and a small spider, said spiders being spaced axially from each other.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said spiders includes a plurality of jet tubes projecting radially from said distributor body, the jet tubes of said large spider each having a greater length than the jet tubes of said small spider, each of said jet tubes having jet nozzles at their outer ends for spraying liquid purging agent in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to said housing.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including an outwardly projecting collar surrounding said opening, said plate overlying the outer end of said collar.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wetting means comprises a central distributor body, and jet spider means mounted on said distributor body.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said jet spider means includes a large spider and a small spider, said spiders being spaced axially from each other.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said spiders includes a plurality of jet tubes projecting radially from said distributor, the jet tubes of said large spider each having a greater length than the jet tubes of said small spider, each of said jet tubes having jet nozzles at their outer ends for spraying liquid purging agent in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to said housing.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said packing retaining means comprises a fixed retaining ring secured to the inner wall of said housing for engagement by one side of said packing near the periphery thereof, and a removable retaining ring axially installable and removable in said housing for engagement by the other side of said packing near the periphery thereof.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said packing retaining means further comprises a plurality of spacer rods each having one end secured to said removable retaining ring and extending axially therefrom, and a second removAble retaining ring secured to the other ends of said spacer rods.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further including means providing an abutment for said second removable retaining ring.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said packing retaining means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining pin assemblies each including a retaining pin projecting radially inwardly from the side wall of said housing for engagement by the periphery of said packing.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said wetting means comprises at least one jet bank, and said mounting means includes an opening in the side wall of said housing and a removable plate covering said opening, said opening being of sufficient size to permit installation and removal therethrough of said jet bank.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said mounting means further includes a supply tube extending radially from said jet bank with its outer end projecting through said plate for connection with a supply of liquid purging agent.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a sump mounted on the outer side wall of said housing communicating with said liquid discharge opening.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 including a liquid discharge opening on each side of each of said packings communicating with said sump, and a drain tube in said sump for conducting liquid from said sump.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the upper end of said drain tube is elevated above the bottom of said sump to provide a minimum liquid level in said sump.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 further including a plurality of separating walls extending from said housing into said sump to a depth below the upper end of said drain tube to prevent gas flowing through said housing from bypassing said packings.

22. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing between said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent supplied by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting means in said housing permitting installation and removal of said wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis of said housing; at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing; said wetting means comprising at least one jet bank, and said mounting means includes an opening in the side wall of said housing and a removable plate covering said opening, said opening being of sufficient size to permit installation and removal therethrough of said jet bank; said mounting means further including a supply tube extending radially from said jet bank with its outer end projecting through said plate for connection with a supply of liquid purging agent; said mounting means further including a retaining tube projecting radially from each jet bank, and a retaining pin extending radially inwardly from the housing wall and received in said retaining tube.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said jet bank comprises: a central distributor body, and jet spider means mounted on said distributor body.

24. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing between said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent supplied by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting means in said housing permitting installation and removal of said wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis of said housing; at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing; said packing retaining means comprises a fixed retaining ring secured to the inner wall of said housing for engagement by one side of said packing near the periphery thereof, and a removable retaining ring axially installable and removable in said housing for engagement by the other side of said packing near the periphery thereof; said packing retaining means further comprising a plurality of spacer rods each having one end secured to said removable retaining ring and extending axially therefrom, and a second removable retaining ring secured to the other ends of said spacer rods; means providing an abutment for said second removable retaining ring.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said last named means includes a second packing supported in said housing.

26. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; wetting means in said housing between said inlet and outlet for wetting gas flowing through said housing with a liquid purging agent; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent supplied by said wetting means from said housing; and mounting means removably mounting said wetting means in said housing permitting installation and removal of said wetting means transversely of the longitudinal axis if said housing; at least one packing in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; packing retaining means removably retaining said packing in said housing for installation and removal axially of said housing; said packing retaining means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining pin assemblies each including a retaining pin projecting radially inwardly from the side wall of said housing for engagement by the periphery of said packing, said retaining pin assembly each includes a socket member mounted on the outer wall of the housing, and a co-axial retaining pin opening formed in the wall of said housing for receiving a respective retaining pin.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said retaining pin assembly further includes a plug threadedly mounted in said socket member, said plug having an internally threaded opening, the respective retaining pin being threadedly received therein.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 including one group of said retaining pin assemblies located on one side of said packing, a retaining ring engaging the other side of said packing at the periphery thereof, and a second group of said retaining pin assemblies engaging the side of said retaining ring opposite said packing.

29. Wet scrubbing apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet permitting gas flow through said housing; a plurality of jet banks mounted in said housing between said inlet and outlet and spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of said housing for spraying liquid purging agent into said housing; each of said jet banks including a central distributor body located in said housing coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said housing and a pair of jet spiders mounted on said central distributor body in axially spaced relationship with respect to each other, each of said spiders including a plurality of jet tubes projecting radially from said central distributor body with a jet nozzle on the outer ends of each of said jet tubes for spraying liquid purging agent in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to said housing, the jet tubes of one of said spiders being of greater than the jet tubes of said other spider; a plurality of packings in said housing, each of said packings being located between an adjacent pair of said jet banks; at least one liquid discharge opening in said housing for conducting liquid purging agent from said housing; mounting means for mounting said jet banks in said housing for instaLlation and removal in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said housing; and packing retaining means for supporting said packings in said housing for installation and removal in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said housing.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein the jet bank located nearest said inlet is disposed between said inlet and the packing located nearest said inlet, and is disposed to spray liquid purging agent in the direction of said outlet and hence toward the packing located nearest said inlet, and wherein the other jet banks are disposed to spray liquid purging agent in the direction of said inlet.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 including a droplet separator located downstream of the jet bank nearest said outlet.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 31 including a reducer secured to said outlet.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein said reducer is located downstream of said droplet separator.

34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein said droplet separator is located downstream of said reducer.

35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 33 wherein said housing is disposed vertically with said reducer mounted on the upper end thereof.

36. Apparatus as claimed in claim 35 including a semi-spherical bottom secured to the lower end of said housing and defining a sump for liquid purging agent, and a drain tube mounted in the lowermost point of said semi-spherical bottom.

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