Commercial Applications of Rocket Technology: the Charged Droplet Scrubber (Cds)

Document Number: 751097

Date Published: February 1975

Author(s):
H. L. Burge - TRW Systems Group
W. Krieve - TRW Systems Group
R. Koppang - TRW Systems Group
M. Huberman - TRW Systems Group

Abstract:
An electric propulsion research program funded by the Air Force has provided the technology basis for a new environmental control system called the Charged Droplet Scrubber. To date, the Charged Droplet Scrubber has demonstrated that it is a low-cost, highly effective method of removing particulates from industrial sources of gas pollutants. The Charged Droplet Scrubber was conceived during the early development of an electrostatic colloid thruster for low thrust propulsion of spacecraft. The thruster research program is managed by the Air Force Systems Command's Rocket Propulsion Laboratory and is conducted by TRW Systems Group. A joint venture company, with TRW and Mitsubishi Corp. as partners, is developing and commercializing the new scrubber device.

The colloid thruster operates by accelerating charged droplets through an electrostatic field. These droplets leave the thruster at a very high velocity, thus providing the small amount of thrust required for certain spacecraft operations, such as stationkeeping. The operating principle of the scrubber is similar to that of the colloid thruster; the primary difference is that charged water droplets are used to impact and collect dust particles instead of being discharged to provide thrust. The water containing the trapped particles is collected for subsequent treatment.

A comparison between the Charged Droplet Scrubber and the more conventional electrostatic precipitator, both operating at the same high collection efficiency, indicates that the new scrubber system requires less volume and lower first cost. Additionally, the power, and therefore the operating costs, are lower for the Charged Droplet Scrubber.

The Charged Droplet Scrubber program has advanced from laboratory evaluation, through pilot scale evaluations, to a total of seven commercial installations. During laboratory tests, a number of tests and industrial dusts were evaluated in a program to develop design data to assess the commercial feasibility of the concept. Subsequently, eight pilot scale systems were fabricated and installed in asphalt plants, pulp and paper plants, electric utilities, and steel mills. The results of these pilot scale tests met all technical objectives. To date, seven commercial installations have been completed and are in operation

Product Status: In Stock

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