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Mahatma Education Society’s Transactions and Journals’ Conference Proceedings on CTFC 2019 ISBN 978-93-82626-27-5

PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF VENTURI SCRUBBER

*S. B. Kadam (Researcher Department of Mechanical Engineering, Veermata
Jijabai Technological Institute, Matunga (Mumbai), India)
N. P. Gulhane (Associate Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Matunga (Mumbai), India )
Abstract:
Radioactive emissions are released from the molten core into reactor containment during the failure
of nuclear power plant (NPP) due to severe accident. The technology called “Filtered Vented
containment system (FVCS)” is the necessity in nuclear power plant for the removal of gaseous
pollutants. The Self – Priming venturi scrubbers are the most efficient scrubbing device for the
collection of gaseous pollutants and fine particles. Venturi Scrubbers frequently collect gaseous
pollutants and particulate matter from the contaminated gas stream in the form of droplets formed
due to liquid atomization. The main purpose of this literature review regarding the Venturi Scrubber
to make modified optimum design to improve the performance of Venturi Scrubber as per the
required safety regulation standards.

Keywords:
Nuclear power plant, Filtered vented containment system, Particulate matter, Venturi Scrubber.

Submitted on: 01/11/2018

Revised on: 15/12/2018
Accepted on: 24/12/2018

*Corresponding Author Email: sbk8083@gmail.com Phone:

capture various contaminants from the contaminated

I. INTRODUCTION
Air pollution problems are major concern due to
rapid industrial development. Recently the
enormous efforts have been made to develop new
technologies to control the pollution and to improve
the old technologies. When the severe accident in
Nuclear Power Plant takes place, the highly
radioactive fission products are released from the
molten core into the containment which creates
health issues of human being and is the hazard for
the environment due to its release to atmosphere. In
the severe accident of nuclear power plant (NPP),
the fission products are released from the molten
core into the containment (Feng and Xinrong,
2009)[1]. FCVS is used to reduce the intensity of
radioactive effects. The gaseous pollutants and
Particulate matter can be removed by using the
different designs of FVCS from the contaminated
region (Schlueter and Schmitz, 1990)[2]. Venturi is
the most competent device from 20th Century to
remove the gaseous pollutants and particulate matter
from the contaminated region. This kind of scrubber
uses an appropriate liquid (commonly water) to
in gas stream (Guilbert et al., 2007)[3]. There are
three main sections of venturi scrubber as shown in
figure 1.
Fig.1: Schematic Diagram of a Venturi
The convergent part accelerates gas for
atomizing the scrubbing liquid. The interaction of
liquid and gas takes place in throat. There is some
amount of pressure recovery due to deceleration of
gas in a diffuser. The venturi scrubber can be
rectangular or circular in cross section. There are
two ways for the injection of liquid into venturi
scrubber; force feed methods by using pumps or self
– priming methods due to pressure variation in
between scrubbing liquid pressure and gas pressure
(Lenher, 1998)[4]. In Pease – Anthony venturi
scrubber, the liquid is injected at throat through the

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Mahatma Education Society’s Transactions and Journals’ Conference Proceedings ISBN 978-93-82626-27-5
orifices and liquid spray is used in an Ejector venturi
scrubber (Gemisan et al., 2002)[5]. The venturi
scrubber is one of the most prominent wet scrubbers
because of simple structure, easy to install, no
moving parts, can handle flammable and explosive
dust and low maintenance. It has more power
consumption for its operation. The main objective is
to report the detailed review of research carried out
by the previous researchers regarding the
performance of Venturi Scrubber.
Important Parameters Considered In Venturi
Scrubber Performance
Pressure drop, atomization, size of droplets,
droplet dispersion, and injection method and
collection mechanism are important parameters for
Venturi Scrubber Performance. It is necessary to
predict these parameters more accurately for the
optimization.
Pressure Drop: Pressure drop is the one of the
integral parameter of Venturi Scrubber. There are
many models are developed to predict pressure drop
experimentally and theoretically.
Calvert model(1970)[6] explains the
significance of change in momentum of droplets and
pressure drop.
Assumptions in Calvert model:
• Droplet entered with zero velocity
(axial)
• Negligible Liquid fraction at any cross
section
• Uniform size of droplet
• Atomization of liquid
• Flow was on dimensional,
incompressible and adiabatic
Calvert model (1970)[6] does not contain the
geometry variations and its effect on the
performance.
Mathematical model developed by Boll
(1973)[7] constituting simultaneous equation of
momentum exchange and drop motion. The
important assumption made by Boll is disintegration
of liquid forming tiny droplets.
Hesketh (1974)[8] explained the importance of
gas velocity at and L/G ratio to estimate the pressure
drop. Hesketh assumed that the energy required for
droplets acceleration is equal to gas velocity at
throat.
Yung et al., (1974)[9] developed model for
pressure drop and he assumed that the droplet did
not achieve the velocity of gas. Yung et
CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE CITIES (CTFC) 2019
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al.,(1978)[10] obtained Nukiyama and Tanaswa
correlation for identical droplets and also gives drag
coefficient correlation of droplets.
Vishwanathan (1984)[11] model obtained
pressure drop in Pease – Anthony venturi scrubber
in the form of L/G ratio, gas velocity at throat,
venturi geometry and liquid film flow rate and
compared the data with Calvert, Hesketh and Boll’s
correlation. Different losses are considered in this
model.
Allen et al.,(1996)[12] estimated the total
pressure drop is a function of operating conditions
separately for dry and wet situations.
Gonacalves et al.,(2001)[13] considered all
previous models and compared the experimental
results of different venturi scrubbers and concluded
that selection of model is important and more
attention must be paid for the same.
Gamisan et al.,(2002)[5] revealed the effect of
throat diameter, throat span and spray angle on
pressure drop of Ejector.
Silva et al.,(2009)[14] predicted the pressure
drop for different liquid penetration and studied the
effect L/G ratio and gas velocity at throat.
Vishwanathan (1998)[15] model predicted the
effect of orifice diameter, gas velocity at throat and
film thickness.
There are several correlations available, both
theoretical and experimental to predict the pressure
variation. The mathematical model for pressure
variation by each investigator is different as all of
them considered different parameters to calculate
pressure drop.
Particle Collection Efficiency
The particle collection efficiency of Venturi
Scrubber is affected by various parameters like
particle size and size distribution, gas velocity;
Liquid-to-Gas ratio etc. The basic approach for the
collection of small particles is through the
evaluation of unit mechanisms that can occur in the
control device. The “Scrubber Handbook” by
Calvert, et al. (1972)[17] describes various
mechanisms of particle collections. The collection
by drops is the predominant mechanism occurring in
the venturi scrubber. Particle collection by liquid
drops may arise through several mechanisms or
phenomena, such as inertial impaction. The inertial
impaction occurs as a result of a change in velocity
between particles suspended in a gas, and gas itself
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Mahatma Education Society’s Transactions and Journals’ Conference Proceedings ISBN 978-93-82626-27-5
Ekman and Johnstone (1951)[18] studied
different parameters to enhance the venturi scrubber
performance.
Calvert (1970)[6] predicted the collection
efficiency by developing mathematical model.
Boll (1973)[7] developed model and calculated
collection efficiency which includes effect of
geometry and drag coefficient.
Hesketh (1974)[8] predicted collection
efficiency relied on pressure drop, throat area and
L/G ratio.
Yung et al. (1978)[10] used Calvert equation
with modification and predicted the particle
collection.
Placek and Peters (1981)[19] predicted that the
throat length, venturi design, location of injection
liquid and operating variable parameters (L/G ratio
and velocity of gas at throat) affect the efficiency.
Cooper and Leith (1984)[20] developed model
and studied the various parameters to enhance the
scrubber performance
Rudnick et al. (1986)[21] found that Yung’s
model performed better compared to other models.
Allen (1996)[12] predicted grade efficiency for
variable geometries.
Pulley (1997)[22] predicted the venturi scrubber
performance on the basis of liquid injection method
and revealed the pressure drop and collection
efficiency.
Gamisans et al., (2004)[23] predicted the
absorption of the contaminants in venturi through
hydrodynamic model. Experimentally it was found
that the removal efficiency varies with the liquid
film thickness.
The computational model by using Eularian –
Langrangian for three phase flow developed by Pak
and Chang (2006)[24] estimated the venturi
performance.
Monabbati et al. (1989)[25] model estimated the
efficiency of venturi scrubber. This model predicted
the effect of particle size, liquid and gas flow rates.
Goel and Hollands (1977)[26] developed design
procedure for optimization of venturi scrubber. In
order to optimize Venturi design, the charts were
developed.
Mayinger and Lehner (1995)[27] studied the
operating conditions It was found that multistage
injection of liquid affects the improvement of
separation efficiency.
Droplet Dispersion:
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Lehner (1998)[4] observed the
disintegration of liquid via photography in a self –
priming venturi scrubber. It was found that the liquid
penetration was more sensitive to velocity of gas at
throat. There was no difference observed on the
basis of method of feed.
Roberts and Hill (1981)[28] studied liquid
disintegration process in different designs of
venturi.
Viswanathan et al (1983)[29] predicted the
liquid penetration is important for uniform coverage
of throat. It was found that the dust collection
efficiency was increased with increase in L/G ratio.
It was also found that liquid flux distribution is
highly dependent on L/G ratio.
Size of Droplet:
The collection efficiency of drop depends on its
size and hence to model the particle collection by a
venturi scrubber, one should know the atomized
liquid drop size. Several correlations are available
for estimating the average liquid drop size. Each of
this correlation is applicable to a certain range of
operating conditions and properties like surface
tension, viscosity and density. The Nukiyama and
Tansawa correlation gives the mean droplet
diameter for standard air and water in venturi
scrubber.
Over the last 30 years a plenty of research have
been done which report drop size data for venturi
scrubbers. The correlation of Nukiyama and
Tanasawa (1938)[30] has been used extensively
over many years to find average liquid drop size.
Parker and Cheong (1973)[31] presented drop size
data in a venturi where liquid film is considering for
the wetted approach. Azzopardi et al.,(20010[32]
and team estimated the drop sizes in venturi
scrubbers with higher accuracy and concluded that
gas velocity is the main factor influencing drop size
in venturi scrubbers where the liquid to gas (L/G)
ratio plays a negligible role.
II. CONCLUSION:
This report gives the detailed review of research
carried out in the last few decades regarding the
Venturi Scrubber performance to make modified
optimum design to improve the Venturi Scrubber
performance as per the required safety regulation
standards. It also revealed that the performance of
venturi scrubber depends upon so many parameters
namely Venturi geometry, Pressure drop, liquid flow
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Mahatma Education Society’s Transactions and Journals’ Conference Proceedings ISBN 978-93-82626-27-5
, gas flow rate, injection method, droplet dispersion,
atomization and collection mechanism
III. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors thank TEQIP-II-VJTI for providing the
research funds. The authors also express their
gratitude to Director VJTI for the logistics support
in the research and M.Tech (Thermal Engg.)
students for their support in the experimental work.
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[31] Parker, G. J., Cheong, K. C., 1973. Air-water tests on

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