What Are Scrubbers?

Scrubbers are control devices used for removing particles and/or gases from industrial exhaust streams to control air pollution. Many gases need to be scrubbed to meet Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation Requirements (EPA) for example; sulphuric acid gas, hydrochloric acid gas, hydrogen sulphide gas and ammonia gas.

Click on an image for a larger view. Photos above are from Fusion Project PW0840.

How Do They Work?

Scrubbers are usually smaller sized tanks connected to the exhaust piping system of a primary chemical tank. Generally water is used in scrubber systems to neutralise the gases although other chemicals can be used depending on the application, for example caustic soda for hydrochloric acid.

Where Are Scrubbers Used?

Scrubbers are used in a wide variety of industries including:

• Water treatment
• Mining
• Oil and gas
• Food and beverage
• Chemical manufacturing, blending and storage
• Metal processing – galvanising, electroplating and powder coating

What Are They Made With?

Scrubbers are traditionally made with stainless steel and fibreglass for their strength, however stainless steel is prone to corrosion and is expensive when used for fabrication. Fibreglass is prone to distortion and cracking due to it’s low impact resistance and not a very cost-effective solution.

What’s Good About Our Scrubbers?

Fusion can fabricate scrubbers from high quality thermoplastics such as HDPE, UPVC and PP. Thermoplastics have high impact and corrosion resistant properties and are lower in cost to fabricate in comparison to stainless steel and fibreglass options; they’re also a lot easier to repair, if required.

Thermoplastic scrubbers require less maintenance and offer a longer design life meaning reduced operating costs and overall cost savings.

Using design software and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), we can custom design complex plastic structures.

Examples of Work Fusion Has Completed With Scrubbers:

• Wastewater and Water Treatment Company based in WA.
• Filtration and water treatment Company based in NSW
• A leading Water Treatment and Chemical Distribution Company based in NSW.

Our engineering team has experience in mechanical design for scrubbers and degassing systems (read our article on degassing systems) which use gas-liquid contact mechanisms.

With a proven track record, we are ready to assist you with the design and build of your next Scrubber project.