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Specifying Venturi Scrubber Throat Length for

Effective Particle Capture at Minimum Pressure
Loss Penalty
a

Howard E. Hesketh & Krishna Mohan

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA

Version of record first published: 12 Mar 2012.

To cite this article: Howard E. Hesketh & Krishna Mohan (1983): Specifying Venturi Scrubber Throat Length for
Effective Particle Capture at Minimum Pressure Loss Penalty, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, 33:9,
854-857
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1983.10465662

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Specifying Venturi Scrubber Throat Length

for Effective Particle Capture at
Minimum Pressure Loss Penalty

Howard E. Hesketh and Krishna Mohan

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Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, Illinois

A simplified equation for specifying the optimum minimum length

Previous studies

for commercial venturi scrubber throats is presented in this paper.

The EPA study by Calvert1 derived a relation for collection

efficiency as a function of throat length, as shown in Figure
1. In this figure the terms used are:
d 2V *
KP0 = ^ T
(1)

This theoretical correlation is derived using an optimum velocity ratio

(velocity of collector droplet at end of venturi throat to velocity of gas
in throat) and is a function of throat gas velocity and liquid to gas ratio.
This velocity ratio establishes the minimum throat length and is based
on available literature data. Predicted venturi scrubber particle col-

R =

lection for throats specified by this procedure compare favorably with

(Q g )(Pg)C D o
_3CD0Xtpg
2d d p d

reported commercial venturi collection efficiencies and with modeled

venturi efficiencies over the practical range of venturi scrubber operation.

where

Venturi scrubbers are widely used for the control of particulate air pollution emissions. Much of the commercial venturi
collection data is either unavailable or in a form that is unusable. One of the most comprehensive studies undertaken
to correlate venturi collection efficiency with design and operating parameters was assembled under an EPA contract by
Yung et al.1 This study includes the effects of converger,
throat, and diverger on particle collection efficiency. However,
the correlation procedures are very detailed and complex and
a simplified approximation is needed.
Most of the particle collection in a venturi occurs by inertial
impaction in the throat and it occurs within a few inches from
where the liquid is atomized. Additionally, about another 5%
occurs in the downstream diverger section. The bulk of collection which occurs at the throat is related to the velocity of
the gas, the amount of liquid, and how long it takes to accelerate the collector droplets. Therefore, the throat length of
a venturi will influence collection efficiency and is significant.
To a limited degree, the longer the throat, the more efficient
the scrubber. However, the gas phase pressure loss also increases with throat length, so it is imperative for economical
operation to optimize the length of the throat.
Copyright 1983-Air Pollution Control Association

854

impaction parameter at entrance of the

throat, dimensionless
B a dimensionless parameter for the
throat
CDO drag coefficient of droplet at point of
liquid injection, dimensionless.
L = dimensionless throat length (where
droplet initial axial velocity s 0)
Pt = penetration, which is 1 minus fractional
efficiency
dd = liquid drop diameter, fim
dp = particle diameter, /xm
Qi = liquid volumetric flow rate
Q g = gas volumetric flow rate
3
p d = liquid density, g/cm
3
Pg = gas density, g/cm
Hg = gas viscosity, g/(cm s)
X t = throat length

Kpo

Associated with the L term would be a factor to account for

diverger length if appropriate. Note from Figure 1 that efficiency (-In Pt/B) increases rapidly up to 2-3 dimensionless
throat lengths and increases little beyond about 4 throat
lengths.
Crowder et al.2 calculates minimum venturi throat lengths
required for atomized droplets to reach gas velocity for various
velocities with liquid to gas ratio as a parameter, as shown in
Figure 2. This shows that at any given velocity, the throat
length required to enable an atomized droplet to reach the gas
velocity increases as the liquid to gas ratio (L/G) increases.
Reflected in these data is the fact that particle collection efJournal of the Air Pollution Control Association

4. Collection drops are atomized water of uniform diameter, with a mean size as predicted by the simplified
Nukiyama and Tanasawa4 equation.
5. Liquid is injected at the throat of the venturi with no
axial velocity.

0.01

0.1

1.0

100

10

Dimensionless throat length, L

Figure 1.

An evaluation of the data referenced above reveals that a

key parameter in determining how long the throat should be
is the ratio of droplet velocity at the exit of the throat (Vde)
divided by the throat gas velocity (Vst)- This velocity ratio,
Vfe/Vgu indicates the velocity difference between particles
in the gas and the mean collector droplet and is therefore directly related to impaction parameter and collection efficiency. In addition, throat length increased pressure drop.
From a practical point of view, velocity ratios >0.8 require
throats which are too long (pressure drop too high) and ratios
<0.3 use throats which are too short (collection efficiency too
low).

Effect of venturi throat length on particle penetration.1

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ficiency increases rapidly as throat length increases up to

about 8 in. and little increase is obtained as length is increased
beyond about 12 in. However, this is influenced by liquid to
gas ratio.
It has been shown3 that in a typical venturi scrubber,
scrubbing liquid injected into the throat is pneumatically
atomized when it is moving at a velocity of about 15.3 ft/s. The
same study observed that when stationary 100 jum glass particles are introduced into a venturi throat they leave the diffuser of a conventional venturi at velocities equal to about half
the initial throat gas velocities and twice the exit gas velocities.

120

L/G = 30gal/1000ft3

/
/

100

/
20

80

60

/ /

40

12.5

7.5
-

20
n
0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

Velocity ratio V^g, dimensionless

Figure 3. Venturi scrubber pressure drop vs. velocity ratio as

a function of liquid to gas ratio.1

100

200

300

400

500

600

Throat velocity, ft/sec

Figure 2.

Minimum venturi contactor length vs. velocity.2

Procedures for This Evaluation

This study attempts to develop a meaningful and simplified

relationship for establishing minimum venturi scrubber throat
length as a function of throat velocity and liquid to gas ratio
at particle collection efficiencies comparable to conventional
and accepted scrubber system data. The following assumptions are used:
1. The gas is air at standard conditions.
2. Flow is incompressible, one-dimensional, and isothermal.
3. Liquid drops are spread uniformly across the venturi
cross-section.
September 1983

Volume 33, No. 9

Calvert's data1 can be used to show the relationship of velocity ratio on pressure drop. Figure 3 plots these data for
pressure drop versus velocity ratio as a function of liquid to
gas ratio.
A review of commercial venturi scrubbers operating at 200
ft/s shows that as they operate with various liquid to gas ratios
the velocity ratio changes. This can be calculated using the
available design data and Fuch's5 solution to the unsteady
state equation of motion for a liquid droplet in a constant
velocity gas stream. This is shown in Figure 4 for venturi
scrubbers operating at 200 ft/s. Figure 4 correlates with Figure
2, which shows that droplet acceleration is more rapid when
less scrubbing liquid is used, all other factors held constant.
As a result of massing such data and observations, a logical
range of velocity ratios becomes apparent. To summarize, low
ratios tend toward lower collection efficiencies, yet high ratios
result in excessive pressure drops (AP), as shown in Figure 3.
Commercial venturi scrubbers, the design of which has been
established by trial and error procedures and testing, operate
at velocity ratios of 0.5 or greater at liquid to gas ratios of about
28 gal/1000 acf or less as shown in Figure 4. Yet little efficiency
increase occurs beyond (a) 4 throat lengths or (b) about 12 in.,
and proper system design does not require liquid to gas ratios
greater than 28 for effective particle collection. The apparent
optimum velocity ratio for effective particle collection and
maximized energy efficiency is a value close to, but not less
855

than 0.5. The optimum velocity ratio of 0.5 is assumed in this

paper as the basis for venturi scrubber throat length design.
The subsequent design data are then verified showing this is
a good value.
Establishing Venturi Scrubber Throat Length

Using an optimum velocity ratio (Vde/Vgt) of 0.5 and the

assumptions stated, a generalized equation for minimum
throat length is developed as follows. A range of liquid to gas
ratios and throat gas velocities typical to conventional in-

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10

15

20

25

Eq. 5 is integrated to obtain throat length, X t , at a velocity of

0.5 for throat velocities from 66 to 300 ft/s and for liquid to gas
ratios from 7.5 to 30 gal/1000 acf. These are the ranges of
throat gas velocities and liquid to gas ratios of greatest interest
to industry. The results are given in Table II.
The data from Table II are plotted in Figure 5 and lines are
drawn to smooth the data. It is interesting to note that these
lines intersect at 15.3 ft/s, which is the value observed by
Hesketh3 as the velocity at which liquid streams are atomized
in a venturi scrubber. Note that effectiveness of pneumatic
atomization to form water droplets decreases below about 150
ft/s, although relatively fair atomization still occurs at velocities of about 80 ft/s. Below this velocity, atomization may not
be sufficient to produce adequate particle collection droplets.
Below 15.3 ft/s essentially no droplets would be formed by
pneumatic atomization.

30

Liquid to gas ratio L/G, gallons/1000 acf

Figure 4. Velocity ratio vs. liquid to gas ratio for typical
venturi scrubbers operating at 200 ft/s.

dustrial venturi scrubbers is used to obtain the Sauter mean

diameter of the atomized droplets by the simplified Nukiyama-Tamasawa4 equation assuming air and water:
29.6 (L/G)

(4)

gt
10

where Vst = gas throat velocity, cm/s

15.3

30

60

100

300

600

Throat gas velocity V g t , ft/sec

dd = liquid drop diameter, jum

Figure 5. Venturi scrubber throat length vs. throat gas velocity for the velocity
ratio of 0.5.

L/G = liquid to gas ratio, L/m3

Table I. Sauter mean diameter of drops obtained by the Nukiyama-Tanasawa

equation.
Mean droplet diameter, dd, in nm for
gas velocities, VRt, ft/s (cm/s) of
Liquid to gas ratio
gal/1000 acf
L/m3
7.5

12.5
20
30

1005
1675
268
402

66

120

150

200

300

(2000)

(3658)

(4572)

(6096)

(9199)

280
315
380
488

167
200
267
375

140
175
240
348

112
147
212
321

85
119
185
294

These results are given in Table I.

Fuch's5 solution to the unsteady state equation of motion
for accelerating particles in a constant velocity gas stream
is:

(5)

The generalized equation for minimum venturi scrubber

throat length is derived from Figure 5:
X t = 328.582 ygt[o.O2343(L/G) - 0.8657] eXp[-0.063(L/G)]

(7)

where X t = throat length, inches

L/G = liquid to gas ratio, gal/1000 acf

where subscripts f and i denote final and initial conditions and

Red is droplet Reynolds number.
The Dickinson and Marshall equation6 is used to obtain the
drag coefficient, CT>:
94

CD = 0.22 + - p - (1 + 0.15 Red0-6)

Red
856

(6)

Vgt = throat gas velocity, ft/s

Validation of Findings

The theoretical, generalized Eq. 7 for minimum venturi

throat length can be compared for particle collection efficiency
Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association

Table II. Integrated values of throat length at the velocity ratio

of 0.5.
Throat length, X t , in inches for
Liquid gas ratio
throat velocities in ft/s of
300
150
66
120
200
gal/1000 acf
7.5
12.5

'

11.5
14.1
18.6
24.2

20
30

7.23
9.18
13.22
20.73

6.2
8.4

12.53
20.55

5.22
7.14
11.22
19.94

5.83
11.11
20.2

1.0

1 1 1 1 11

using reported data and procedures. An estimated efficiency

for standard venturi scrubbers designed using Eq. 7 for the
throat lengths plus conventional diverger sections can be
calculated using the procedures of Yung.1 This is done for
1

In the range of pressure drops from 5 to 25 in. water gauge,

data from this study agree well for 1-jwn particles with the
majority of available venturi scrubber data. Conventional
venturi scrubbers usually do not operate at efficiencies of
greater than 90% on l-/n particles, so it can be concluded that
most of the data agree. The accuracy of the reported Leisegang
scrubber data is unknown.
Summary and Conclusions

The velocity ratio is a key parameter in venturi scrubber

performance. An optimum velocity ratio of 0.5 is used based
on measured values of particle collection efficiency and
pressure drop data. This optimum velocity ratio is used to
develop a mathematical correlation between throat length,
gas throat velocity, and liquid to gas ratio. The equation for
minimum venturi scrubber throat length (Eq. 7) is used to
predict venturi throat lengths as a function of throat velocities
and liquid to gas ratios. Predicted particle collection efficiences in venturi scrubbers designed with these throat lengths
are compared to empirical venturi data for l-/im size particles;
within the ranges of typical venturi operation, the correlation
is good.

1
0.1

Illl I I

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References
This study

0.01

\ \ Schifftner
^ H e s k e t h empirical ^ -

0.01

\
Leisegang
venturi 8

Calvert cut
diameter 7

0.001
0

10

20
30
40
Venturi AP, inches H2O

Figure 6. Comparison of predicted venturi scrubber

efficiencies on 1-/xm particles for various designs.

l-fim particles and the results for this study are plotted as
Figure 6. Also in Figure 6 are shown predicted efficiencies for
l-/tm particles estimated by the Cut Diameter Theory,7 by the
commercial Leisegang Venturi,8 and by the compilation of
industrial scrubber data.9

September 1983

1. S. C. Yung, S. Calvert, H. F. Barbarika, "Venturi Scrubber Performance Model," EPA-600/2-77-172, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, August 1977.
2. J. W. Crowder, K. E. Noll, W. T. Davis, "Modeling of venturi
scrubber efficiency, " Atmos. Environ. 16: 2009 (1982).
3. H. E. Hesketh, "Atomization and cloud behavior in venturi
scrubbing," JAPCA. 23: 600 (1973).
4. S. Nukiyama, Y. Tanasawa, "An experiment on the atomizaton
of liquid by means of an air stream," Trans. Soc. Mech. Eng.
(Japan) 4: 86 (1938).
5. N. A. Fuchs, The Mechanics of Aerosols, C. N. Davies, ed., Pergamon Press, Elmsford, NY, 1964.
6. D. R. Dickinson, W. R. Marshall, AIChE J. 14: 541 (1968).
7. S. Calvert, "How to choose a particulate scrubber," Chem. Eng.
84: 54 (1977).
8. "Scrubber trims wastewater discharge," Chem. Eng. 89: 53
(1982).
9. K. C. Schifftner, H. E. Hesketh, Wet Scrubbers, Ann Arbor Science
Publishers, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI 1982.

Volume 33, No. 9

Howard E. Hesketh, P.E. is a Professor of Air Pollution

Control Engineering at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, and Chairman of APCA's Education
Council. Krishna Mohan holds an M.S. in Engineering from
the Department of Thermal and Environmental Engineering
at Southern Illinois University. This technical paper was
submitted for editorial review on February 7, 1983; the revised manuscript was received June 20,1983.

857