Technology in Air Pollution Reduction Research Paper

Technology in Air Pollution Reduction - Research Paper Example The paper "Technology in Air Pollution Reduction" discovers Technology in Air Pollution Reduction. Particulate matter can also be removed using an Electrostatic Air Cleaner (or Electrostatic Precipitator). An Electrostatic Air Cleaner is used in industries such as pulp mills, oil & fired utilities and oil refineries. Putantunda suggests that this air pollution control method uses the energy generated by an induced electrostatic charge, to collect particulates from any flowing gas. The filtration devices are efficient and effective in trapping particles, like dust and smoke, from a stream of gas. The mechanism of Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) involves: gas ionization, electric charging of the gas particles, transportation of the particles to the collection surface of the ESP neutralization of the charge of the gas particles and removal of dust particles from the collecting surface. The ESP is advantageous because it is can be modified during manufacture so that it has a near perf ect efficiency of collecting particulates. The electrostatic precipitator can also work automatically when fitted with control devices. An important consideration when determining whether to engage in technology is cost. The ESP has a very low maintenance cost demands. However, the capital required to apply this technology is substantial. This technology is only restricted to trapping particulates only. It is impossible to trap air pollutants like the sulfur oxides using ESP. Sulfur oxide (SO2) is removed.... The incoming exhaust gas is sprayed with limestone generating carbon dioxide and solid calcium sulfate (Kumar, n.d.). The lime scrubber method is also used to remove sulfur oxide where lime instead of limestone is used instead. The scrubbing liquid is usually water. The particulate collection process can be follows four steps: transportation of the particles, collision of the particles with water droplets due to surface tension and the removal of water droplets from the particles. Wet scrubber technique is useful in trapping air pollutants in the form of solids and gases. It is however expensive to maintain because it easily corrodes. Another demerit of using this technology is that, it has a waste system consisting of the scrubbing liquid laden with the pollutants. After it has been used, this liquid poses a danger of water pollution if not properly disposed. Compared to the ESP technology, the wet scrubber uses more energy in terms of electricity. This is because energy is used in the flowing scrubbing liquid that traps air pollutants. However, for the ESP, the only energy applied is for the particulates being collected. Catalytic converters The Advanced Clean Air Technologies (ACAT) unveiled an advanced catalytic converter that can reduce emissions drastically; testing parameters depict a high efficiency in reducing of particulate matter released to the atmosphere and a subsequent air pollution reduction. Catalytic converters involve unsophisticated technology for the appropriate tuning of vehicle engines to control vehicle emissions. For catalytic converters to function properly, they require platinum and palladium catalysts which are attached to a ceramic material. This technology is very effective in controlling car emission as it provides a high