Removal of Particulate Matter from Meat-Grilling Fumes Using a Mirror-Symmetrical Multicompartment Scrubber

Abstract

In megacities and urban areas, grilling restaurants have been recognized as major sources of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter under 2.5 mu m (PM2.5). To reduce PM emissions from grilling fumes, we developed and evaluated the performance of both multicompartment (M-type) and mirror-symmetrical multicompartment (MSM-type) scrubbers. M-type scrubbers exhibited a PM removal efficiency of 95.7%+/- 3.7% at a fume flow rate of 6 m(3)/min and a water level of 10 cm, whereas the PM removal efficiency of MSM-type scrubbers was 95.3%+/- 32.5% at a gas flow rate of 12 m(3)/min and a water level of 10 cm. The design parameters for the M-type and MSM-type scrubbers were compared with the parameters for conventional single-type (S-type) scrubbers. Each design parameter for each scrubber was calculated so that the PM in the grilling fumes at a flow rate of 30 m(3)/min could be removed at a >95%rate. The equipment volumes were 2.02, 0.54, and 0.47 m(3) for the S-type, M-type, and MSM-type scrubbers, respectively. The MSM-type scrubber pressure drop was the lowest (141 mm H2O), followed by the M-type scrubber (162 mm H2O), and, finally, the S-type scrubber (220 mm H2O). These results demonstrate that the MSM-type scrubber represents a promising technology for PM reduction from grilling fumes thanks to its compact design, simple operation, and satisfactory PM removal performance.