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 μm (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 m3/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 m3/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 m3/min could be removed at a >95%rate. The equipment volumes were 2.02, 0.54, and 0.47 m3 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.