Mist eliminator inertial impaction

Acid mist eliminators use three aerosol collection mechanisms inertial impaction, interception, and Brownian motion. Inertial impaction works well for aerosols having particle diameters larger than 3 p.m Brownian motion and interception work well with aerosols having smaller particle diameters. 

In drying towers of sulfur-burning plants, mesh pads or inertial impaction-type mist eliminators are usually adequate. High efficiency mist eliminators are usually used in drying towers of spent acid or metallurgical plants. 

One of the problems associated with sulfuric acid is its tendency to form mists. The liquid particles in mists are by definition 10 xm or less in diameter, and sulfuric acid mists range down into the submicron sizes. Particles larger than about 3 p,m are collected efficiently by inertial impact, but Brownian motion becomes the predominant mechanism below 1 p,m. Wire-mesh and other common impingement-type mist eliminators therefore lose their efficiency below 1 or 5 pm. 

---