Claims
- 1. A control system for controlling the scrubbing of particles from an airflow comprising:
- a) at least one wet scrubber to which liquid and the airflow is applied, for scrubbing particles from the airflow, and having an input and an output;
- b) a first sensor for detecting particles in the airflow at the input of the wet scrubber;
- c) a second sensor for detecting particles at the output of the wet scrubber,
- d) a controller for receiving the outputs of the first and second sensors to monitor the amount of particles detected at the input and output of the wet scrubber;
- e) a liquid regulator responsive to the controller for adjusting the amount of liquid applied to the input of the wet scrubber; and
- f) adjusting means in the wet scrubber responsive to the controller for controlling the velocity of the airflow through the wet scrubber.
- 2. A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller compares the amount of particles detected by the second sensor at the output of the wet scrubber with a predetermined level and signals the liquid regulator to adjust the quantity of liquid applied to the wet scrubber as a result of the comparison, and signals the adjusting means to adjust the velocity of the airflow through the wet scrubber as a result of the comparison.
- 3. A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller determines the absence of particles detected at the first sensor and, after a preset time interval, signals the liquid regulator to reduce the quantity of liquid applied to the input of the wet scrubber, and signals the adjusting means to decrease the maximum airflow velocity through the wet scrubber so that the wet scrubber assumes an idling condition.
- 4. A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting means includes tiltable plates mounted in the airflow in the wet scrubber and whose angular position in the airflow is set by the controller to control the velocity of the airflow through the wet scrubber.
- 5. A control system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an enclosed exhaust air chamber connected to the wet scrubber at its output, and an exhaust mechanism in communication with the enclosed exhaust air chamber for drawing the airflow through the wet scrubber.
- 6. A control system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a drain positioned at the bottom of the enclosed exhaust air chamber for collecting liquid and sludge from the output of the wet scrubber, and a sludge pump responsive to and activated by the controller for disposing of liquid and sludge from the drain.
- 7. A control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the exhaust mechanism includes an exhaust duct connected to the enclosed exhaust air chamber for carrying away scrubbed air, a bypass duct connected to the exhaust duct, a filter in the bypass duct, and a valve responsive to the controller positioned in the exhaust duct to divert airflow through the bypass duct and filter during conditions where the particles detected at the second sensor at the output of the wet scrubber are at an unacceptable level.
- 8. A control system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a manual switch for restoring the controller to an operating condition.
- 9. A control system for controlling the scrubbing of particles from an airflow comprising:
- a) at least one wet scrubber to which liquid and the airflow is applied, for scrubbing particles from the airflow, and having an input and an output;
- b) a sensor for detecting particles at the output of the wet scrubber;
- c) a controller for receiving the outputs of the sensor to monitor the amount of particles detected at the output of the wet scrubber;
- d) a liquid regulator responsive to the controller for adjusting the amount of liquid applied to the input of the wet scrubber; and
- e) adjusting means in the wet scrubber responsive to the controller for controlling the velocity of the airflow through the wet scrubber.
- 10. A control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the adjusting means includes tiltable plates mounted in the airflow in the wet scrubber and whose angular position in the airflow is set by the controller to control the velocity of the airflow through the wet scrubber.
- 11. A control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller compares the amount of particles detected by the sensor at the output of the wet scrubber with a predetermined level and signals the liquid regulator to adjust the quantity of liquid applied to the wet scrubber as a result of the comparison, and signals the adjusting means to adjust the velocity of the airflow through the wet scrubber as a result of the comparison.
- 12. A control system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an enclosed exhaust air chamber connected to the wet scrubber at its output, and an exhaust mechanism in communication with the enclosed exhaust air chamber for drawing the airflow through the wet scrubber.
- 13. A control system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a drain positioned at the bottom of the enclosed exhaust air chamber for collecting liquid and sludge from the output of the wet scrubber, and a sludge pump responsive to and activated by the controller for disposing of liquid and sludge from the drain.
- 14. A control system for controlling the scrubbing of paint particles from discharge air in the scrubber section of a paint spray booth, comprising:
- a) a plurality of wet scrubbers spaced at intervals in the scrubber section of the paint spray booth for scrubbing paint particles in the discharge air during paint spraying, each wet scrubber having an inlet for receiving discharge air and an outlet;
- b) an enclosed exhaust air chamber connected to each wet scrubber at its outlet;
- c) a first sensor at the inlet of each wet scrubber for detecting paint particles in the discharge air;
- d) a second sensor at the respective outlet of each wet scrubber for detecting paint particles in the exhaust air;
- e) a controller associated with each wet scrubber for receiving the outputs of the respective first and second sensors of the associated wet scrubber to monitor the amount of paint particles at the inlet and outlet of the associated wet scrubber;
- f) a water regulator for each wet scrubber responsive to the associated controller for adjusting the quantity of water applied to the inlet of the associated wet scrubber;
- g) adjusting means in each wet scrubber responsive to the associated controller for controlling the velocity of the discharge air through the associated wet scrubber;
- and
- h) an exhaust air duct connected to each enclosed exhaust air chamber, for exhausting scrubbed air from the paint spray booth;
- I) whereby each controller controls the quantity of water applied by the responsive water regulator to the inlet of the associated wet scrubber and the velocity of the discharge air by adjustment of the responsive adjusting means.
- 15. A control system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each controller compares the amount of particles detected by the respective second sensor at the outlet of the associated wet scrubber with a predetermined level and signals the responsive regulator to adjust the quantity of water applied to the wet scrubber as a result of the comparison, and signals the responsive adjusting means to adjust the velocity of the airflow through the wet scrubber as a result of the comparison.
- 16. A control system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each adjusting means includes tiltable plates mounted in the airflow in the associated wet scrubber and whose angular position in the airflow is set by the responsive controller to control the velocity of the airflow through the associated wet scrubber.
- 17. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each wet scrubber includes an enclosed exhaust air chamber connected thereto at its outlet, and an exhaust mechanism in communication with the enclosed exhaust air chamber for drawing the airflow through the associated wet scrubber.
- 18. A control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein each enclosed exhaust air chamber has a drain positioned at its bottom for collecting liquid water and sludge from the outlet of the associated wet scrubber, and a sludge pump responsive to and activated by the associated controller for disposing of water and sludge from the drain.
- 19. A control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein each exhaust mechanism includes an exhaust duct connected to the respective enclosed exhaust air chamber for carrying away scrubbed air, a bypass duct connected to the exhaust duct, a filter in the bypass duct, and a valve responsive to the associated controller positioned in the exhaust duct to divert airflow through the bypass duct and filter during conditions where the particles detected at the second sensor at the outlet of the associated wet scrubber are at an unacceptable level.
- 20. A control system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each controller determines the absence of particles detected at the associated first sensor and, after a preset time interval, signals the responsive water regulator to reduce the quantity of water applied to the inlet of the associated wet scrubber, and signals the responsive adjusting means to decrease the maximum airflow velocity through the associated wet scrubber so that the wet scrubber assumes an idling condition.
- 21. A control system as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a manual switch connected to each controller for restoring the controller to an operating condition.
- 22. A control system as claimed in claim 14 wherein each wet scrubber is connected to operate independently of the other wet scrubbers thereby to permit repair or maintenance of one or more wet scrubbers while the other wet scrubbers remain operational.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional application of pending application Ser. No. 09/105,092 filed Jun. 26, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (19)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
11 57 977 |
Nov 1963 |
DEX |
28 00 688 |
Jul 1979 |
DEX |
1 469 712 |
Apr 1977 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
PCT Invitation to Pay Additional Fees including Annex, dated Oct. 15, 1999 (4 pages). |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
105092 |
Jun 1998 |
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