Linking Ambient and Duct Particle Size Distributions to Optimize Scrubber Performance in Industrial Ventilation Systems: A Practical Alternative to Isokinetic Sampling
| Author | Kian Dana | en |
| Author | Somaye Hoseini | en |
| Author | Mohsen Nikjo | en |
| Author | Pouria Dana | en |
| Author | Mahdi Jamshidi Rastani | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-05-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: The effectiveness of particulate air scrubbers in industrial settings is closely linked to an accurate understanding of particle size distribution (PSD). Isokinetic sampling is the standard approach for PSD measurement, though it presents operational challenges such as complex instrumentation and flow disturbances during sampling. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between PSD in the workplace environment and the airflow inside the local ventilation duct of an iron manufacturing facility. It also assessed the efficiency of the existing scrubber system in controlling particle pollutants. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at an iron manufacturing unit, where PSD was measured three times at 17 pollutant-emitting sources connected to a single ventilation system. A four-stage cascade impactor was used to categorize particles into four size ranges: < 1 µm, 1 - 4 µm, 4 - 15 µm, and > 15 µm. Isokinetic sampling based on BS 3405 standards was performed inside the main duct leading to the scrubber. Data were analyzed using SPSS v16. Results: The results showed that there was no statistically significant correlation between the PSD of airborne pollutants in the duct before and after the scrubber (r = 0.476, P-value > 0.05), nor between the PSD after the scrubber and in the workplace air when the system was ON (r = 0.362, P-value > 0.05). In contrast, strong and statistically significant correlations were observed between the PSD in the duct before the scrubber and the workplace air when the system was ON (r = 0.958, P-value ≤ 0.05) and OFF (r = 0.763, P-value ≤ 0.05), as well as between the PSD in the workplace air when the system was OFF and at the chimney outlet (r = 0.876, P-value ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Ambient air PSD measurements can serve as a reliable alternative to internal duct measurements for evaluating and redesigning scrubber systems. It is recommended that this approach be tested across various pollutants to enhance its applicability and reliability. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/healthscope-164883 | en |
| Keyword | Particle Size Distribution (PSD) | en |
| Keyword | Work Ambient Air | en |
| Keyword | Pollutant Source | en |
| Keyword | Scrubber | en |
| Keyword | Isokinetic Evaluation | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Linking Ambient and Duct Particle Size Distributions to Optimize Scrubber Performance in Industrial Ventilation Systems: A Practical Alternative to Isokinetic Sampling | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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