ABSTRACT
To understand particulate control, one first must understand some fundamental concepts and properties of particulate. Figure 19.1 shows common terms associated with particulate material as a function of particle diameter. Particles of concern to air pollution are typically measured in microns (i.e., micrometers, or 1
×
m). Large or coarse particles are those considered to be well above 10 microns. Note for perspective that the diameter of a human hair is approximately 50 to 110 microns. Very small or fine particles are considered to be those less than one micron, or submicron. This size range includes smoke and fumes. Also notice that the size range considered “lung damaging dust” ranges from approximately 0.7 to 7 microns. Dust in this size range gets into lungs and is the most difficult dust to collect with particulate control equipment for reasons that will be discussed later in this chapter.
