Page 6 - Air Pollution Control Engineering

Preface

The past 30 years have seen the emergence of a growing desire worldwide to
take positive actions to restore and protect the environment from the degrad-
ing effects of all forms of pollution: air, noise, solid waste, and water. Because
pollution is a direct or indirect consequence of waste, the seemingly idealistic
goal for “zero discharge” can be construed as an unrealistic demand for zero
waste. However, as long as waste exists, we can only attempt to abate the sub-
sequent pollution by converting it to a less noxious form. Three major ques-
tions usually arise when a particular type of pollution has been identified:
(1) How serious is the pollution? (2) Is the technology to abate it available? and
(3) Do the costs of abatement justify the degree of abatement achieved? The
principal intention of the Handbook of Environmental Engineering series is to help
readers formulate answers to the last two questions.
The traditional approach of applying tried-and-true solutions to specific pol-
lution problems has been a major contributing factor to the success of environ-
mental engineering, and has accounted in large measure for the establishment of
a “methodology of pollution control.” However, realization of the ever-increas-
ing complexity and interrelated nature of current environmental problems ren-
ders it imperative that intelligent planning of pollution abatement systems be
undertaken. Prerequisite to such planning is an understanding of the perfor-
mance, potential, and limitations of the various methods of pollution abatement
available for environmental engineering. In this series of handbooks, we will
review at a tutorial level a broad spectrum of engineering systems (processes,
operations, and methods) currently being utilized, or of potential utility, for pol-
lution abatement. We believe that the unified interdisciplinary approach in these
handbooks is a logical step in the evolution of environmental engineering.
The treatment of the various engineering systems presented in Air Pollution
Control Engineering will show how an engineering formulation of the subject
flows naturally from the fundamental principles and theory of chemistry, phys-
ics, and mathematics. This emphasis on fundamental science recognizes that
engineering practice has in recent years become more firmly based on scien-
tific principles rather than its earlier dependency on empirical accumulation of
facts. It is not intended, though, to neglect empiricism when such data lead
quickly to the most economic design; certain engineering systems are not
readily amenable to fundamental scientific analysis, and in these instances we
have resorted to less science in favor of more art and empiricism.
Because an environmental engineer must understand science within the con-
text of application, we first present the development of the scientific basis of a
particular subject, followed by exposition of the pertinent design concepts and
operations, and detailed explanations of their applications to environmental
quality control or improvement. Throughout the series, methods of practical

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