Page 7 - Air Pollution Control Engineering

vi Preface

design calculation are illustrated by numerical examples. These examples clearly
demonstrate how organized, analytical reasoning leads to the most direct and
clear solutions. Wherever possible, pertinent cost data have been provided.
Our treatment of pollution-abatement engineering is offered in the belief that
the trained engineer should more firmly understand fundamental principles, be
more aware of the similarities and/or differences among many of the engineering
systems, and exhibit greater flexibility and originality in the definition and innova-
tive solution of environmental pollution problems. In short, the environmental
engineers should by conviction and practice be more readily adaptable to change
and progress.
Coverage of the unusually broad field of environmental engineering has
demanded an expertise that could only be provided through multiple
authorships. Each author (or group of authors) was permitted to employ,
within reasonable limits, the customary personal style in organizing and pre-
senting a particular subject area, and, consequently, it has been difficult to
treat all subject material in a homogeneous manner. Moreover, owing to limi-
tations of space, some of the authors’ favored topics could not be treated in
great detail, and many less important topics had to be merely mentioned or
commented on briefly. All of the authors have provided an excellent list of
references at the end of each chapter for the benefit of the interested reader.
Because each of the chapters is meant to be self-contained, some mild repeti-
tion among the various texts is unavoidable. In each case, all errors of omis-
sion or repetition are the responsibility of the editors and not the individual
authors. With the current trend toward metrication, the question of using a
consistent system of units has been a problem. Wherever possible the authors
have used the British system (fps) along with the metric equivalent (mks, cgs,
or SIU) or vice versa. The authors sincerely hope that this doubled system of
unit notation will prove helpful rather than disruptive to the readers.
The goals of the Handbook of Environmental Engineering series are (1) to cover
the entire range of environmental fields, including air and noise pollution con-
trol, solid waste processing and resource recovery, biological treatment pro-
cesses, water resources, natural control processes, radioactive waste disposal,
thermal pollution control, and physicochemical treatment processes; and (2) to
employ a multithematic approach to environmental pollution control since air,
water, land, and energy are all interrelated. No consideration is given to pollu-
tion by type of industry or to the abatement of specific pollutants. Rather, the
organization of the series is based on the three basic forms in which pollutants
and waste are manifested: gas, solid, and liquid. In addition, noise pollution
control is included in one of the handbooks in the series.
This volume of Air Pollution Control Engineering, a companion to the volume,
Advanced Air and Noise Pollution Control, has been designed to serve as a basic
air pollution control design textbook as well as a comprehensive reference
book. We hope and expect it will prove of equally high value to advanced
undergraduate or graduate students, to designers of air pollution abatement
systems, and to scientists and researchers. The editors welcome comments from
readers in the field. It is our hope that this book will not only provide informa-