US20130095742A1

US20130095742A1 - Apparatus for filtration of airborne contaminants

Info

Publication number: US20130095742A1
Application number: US13/273,207
Authority: US
Inventors: Glenn Allan Magley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-13
Filing date: 2011-10-13
Publication date: 2013-04-18

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a housing comprising a mixing chamber and a bottom tank. The mixing chamber comprises an air inlet being and an air exhaust outlet. The bottom tank is configured to contain a liquid. A header plate disperses the air flow downward into the bottom tank. The header plate comprises cutouts positioned in the bottom tank with a portion of the cutouts being above a surface of the liquid and the remainder of the cutouts being below the surface. A mesh screen covers a portion of the cutouts and extends below the header plate. An angle plate directs the air flow to the cutouts and mesh screen. A baffle cleaning plate directs air flow exiting the cutouts and mesh screen back into the liquid for developing turbulence in an air/liquid mixture for cleansing the air flow. The cleansed air flow is returned to the ventilation system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to filtration. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for wet filter filtration of airborne contaminants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that typically, conventional dry filtering systems are used to remove airborne contaminants from tunnel ventilation systems, sandblasting facilities, paint and powder coat booths, household appliances, plant and manufacturing facilities, furnace and power plant exhaust, chimney sweeper, coal mining, mineral mining, laundry facilities, timber/lumber plants, food processing or just about any and all air filtration systems. As air with airborne contaminants flows into a filter, entrained solids are collected by the filter and clean air passes through the filter. Periodically, the filter with entrapped contaminants is either cleaned by dislodging the entrapped contaminants or replaced with a new filter. However, conventional filters are not suited for cleaning airborne contaminants having high liquids content and/or containing tacky contaminants since it is difficult to remove these entrapped contaminants from the filter. Additionally, it may be necessary to interrupt the air cleaning operation while the filter is being cleaned and/or replaced, which may lead to down times in some industrial operations and consequently, increased operational costs.
In parallel to conventional dry filtering systems, wet air cleaning systems have been devised for removal of odor and other contaminants from the air. An example of typical air washer may include an air washer or scrubber for paint spray booths and especially adapted for removing paint particles from air passing downwardly through the grille floor of a paint spray booth and against a water-washed subfloor. Such systems may comprise an elongated V-shaped slot in the subfloor extending along the longitudinal centerline of the booth, where inner edges of the walls forming the V-shaped slot are upturned to form ledges so that water flowed over the subfloor and the walls of the slot impinges against the ledges and is thrown upwardly and inwardly to form a curtain of water completely covering the slot. Exhaust means pulls paint-laden air from the spray chamber through the water curtain and the slot and into an expansion chamber, the bottom walls of which form a second V-shaped slot contiguous with the first mentioned slot. The water, virtually entrains all of the paint particles, and the air is discharged from the second slot and impinged against a baffle sheet angling downwardly away from the expansion chamber. The end of the sheet is upturned at a small angle to deflect the water and form an umbrella of water through which the air must pass for a final cleaning action.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that other approaches exist relating to wet air cleaning system where a wet type air cleaner is used, which includes a water tank for storing cleaning water which is installed at a bottom of the housing. The water tank has a partition plate with a central hole/opening dividing the inner side thereof into an upper portion and a lower portion, which communicate with each other through the central hole. The air cleaner further includes a blower unit for dispersing the cleaning water and allowing air to be introduced through the air suction port into the housing and to pass through the dispersed cleaning water, and a pumping unit for supplying the cleaning water stored in the lower portion of the water tank to the blower unit to be dispersed.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary front and left side view of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary back and right side view of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary cutaway view of back and right side of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary header plate unit of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 diagrams an exemplary air flow of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary deflector shield of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a top view. FIG. 6B is a side view; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an exemplary mixing head of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a front view. FIG. 7B is a side view.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.
Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.
Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.
References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described which provide means for wet filtration of airborne contaminants. An apparatus is configured as an add-on air cleaning device to a ventilation system, replacing conventional dry filters. The apparatus may be located in the ventilation system either before or after the air moving unit of the ventilation system. The apparatus may use either a positive air pressure or a negative air pressure from the ventilation system to move the air through the filtering components. Typically, the apparatus is located before the air moving unit, utilizing a negative air pressure, to filter the air to remove particles that may wear on the air moving unit. The apparatus comprises a housing comprising an upper tank mixing chamber, and a bottom tank. The upper tank mixing chamber comprises an air inlet configured to receive air from the ventilation system and an air outlet. A header plate, disposed within the upper tank mixing chamber and extending down into the bottom tank, disperses air from the air inlet downward into the bottom tank. The header plate comprises a number of cutouts near the bottom of the header plate. A mesh covers a bottom number of the cutouts and extends to the bottom of the bottom tank. The bottom tank comprises an angled plate configured to receive the air flow from the header plate and direct the air flow to the cutouts and the mesh. Typically, the angle plate is disposed at an acute angle to the header plate, as a non-limiting example 45 degrees. The bottom tank is configured to contain a quantity of water where the water covers a portion of the cutouts. A portion of the air flow passes through the cutouts above the water line and the remaining air flow passes through the mesh and cutouts below the water line. A baffle cleaning plate is disposed to the rear of the header plate and above and facing the water line. The baffle cleaning plate is configured to direct air flow exiting the cutouts and mesh back into the water providing a turbulence in an air/water mixture. The water level in the bottom tank may be adjusted to effect changes in restriction pressure. Sprinklers may be positioned in the upper tank mixing chamber near the air inlet and air outlet for further dust and chemical control. Some embodiment may comprise a deflector shield in the bottom tank for increasing restriction pressure. Some embodiment may comprise mixing heads joined to some of the cutouts to increase fogging. In embodiment of the present invention, the housing and the components contained therein are typically constructed of a noncorrosive material such as, but not limited to, stainless steel.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary front and left side view of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 100 comprises upper tank mixing chamber 105 and bottom tank 120. Side ribs 125 provide structural support for bottom tank 120. Air inlet 110 may be configured to receive an air flow from a ventilation system in which the apparatus is installed. At least one front sprinkler unit 115 provides water to sprinkler heads, not shown, internal to upper tank mixing chamber 105 for aiding in water/air mixing.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary back and right side view of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 100 comprises upper tank mixing chamber 105 and bottom tank 120. Side ribs 125 provide structural support for bottom tank 120. Air outlet 210 may be configured to deliver the air flow to the ventilation system in which the apparatus is installed. Side door 202 provides access to right side of upper tank mixing chamber 105. Rear door 204 provides access to back side of upper tank mixing chamber 105. Inspection port 214 provides visual access to water level and mixing action in bottom tank 120. Water hookup 212 provides means to connect to a water supply. Connector 208 connects front sprinkler unit 115 to water hookup 212. Tank fill 206 connects to water hookup 212 to provide means for filling bottom tank 120. Rear sprinkler unit 215 connects to water hookup 212. Sight tube 216 provides indication of water level in bottom tank 120. Drain valve 218 enables draining of water from bottom tank 120 to adjust the water level or to sample the water. Drain 224 enables draining of bottom tank 120. Cleanout plate enables access to clean out bottom tank 120. Some embodiments may provide for automated means for maintaining a selected water level within the apparatus.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary cutaway view of back and right side of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 100 comprises upper tank mixing chamber 105 and bottom tank 120. Side ribs 125 provide structural support for bottom tank 120. Air inlet 110 may be configured to receive an air flow from a ventilation system in which the apparatus is installed. At least one front sprinkler unit 115 provides water to sprinkler heads, not shown, internal to upper tank mixing chamber 105 for aiding in water/air mixing. A header plate 302 is disposed within the upper tank mixing chamber 105 and extends down into the bottom tank 120. Header plate 302 disperses air from air inlet 110 downward into the bottom tank. Header plate 302 comprises a number of cutouts 313 near the bottom of header plate 302. Mesh 335 covers a bottom number of cutouts 313 and extends toward the bottom of the bottom tank 120. Angled plate 307 is configured to receive the air flow from header plate 302, and direct the air flow to the cutouts 313 and mesh 335. Typically, angle plate 307 is disposed at an acute angle to the header plate 302, as a non-limiting example 45 degrees. Bottom tank 120 is configured to contain a quantity of water 321 where the water covers a portion of the cutouts 313. A portion of the air flow passes through the cutouts above the water line and the remaining air flow passes through the mesh and cutouts below the water line. Baffle cleaning plate 317 is disposed to the rear of header plate 302 and above and facing the water line. Baffle cleaning plate 317 is configured to direct air flow exiting the cutouts 313 and mesh 335 back into the water providing turbulence in an air/water mixture. The water level in the bottom tank may be adjusted to effect changes in restriction pressure.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary header plate unit of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Header plate unit 400 comprises header plate 402 and mesh 435. Header plate 402 comprises a number of cutouts 413. Some embodiments may further comprise a number of mixing heads, shown in FIG. 7, joined to cutouts of top row 433 of cutouts 413. Mixing heads provide fogging in low air restriction systems. Some embodiment may also further comprise a blast door 440 for explosion protection.
FIG. 5 diagrams an exemplary air flow of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Air flow enters at air inlet 510 and is dispersed by header plate 502 in a downward direction to angle plate 507 and water 521. A portion of the air flow passes through cutouts 413, FIG. 4, above the water line and the remaining air flow passes through mesh 435 and cutouts below the water line. The portion of air flow below the water line is broken up by the cutouts and mesh into bubbles. The portion of the air flow that passes above the water line provides a lifting action on the back side of header plate 502. An air and water mixture engages baffle cleaning plate 517 in a turbulent fashion. Some embodiments may further comprise deflector shield 550 to increase the air and water mixing action. In some embodiments, the angle of the deflector shield 550 relative to the baffle cleaning plate 517 may be adjustable. At the back end of the apparatus, the cleaned air is released from the water and exits the apparatus at air exhaust 515. In some embodiments, hot water may be used in the apparatus to improve the ability of water to dissolve/absorb or retain the airborne contaminants. In a non-limiting example, the water may be 20-240 degrees F. above the ambient temperature. In some embodiments, chemical agents may be added to the water to aid in the cleansing process. In some embodiments, at least one gas such as, but not limited to, ozone, or chlorine may be admixed to disinfect or oxidize the airborne contaminants or to eliminate foul odors associated with the intake air.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary deflector shield of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a top view. FIG. 6B is a side view. Deflector shield 601 comprises a number of holes 604 and an angled lip 607 comprising a number of holes 610. In a non-limiting example, angled lip 607 may be at a 45 degree angle.
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an exemplary mixing head of an apparatus for wet filtration of airborne contaminants, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a front view. FIG. 7B is a side view. Mixing head 700 comprises tube element 703 joined to circular cutout 707. Circular cutout 707 comprises holes 721 for using an attachment means, such as, but not limited to J-bolts, to join to a cutout in top row 433, FIG. 4. Coupler 711 joins hose barb 717 to tube element 703. Mixing head 700 may be used to increase fogging in low air restriction systems.
In the exemplary figures, the apparatus is illustrated as having a generally rectangular or box shape. The shapes depicted are not intended to limit the teaching of the present invention. It is contemplated that housings for the apparatus may take on various shapes as needed to fit or match to a ventilation system.
It is to be pointed out that this is a continuous process flow for wet filtration of airborne contaminants. It is also to be understood that airborne contaminants may comprise, but not limited to, dust particulate, lint particulate, smoke, sooth and carbon particulate, germs, bacteria, or foul odors emanating from various commercial/industrial applications.
Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing an integrated fluid treatment system according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the method and apparatus may vary depending upon the particular type of application for which it is to be used. At least some techniques described in the foregoing were directed to method and apparatus for wet cleaning of the air born contaminants; however, teachings of the present invention may be used for other application areas, such as, without limitation, wet cleaning of the air borne contaminants processes, and refining/improvement processes implementations, which are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. Similarly, those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will readily recognize that the foregoing method and apparatus described have various other features or components may be used in alternate embodiments. For example, without limitation, water level in the bottom tank, various types of cleansing fluids other than water, construction of mesh component with other than stainless steel, for example, without limitation, non-metallic materials, and materials of construction other than stainless steel. The invention is thus, to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a mixing chamber and a bottom tank, said mixing chamber comprising an air inlet being configured to intake a flow of air from a ventilation system and an air exhaust outlet being configured to return the air flow to the ventilation system, said bottom tank being configured to contain a quantity of liquid below said mixing chamber;

a header plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, a top portion and a bottom portion, said header plate being configured for dispersing the air flow downward along said front surface into said bottom tank, said bottom portion comprising a plurality of cutouts positioned in said bottom tank with a portion of said cutouts being above a surface of the liquid and the remainder of said cutouts being below the surface;

a mesh screen being joined to said header plate, said mesh screen being configured for covering a portion of said plurality of cutouts and for extending below said header plate;

an angle plate being configured for receiving the dispersed air flow and for directing the air flow to said cutouts and mesh screen with a portion of the air flow passing through said cutouts above the surface and the remainder of the air flow passing through said cutouts and mesh screen below the surface; and

a baffle cleaning plate being disposed on said back surface of said header plate above and facing the surface, said baffle cleaning plate being configured for directing air flow exiting said cutouts and mesh screen back into the liquid for developing a turbulence in an air/liquid mixture for cleansing the air flow in which the cleansed air flow is returned to the ventilation system.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one front sprinkler unit being configured for spraying liquid into the dispersed air flow.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a deflector shield being configured for interacting with the air/liquid mixture for affecting a restriction pressure of the air flow.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which said deflector shield comprises a plurality of holes.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one mixing head being disposed within a cutout above the surface, said mixing head being configured for fogging.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one rear sprinkler unit being configured for spraying liquid into a rear portion of said mixing chamber.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an inspection port for enabling visual access to a level of the liquid and to the air/liquid mixture.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a sight tube for indicating a level of the liquid.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hookup for enabling a connection to a source for the liquid.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one door for enabling access to an interior of said mixing chamber.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one drain valve for enabling removal of liquid from said bottom tank.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cleanout panel for enabling access to an interior of said bottom tank.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said angle plate is disposed at an acute angle relative to said front surface of said header plate.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a mixing chamber and a bottom tank, said mixing chamber comprising means for taking in a flow of air from a ventilation system, means for returning the air flow to the ventilation system and means for accessing an interior of said mixing chamber, said bottom tank being configured to contain a quantity of liquid below said mixing chamber, said bottom tank comprising means for removing liquid from said bottom tank and accessing an interior of said bottom tank;

means for connecting to a source for the liquid;

means for dispersing the air flow downward into said bottom tank;

means for spraying liquid into the dispersed air flow;

means for covering a portion of said dispersing means and for extending below said dispersing means;

means for receiving the dispersed air flow and for directing the air flow to pass through a bottom portion of said dispersing means and said covering and extending means;

means for indicating a level of the liquid;

means for directing air flow exiting said bottom portion of said dispersing means and said covering and extending means back into the liquid for developing a turbulence in an air/liquid mixture for cleansing the air flow in which the cleansed air flow is returned to the ventilation system; and

means for enabling visual access to a level of the liquid and to the air/liquid mixture.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising means for interacting with the air/liquid mixture for affecting a restriction pressure of the air flow.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a mixing chamber and a bottom tank, said mixing chamber comprising an air inlet being configured to intake a flow of air from a ventilation system, an air exhaust outlet being configured to return the air flow to the ventilation system and at least one door for enabling access to an interior of said mixing chamber, said bottom tank being configured to contain a quantity of liquid below said mixing chamber, said bottom tank comprising at least one drain valve for enabling removal of liquid from said bottom tank and a cleanout panel for enabling access to an interior of said bottom tank;

a hookup for enabling a connection to a source for the liquid;

at least one front sprinkler unit being configured for spraying liquid into the dispersed air flow;

an angle plate being disposed at an acute angle relative to said front surface of said header plate and being configured for receiving the dispersed air flow and for directing the air flow to said cutouts and mesh screen with a portion of the air flow passing through said cutouts above the surface and the remainder of the air flow passing through said cutouts and mesh screen below the surface;

a sight tube for indicating a level of the liquid;

a baffle cleaning plate being disposed on said back surface of said header plate above and facing the surface, said baffle cleaning plate being configured for directing air flow exiting said cutouts and mesh screen back into the liquid for developing a turbulence in an air/liquid mixture for cleansing the air flow in which the cleansed air flow is returned to the ventilation system; and

an inspection port for enabling visual access to a level of the liquid and to the air/liquid mixture.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising a deflector shield being configured for interacting with the air/liquid mixture for affecting a restriction pressure of the air flow.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, in which said deflector shield comprises a plurality of holes.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising at least one mixing head being disposed within a cutout above the surface, said mixing head being configured for fogging.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising at least one rear sprinkler unit being configured for spraying liquid into a rear portion of said mixing chamber.