Project Overview

ERG Air Pollution Control supplied a packed tower wet scrubbing system for Otto Simon as part of a steel pickling strip line project at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot facility in South Wales.

Delivered in 2016, the project involved the supply of an integrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) fume treatment package, including a packed tower scrubber, pumps, pipework, extraction fans, ductwork, a road crossing and a 48-metre-high discharge stack supported within a steel lattice framework.

The installation demonstrates ERG’s experience in delivering industrial air pollution control equipment for demanding steel manufacturing environments, where corrosive process emissions require specialist extraction and gas treatment solutions.

The Challenge – Hydrochloric Acid Fumes from Steel Pickling

Steel pickling is a surface treatment process used to remove rust, mill scale and other impurities from steel before further manufacturing operations.

Hydrochloric acid is commonly used in steel pickling because of its effectiveness in removing surface oxides. However, the process can generate acidic fumes that require controlled extraction and treatment to minimise atmospheric emissions.

HCl fumes are highly corrosive, creating challenges for extraction systems, fans, ductwork and associated equipment. Effective fume control therefore requires a carefully engineered system capable of handling acidic gas streams while providing reliable operation in an industrial environment.

The Tata Steel Port Talbot project required a comprehensive fume extraction and treatment arrangement suitable for integration with the steel pickling strip line.

ERG’s Solution – Packed Tower Wet Scrubbing Technology

ERG supplied a packed tower wet scrubber as the principal technology for treating hydrochloric acid fumes generated by the pickling process.

Packed tower scrubbers operate by bringing contaminated process air into contact with a circulating scrubbing liquid. Inside the tower, specially designed packing provides a large surface area for gas-liquid contact, allowing soluble contaminants such as hydrogen chloride to transfer from the gas stream into the liquid.

For acid gas applications, suitable scrubbing chemistry can be used to absorb and neutralise acidic components before the treated air is discharged.

Packed tower wet scrubbing is an established technology for industrial processes involving soluble and corrosive gases, offering a practical approach to controlling hydrochloric acid emissions.

The system supplied by ERG incorporated the associated equipment required to convey process fumes through the treatment system and discharge the treated exhaust via a dedicated stack.

Equipment Supplied

ERG’s scope of supply included:

• Packed tower scrubber – for treatment of hydrochloric acid fumes.

• Pumps and pipework – supporting the scrubber’s liquid circulation system.

• Extraction fans – providing airflow through the extraction and treatment arrangement.

• Ductwork and road crossing – connecting the process extraction system with the gas treatment equipment.

• 48-metre discharge stack – supported within a steel lattice framework.

Together, these components formed an integrated industrial fume scrubbing package designed for the steel pickling application.

Applications and Benefits of Packed Tower Scrubbers

Packed tower scrubbers are widely used across steel manufacturing, metal finishing, chemical processing and other industries where acidic gases must be removed from process exhaust streams.

The technology is particularly suitable for treating soluble contaminants, including hydrogen chloride, and can be engineered using materials appropriate for corrosive operating environments.

By combining gas extraction, wet scrubbing and a dedicated discharge system, industrial operators can manage process emissions as part of their wider environmental compliance arrangements.

The Port Talbot installation illustrates ERG’s capability to supply multiple elements of an industrial gas treatment system within a single engineered package.

ERG’s Industrial Air Pollution Control Expertise

ERG Air Pollution Control designs and supplies specialist gas treatment equipment for industrial applications involving acidic, corrosive and contaminated exhaust streams.

Its technologies include packed tower scrubbers and other wet scrubbing systems designed for a wide range of industrial processes.

The Tata Steel Port Talbot project, delivered for Otto Simon in 2016, demonstrates ERG’s experience in supplying integrated hydrochloric acid fume scrubbing equipment for the steel manufacturing industry.

For further information about packed tower scrubbers, HCl fume treatment or industrial wet scrubbing solutions, contact ERG Air Pollution Control.