For soluble gases (SO₂, HCl, NH₃):

Pro Excel trick: Use GOAL SEEK to iterate L/G until target outlet concentration is met.

Create an X-Y scatter plot showing the Equilibrium Curve and the Operating Line.


A best-in-class Excel sheet forces discipline here. Never hardcode values inside formulas.

| Parameter | Units | Typical Range | Why Critical | |-----------|-------|---------------|---------------| | Gas flow rate (Q_g) | ACFM or m³/h | 500–100,000 | Sizes vessel diameter | | Inlet dust/gas temp | °F or °C | 60–1000°F | Affects gas density, viscosity | | Pressure drop (ΔP) | inWC or Pa | 4–100+ | Drives energy & fan cost | | Liquid-to-gas ratio (L/G) | gal/1000ft³ or L/m³ | 2–20 | Key for mass transfer | | Particulate size (d_p) | microns | 0.5–200 | Determines collection efficiency |

Best Practice: Use Excel’s Data Validation (List or Decimal) + Named Ranges (e.g., Q_gas) so formulas read =Q_gas * rho_gas.

In the field of chemical and environmental engineering, the design of wet scrubbers is a critical task. While specialized simulation software exists, Microsoft Excel remains the industry standard for preliminary sizing, vendor verification, and detailed process calculations. Its transparency and flexibility make it the "best" platform for understanding the underlying physics of scrubber operation.

This text outlines the essential steps to create a robust, best-practice scrubber design calculator in Excel, focusing on Packed Bed Scrubbers (the most common type for gas absorption).


Add 6–12 inches of knitted mesh or chevron vanes at the top. Calculate velocity: V_demister = K_d * SQRT((ρ_l-ρ_g)/ρ_g) where K_d is 0.2–0.35.


All cells are color‑coded: Yellow for inputs, Green for results, Blue for lookups.


Use the Generalized Pressure Drop Correlation (Leva’s method) or the Eckert Modified Diagram.