What device is used to remove airborne oil fog from the MRG vent airstream?

The device used to remove airborne oil fog from the Main Reduction Gear (MRG) vent airstream is the electrostatic precipitator, also commonly known as a vent fog precipitator. This technology operates by utilizing electrostatic charges to attract and capture oil droplets from the airstream. As the oil fog passes through the precipitator, an electrical charge is applied, which causes the droplets to become charged and subsequently adhere to collection plates within the unit. This process effectively removes the oil particles from the air, thereby preventing them from being released into the environment and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

The electrostatic design makes it particularly efficient in handling very fine droplets, which might not be effectively captured by other filtration methods such as mechanical filters or traditional carbon filters. These alternatives primarily rely on physical filtration or adsorption, but they may struggle with the smaller particles typical of oil fog, as they can pass through without being captured. Cyclone separators, while effective for larger particulates due to their use of centrifugal force, are less applicable to fine oil fog and do not provide the same level of efficiency as electrostatic precipitators.