ABSTRACT In order to reveal multiscale dynamic distribution characteristics of dust collectors in a wet scrubber, a method for scale decomposition of dust collectors based on Wigner–Ville distribution (WVD), empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and Hurst analysis of grayscale signals is reported. The WVD features of grayscale signals were used to observe the energy distribution details of dust collectors at different frequency bands and time periods. Then, the scale decomposition of dust collectors based on EMD and Hurst analysis of the grayscale signals was carried out. These analysis results showed that the motion behaviors of micro-, meso- and macro-scale subsets of dust collectors were determined: specifically, the single fractal features of micro-scale subsets conform to the motion characteristics of individual dust collectors. The dual fractal characteristics of meso-scale subsets denote the interactions among dust collector aggregations. Additionally, the fractal features of the macro-scale subsets reflect persistent liquid surface fluctuation behavior in wet scrubbers. Finally, the relative contribution of dust collectors at different scales to the effectiveness of dust removal was represented. This is not only an important innovation in the study of micro mechanism of wet dust removal but provides powerful theoretical support for technological innovations in wet scrubbers. Implications: The multiscale dynamic distribution characteristics of dust collectors in wet dust scrubber were explored, using a method for scale decomposition of dust collectors based on Wigner–Ville distribution, empirical mode decomposition and Hurst analysis of grayscale signals. The fractal characteristics of different scales of dust collectors are determined. Besides, the contribution of different scales of dust collectors to the effect of dust removal is quantized. Therefore, this research is very meaningful, which not only has important innovation in the study of micro mechanism of wet dust collectors but provides a powerful theoretical support for technological innovation of wet dust scrubbers.