Prediction of the Impact of Fiber Polydispersity on Filter Efficiency

David Vidal, Jean-Michel Tucny, Franois Drolet and Franois Bertrand

URPEI Dept. of Chemical Engineering - cole Polytechnique de Montral, C.P. 6079, succ. Centre-Ville, Montral, Qubec, H3C 3A7, Canada

AIR FILTRATION AND ITS MARKET

OBJECTIVES
To better predict the capture efficiency and permeability
of filters constituted of polydisperse fiber distributions,
and thus design optimized high-performance air filters.

Bioactive
agents,
dust, etc

Air filtration consists in the

removal of airborne particles
by a porous (fibrous) filter
through which the air is flowing.

Fiber furnish

FILTRATION THEORY

Single-fibre theory

1. Create virtual
filters using a
stochastic
deposition method

and

2. Compute air
flow using lattice
Boltzmann
method

3. Calculate
aerosol motion
and capture by
solving Langevin
equation

, , ,
, , ,

On the basis of these numerical results, we have devised

a modified single-fibre theory, which is currently
being evaluated with carefully designed experiments
using model micro-sized glass fibers.

Comparison with single-fibre theory

Comparison with experiments

Hardwood, 90 g/m2, no pressing

Capture Efficiency (%)

, ,

VALIDATION

Aerosol capture mechanisms

= + +

Contrary to classical theory, our simulations show that

commercial standards can be reached by blending a
relatively low amount of high performance (costly) fine
fibres with coarser (cheaper) fibres.

Devise a correlation for

predicting the quality factor

4(1)

120
Model Prediction
Experimental Result

100
80
60
40

Brownian
diffusion

20
0.01
Virus

Impaction,
interception

0.1

= 87.4%
d = 2 m
vf = 0.05 m/s
h = 97 m

dp (m)

NOMENCLATURE
:

Permeability & efficiency predictions for bidisperse filters

Use
finer
fibers

Once validated, this new model could become a

powerful design tool to determine the optimum fiber
furnish for making high-performance filters.

Bacteria

RESULTS

Our modified single-fibre theory uses a semi-empirical

parameter that takes into account the polydispersity
of the fiber diameter distribution and is more
appropriate than the equivalent diameter theory.

dp (m)

(credit: LadyofHats)

OPTIMIZING FILTERS

CONCLUSIONS

Capture Efficiency (%)

N95
facemask

HEPA
filter

Use
coarser
fibers

New model

Previous model

3-step numerical modelling

Todays filtration market is driven by the need for

products that deliver higher purity, greater
efficiency and lower energy consumption at lower
cost.

Towards a modified single-fibre theory for polydisperse filters

METHODOLOGY

The air filtration market

represents worldwide a multibillion dollar market with an
annual growth rate of around 5%.

=1

RESULTS (CONTD)

df = 1 m

vf = 0.05 m/s

N95 standard

:
:
:
:
:
:
:

diameter of the fiber = eq for

polydisperse cases
diameter of the aerosol
capture efficiency of the filter
thickness of the filter
permeability of the filter
volume fraction of coarse fibres
quality factor of the filter
coarse-to-fine fiber diameter ratio
(bidisperse case)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

= (1 )/

:
P:
:
:

superficial air velocity

pressure drop across the filter
capture efficiency of a single fibre
capture efficiency of a single fibre
due to interception
: capture efficiency of a single fibre
due to Brownian diffusion
: capture efficiency of a single fibre
due to impaction
: porosity of the filter