Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Fiber Geometry on Filtration Performance With a Coupled Lattice Boltzmann-Discrete Element Method

Motion and deposition of solid particles in fibrous filter with circular, diamond, and square fibers are numerically investigated. A coupled Lattice Boltzmann (LB) and discrete element (DE) method is presented and applied to simulate the filtration process in particulate flow, taking into account the mutual interaction between fluid and particle. The influence of pertinent parameters such as the Reynolds number, the particle-to-fiber diameter ratio, and the particle-to-fluid density ratio on filtration performance (pressure drop and capture efficiency) is analyzed for fibrous filter with different fiber cross-sectional shapes. The simulation results indicate that both the pressure drop and the capture efficiency of filter are considerably affected by the fiber's shape. Dimensionless drag force increases with the Reynolds number when Re > 1. The filter with diamond fiber has a lower pressure drop than that of the circular and square cases. Meanwhile, the deposition of particles on the surface of square fiber is more favorable. From the filter quality factor standpoint, filter with diamond fiber exhibits a better filtration performance.