Dimensionless study of the fiber arrangement on particle filtration characteristics in a multi-fiber filter

In this paper, two-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to investigate the particle filtration performance of multi-fiber filters using computational fluid dynamics ( CFD) technology. We combine fluid and particle properties as well as fiber size into single dimensionless numbers to analyze the influence of fiber arrangements on the system pressure drop and capture efficiency during the filtration process. The results indicate that the motion and deposition of aerosol particles significantly depend on the combined effects of Brownian diffusion, interception and inertial impaction mechanisms. The capture of aerosol particles with diameters less than 0.1 [Formula: see text] is strongly determined by the Brownian diffusion mechanism. For the case where interception and inertia impaction mechanisms dominate, particles with diameters in the range of 1–10 [Formula: see text] are more easily captured. In addition, the filter with a staggered fiber array structure exhibits a higher capture efficiency than that of parallel and random cases. From the quality factor standpoint, filters with both the staggered and random fiber arrangements show a better filtration performance. The research results can provide a fundamental understanding of the particle filtration process and the theoretical basis for filter design and optimization.