Pore-scale study of the collector efficiency of nanoparticles in packings of nonspherical collectors

Wei Long, Haiou Huang, Jasmine Serlemitsos, Elizabeth Liu, Allen H. Reed, Markus Hilpert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pore-scale simulations of flow and transport through a filter were used to predict clean-bed filtration of nanoparticles from a 3D image of the filter. X-ray micro-computed tomography was used to obtain the geometry and topology of the filter consisting of flattened half-spherical collectors. A Lattice-Boltzmann method was used to model fluid flow and particle transport in the volumetric image of the filter. Nanoparticles are considered that are so small that diffusion, as compared to the processes of gravitational settlement and interception, dominates particle deposition. A correlation equation is determined for the average collector efficiency for diffusion through regression analysis performed for a set of numerical breakthrough experiments for a range of suspended particle sizes and Darcy velocities. This correlation quantifies the collector size by the surface average equivalent sphere diameter. The newly derived correlation agrees well with experimental data.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)163-171
Number of pages9
JournalColloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Volume358
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 5 2010

Keywords

  • Collector efficiency
  • Filtration
  • Lattice-Boltzmann
  • Nanoparticle
  • Nonspherical collector
  • Pore-scale

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pore-scale study of the collector efficiency of nanoparticles in packings of nonspherical collectors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this