Computer Simulation of Filtration Process Through Woven Fabrics

Understanding filtration properties such as pressure drop, filter efficiency and filter lifespan are of great practical importance. These are dependant on the structure of the woven fabric filter media and the physical conditions in which the filtration process is carried out. This paper discusses the development of a software tool UniverFlitertrade, which is capable of geometrical modelling of 3D woven fabrics, interfacing with CFD tools to numerically determine the fluid flow path and simulating the filtration process by introducing particles of various shapes and sizes. To enable an enhanced understanding of the filtration cycle, specifically how the geometrical parameters of the woven fabric influence the filtration efficiency, an investigation is carried out on the effect such parameters have on the fluid flow behavior. The results obtained from fluid pressure and fluid velocity on the fabric show that the fluid flow is significantly influenced in the interstices and chamber downstream by the fabric. Fluid flow resistance and pressure loss are obtained from the results of fluid velocity and pressure. The results from the fluid pressure on the fabric could also be employed to more accurately predict how pore shapes and sizes are transformed