(631d) Numerical Simulation of the Capture of Particles By Dead-End Pores

Particle capture by a collecting medium is a common process, which can be applied to industrial applications (e.g., solid/liquid filtration). Ideally, the capture of contaminant particles by a porous filtration medium can be accomplished even when the radius of the particle is smaller than the pore radius. Several studies have been proposed to describe particle clogging within inter-connected (open) pores; however, studies of the capture of particles within dead-end pores are rare, because of the complex pore structure and hydrodynamic conditions. Despite this fact, this mechanism of capture is preferable due to the significantly smaller impact on overall flow behavior. Thus, in this work we describe a simulation model capable of describing the capture of spherical particles within dead-end pores. A 3D discrete element method-lattice Boltzmann method (DEM-LBM) coupling approach is applied to investigate the particle capture under conditions of different particle size and pore structures. The DEM is used to describe the particle dynamics, whereas the LBM is employed to describe the fluid flow through the filter medium. Both the pressure drop and the fluid density are examined to indicate this capture performance. The simulated results illustrate that the capture performance is dependent on the pore geometry and the Stokes number. Finally, a new kinetic model of this process is proposed and verified against experimental data.