3D in-situ simulation and particle tracing of gas filtration process for ultrafine particles removal using a hollow fiber membrane

For the first time, a 3D Digital Twin virtual model of a hollow fiber membrane was established based on real data. The filtration process of ultrafine particles by using a hollow fiber membrane was also successfully analyzed with multiscale simulation. In this study, we investigated the difference between scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) with regard to membrane analysis. In addition, the pore size distribution was calculated based on two different modules: the Granulometry module and the Porosimetry module. The results of the latter showed greater accuracy than the results of the experimental measurements. In the flow analysis, the velocity and pressure distribution were also obtained through simulations to investigate transport phenomena in membrane filtration. Moreover, the unprecedented technique of particle tracing was applied and successfully provided detailed information regarding how the particles were captured. Evaluations of the membrane performance, pressure drop, and filtration efficiency were conducted and compared to the experimental results with 2.25% and 0.01% errors. Our work showed the potential of the construction of 3D virtual models. These models not only exhibited high accuracy but also provided detailed information that is difficult to obtain via experiments. Through a combination of image analysis and multiscale simulation, a platform to evaluate membrane performance with high reliability and efficiency was established. [Display omitted] •The 3D Digital Twin virtual model was applied and constructed through combination of image analysis and 3D simulation.•The mechanism in membrane filtration and the membrane performance were obtained with 3% error from experimental result.•The particle tracing technique was applied and provided detailed information of the mechanism of particles captured.•A platform of evaluating membrane performance and membrane design with high reliability and efficiency was established.