Modeling of microparticle penetration through wire screen using a lattice Boltzmann method and Lagrangian tracking approach: Comparison with experiments

The computational study reported here is motivated by a desire to develop a computer model for predicting and analyzing experimental screen collection efficiency of wire-mesh filters for microparticles (up to 100 µm). The operational parameters include the particle size of 0.3 to 100 μm, screen opening size of 11 to 160 μm, fiber diameter of 33 to 60 μm and superficial velocity of 0.48 cm/s. We use a simplified 2-D model with the hybrid lattice-Boltzmann Lagrangian method to describe flow crossing a single fiber in a periodic cell of a wire screen. The newly proposed formula of the screen collection efficiency representing particle deposition on two crossed fibers in each screen cell effectively predicts the experimental data with good accuracy. The quality factor analysis that determines a filter performance is adopted to evaluate the interplay between the energy needed for gas transport and collection efficiency. In addition, the detailed analyses are given for particle deposition pattern and transport behavior in terms of particle fraction profiles and flow fields. Finally, the degree of individual forces acting on each particle traveling in the gas flow is revealed. Copyright © 2022 American Association for Aerosol Research