3D modelling of filtration process through polymeric nanofiber based nonwovens

Abstract

Full 3D particle filtration modeling at low pressures considering slip/transition/free molecular flow regime, particle-fiber interactions, air/particle slip, sieve and homogenous flow field has been performed for the polyurethane nanofiber filter prepared by electrospinning process. The obtained theoretical predictions for the filtration efficiency have been compared with the corresponding experimental data and good agreement between both data sets has been obtained. In order to take all real structure features of the nanofiber filter into account (such as varying fiber diameter, curvature along its length, inhomogeneity and mat defects), a new approach for 3D nanofiber mat model construction from corresponding SEM images has been proposed and utilized.