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On the influence of pore connectivity on performance of membrane filters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2020

B. Gu Open the ORCID record for B. Gu [Opens in a new window] ,
D. L. Renaud ,
P. Sanaei ,
L. Kondic Open the ORCID record for L. Kondic [Opens in a new window]  and
L. J. Cummings
B. Gu*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ07102-1982, USA
D. L. Renaud
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ07102-1982, USA
P. Sanaei
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, New York Institute of Technology, New York, NY10023-7692, USA
L. Kondic
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ07102-1982, USA
L. J. Cummings
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ07102-1982, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: bg263@njit.edu
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Abstract

We study the influence of a membrane filter's internal pore structure on its flow and adsorptive fouling behaviour. Membrane performance is measured via (1) comparison between volumetric flow rate and throughput during filtration and (2) control of concentration of foulants at membrane pore outlets. Taking both measures into account, we address the merits and drawbacks of selected membrane pore structures. We first model layered planar membrane structures with intra-layer pore connections, and present comparisons between non-connected and connected structures. Our model predicts that membrane filters with connected pore structures lead to higher total volumetric throughput than those with non-connected structures, over the filter lifetime. We also provide a sufficient criterion for the concentration of particles escaping the filter to achieve a maximum in time (indicative of a membrane filter whose particle retention capability can deteriorate). Additionally, we find that the influence of intra-layer heterogeneity in pore-size distribution on filter performance depends on the connectivity properties of the pores.

JFM classification

Low-Reynolds-number flows: Porous media Complex Fluids: Suspensions
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 902 , 10 November 2020 , A5
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

‡

Present address: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

References

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