Effect of Different Particle Shapes on the Modelling of Woven Fabric Filtration

A computer simulation model, based on theoretical analysis, has been developed to investigate and quantify how variation of particle shapes can affect the resulting filtration performance. The software tool geometrically models 3D woven fabrics, interfaces with CFD tools to numerically determine the fluid flow paths, implements particles of various shapes and sizes, and employs a force model as the foundation of its capture and positioning mechanisms. When a particle is intercepted by the fabric, the various forces exerted on it are utilized to predict the particle’s movement over the fabric surface. These forces are derived from particle-fabric interactions such as friction and normal contact force, as well as particle-fluid interactions such as drag, buoyancy and particle weight. When these forces are in equilibrium, the particle is consequently deposited on the fabric. However, the subsequent motion of the particle is also controlled by particle-particle interactions due to collision and the van der Waals forces between such particles. The identical filtration process scenario are simulated in this work with different particles of spherical, ellipsoid, discus and needle shapes. By using the predicted results as the comparison criteria, it is revealed that the particle shape is a significant parameter that influences the filtration characteristics and the transient behaviour of cake formation.