ComputerSimulation ofFiltration Process ThroughWovenFabrics

Understanding filtration properties suchas pressure drop, filter efficiency andfilter lifespan areofgreat practical importance. Thesearedependant onthestructure ofthewovenfabric filter mediaandthephysical conditions inwhichthefiltration process iscarried out.Thispaper discusses thedevelopment ofasoftware toolUniverFilterTm. whichiscapable ofgeometrical modelling of3D woven fabrics, interfacing withCFDtools tonumerically determine thefluid flowpathandsimulating thefiltration process by introducing particles ofvarious shapes andsizes. Toenable anenhanced understanding ofthefiltration cycle, specifically howthegeometrical parameters ofthewoven fabric influence thefiltration efficiency, aninvestigation is carried outontheeffect suchparameters haveonthefluid flowbehavior. Theresults obtained fromfluid pressure and fluid velocity on thefabric showthatthefluid flowis significantly influenced intheinterstices and chamber downstreamby thefabric. Fluidflowresistance and pressure lossareobtained fromtheresults offluid velocity andpressure. Theresults fromthefluid pressure onthe fabric couldalsobeemployed tomoreaccurately predict howporeshapes andsizes aretransformed.