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 Environ Eng Res > Volume 25(3); 2020 > Article
Jung, Yoon, Um, Lee, Lee, Chiao, and Kim: Approximation of most penetrating particle size for fibrous filters considering Cunningham slip correction factor

Abstract

In the estimation of the aerosol single fiber efficiency using fibrous filters, there is a size range, where the particles penetrate most effectively through the fibrous collectors, and corresponding minimum single fiber efficiency. For small particles in which the diffusion mechanism is dominant, the Cunningham slip correction factor (Cc) affects the single fiber efficiency and the most penetrating particle size (MPPS). Therefore, for accurate estimation, Cc is essential to be considered. However, many previous studies have neglected this factor because of its complexity and the associated difficulty in deriving the appropriate parameterization particularly for the MPPS. In this study, the expression for the MPPS, and the corresponding expression for the minimum single fiber efficiency are analytically derived, and the effects of Cc are determined. In order to accommodate the slip factor for all particle-size ranges, Cc is simplified and modified. Overall, the obtained analytical expression for the MPPS is in a good agreement with the exact solution.

1. Introduction

The collection efficiency of aerosol particles by fibrous collectors has been investigated by numerous theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies. The filtration mechanisms of fibrous collectors include Brownian diffusion, interception, inertial impaction, and gravitational settling [13].
Diffusion and interception (gravitational settling) dominate particle motion at the opposite size regimes. For example, an increase in particle size increases the single fiber efficiency owing to interception and gravitational settling [24], whereas a decrease in particle size enhances the single fiber efficiency related to Brownian diffusion. Between diffusion-dominant regime and interception-dominant regime, there exists a size range where none of the diffusion or interception (or gravitational settling) is predominant but they operate simultaneously. The size regime exists where aerosol particles penetrate most effectively through the fibrous collectors [57].
For small particle sizes where Brownian diffusion is dominant, Cunningham slip correction factor (Cc) and Knudsen number (Kn) play an important role in estimating accurate filtration efficiency. In cases where the aerosol-particle size in air approaches the mean free path of gas molecules, the discontinuities of the medium should be considered. Cc accounts for these discontinuities and can be useful for describing aerosol properties, such as sedimentation and diffusion [1, 810]. For the interaction of gases and particles, Kn, the ratio of mean free path (λ) to particle diameter (dp), is widely used [11].
Among many filtration studies, Jung and Lee [7] obtained an approximated analytical solution for the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) in a multiple fluid sphere system. In their study, a harmonic-mean type approximation was applied, and the obtained solution was compared with the numerically calculated results. However, Cc was not considered because the derivation of an analytical expression considering this factor was complicated.
Lee and Liu [2] derived equations for predicting the minimum efficiency and the MPPS for fibrous filters, considering the diffusion and interception mechanisms. Their results showed that the MPPS decreased with increases in filtration velocity and fiber volume fraction, and increased with an increase in filter fiber size. In addition, they obtained a corresponding equation for the minimum efficiency, and demonstrated the dependence of the MPPS on the filtration velocity, fiber volume fraction, and fiber size. They approximated Cc for different ranges of Kn, with three different formulas, which exhibited a good correlation with an original equation within specified ranges. However, these approximated equations are limited because they are valid only for a particular size range. However, in the diffusion-mechanism-dominant regime for small particle sizes, aerosol slip effects are non-negligible, and should be corrected using Cc.
In this study, a new expression for the MPPS is analytically derived, and Cc is simplified and modified to accommodate all the particle-size ranges. The newly derived expression includes the slip correction, which is implicitly considered in the diffusion coefficient for aerosol particles with low Kn values.

2. Theoretical Backgrounds

Generally, Cc, can be expressed as follows [8]:
(1)
$Cc=1+λdp(2.514+0.8exp(-0.55dpλ))$
Where λ is the mean free path of air molecules as a constant, and dp is the particle diameter. However, this expression is complex, and requires simplification for parameterization studies [1, 12]. One of the simplified expressions for Cc, used in many studies, is as follows [2]:
(2)
$Cc=1+3.34λdp$
The simplified expression for Cc (Eq. (2)) is simple and sufficiently accurate compared to original expression (Eq. (1)) [2]. For example, the diffusion coefficient (D) and Peclet number (Pe), considering Cc, can be expressed as follows:
(3)
$D=kTCc3πμdp≅kT3πμdp(1+3.34λdp)$
(4)
$Pe-2/3=(2auD)-2/3=(DDfu)2/3=(1Dfu)2/3(kT3πμdp)2/3(1+3.34λdp)2/3$
where k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the absolute temperature, is the viscosity of air, Df is the diameter of the filter, and u is the flow velocity. Subsequently, the aerosol single fiber efficiency (ηD) in association with the diffusion mechanism can be expressed as follows:
(5)
$ηD=2.6(1-αK)1/3Pe-2/3=2.6(1-αK)1/3(kTCc3πμdpuDf)2/3=2.6(1-αK)1/3(kT3πμdpuDf)2/3(1+3.34λdp)2/3$
Here, K is the hydrodynamic factor of the Kuwabara flow $(=-12lnα-34+α-α24)$, and α is the volume fraction, solidity, or packing density of the filter [13].
Eq. (5) can be further simplified via the approximation of $(1+3.34λdp)2/3$. Hence, Lee and Liu [2] approximated Cc for three different size ranges, as follows:
(6)
$Cc=1, for large particles with a continuum-flow-regime assumption (λdp≪1);Cc=3.33λdp, for very small particles (λdp≫1);Cc=3.69(λdp)1/2, for particles with intermediate sizes.$
Although these approximations demonstrate good correlations with the original equation, the approximated equations are valid only for the given size conditions and require different approximations in the other size ranges. For example, the single fiber efficiency can be generally expressed using a combination of the single fiber efficiency of diffusion and interception. If these three types of Cc are considered, the filtration single fiber efficiency should be expressed by three different formulas. Moreover, if the minimum single fiber efficiency as well as the corresponding dp varies for different formulas, the estimation of the filtration-mechanism characteristics considering Cc becomes confusing; therefore, this factor was neglected in several previous studies. Thus, for practical purposes, a more general approximation that covers all size ranges is required, considering the continuous changes in Cc.

3.1. New Approximated Expression for the Cunningham Slip Correction Factor and Single Fiber Efficiency

According to Lee and Liu [14] and Eq. (5), the single fiber efficiency ηD due to diffusion can be expressed in proportion to $Cc2/3(ηD∝Cc2/3)$. Thus, for the further evolution of the analytical expression for the MPPS, Cc should be simplified. In this study, we evaluated $Cc2/3$ using the 1st order Taylor series expansion as a function of the dp:
(7)
$Cc2/3≅(1+3.34λdp)23≅ζ{1+23(3.34λdp)}$
Then,
(8)
$Cc≅ζ3/2{1+23(3.34λdp)}=ϑ{1+23(3.34λdp)}32$
Here, we adapted the correlation factors, and, based on the comparison results between the real and approximated formulas:
(9)
$ϑ=ζ3/2=0.6(dpλ)0.1$
Subsequently, D and pe can be obtained using Eq. (3), (5), (8), and (9), as follows:
(10)
$D=kTCc3πμdp≅ϑkT3πμdp{1+23(3.34λdp)}32=0.6(dpλ)0.1kT3πμdp{1+23(3.34λdp)}32D2/3=(kTCc3πμdp)2/3≅{0.6(dpλ)0.1}2/3(kT3πμdp)2/3{1+23(3.34λdp)}Pe-2/3=(DfuD)-2/3=(DDfu)2/3={0.6(dpλ)0.1}2/3{1+23(3.34λdp)}=(0.6)2/3(dpλ)1/15(kT3πμdpDfu)2/3{1+23(3.34λdp)}$
Further, the ηD for diffusion can be expressed as a linear function of the dp, as in Eq. (5) and (10).
Table 1 depicts the expressions for the single fiber efficiency by diffusion; the previous expression by Lee and Liu [2], and the currently derived expression are presented. As seen in Table 1, the currently derived expression can be used for the entire size range. However, different formulas have to be used for different size ranges when applying Lee and Liu’s expression.
Fig. 1 shows the comparison of the exact values and the newly developed approximated solutions in this study, for Cc, D, and Pe, respectively; the results are in good agreement with each other. Here, the “exact” Cc refers to values calculated from Eq. (1).
The correlation coefficients are 0.9801, 0.9956, and 0.9984 with slopes of 0.9971, 1.0771, and 1.0309 for Cc, D, and Pe, respectively.
Further, the total ηD, including that owing to interception and gravitational settling, is expressed as a function of the dp:
(11)
$ηT=ηD+ηR+ηG=2.6(0.6)2/3(1-αK)1/3(1λ)1/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3dp-3/5+5.2(3.34)(0.6)2/33(1-αK)1/3(λ)14/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3dp-8/5+(1-αK)(dpDf)2+ρpdp2g18μu$
where ηR and ηG are the single fiber efficiencies due to interception and gravitational settling, respectively.
(12)
$ηR=(1-αK)R21+R≅(1-αK)R2=(1-αK)(dpDf)2,ηG=ρpdp2g18μu$
where R is the interception parameter $(=dpDf)$ and g is the gravitational coefficient. It should be noted that the newly approximated diffusion single fiber efficiency (ηD) in Eq. (11) can now be expressed as a linear combination of the dp.
Based on Fig. 1, we conclude that the approximated analytical expression for Cc estimates the exact Cc, and related parameters, such as D and Pe, with good confidence. Fig. 2 shows Cc, D, and Pe as functions of the dp. The exact values of Cc which are calculated using Eq. (1) is compared with the approximated values calculated using Eq. (10). The filter diameter (Df) is set at 0.02 mm, and the packing density and flow velocity are set at 0.08 and 1 cm/s, respectively. The results exhibit a good agreement (Fig. 2).
Fig. 3 shows the total single fiber efficiency as a function of the dp for different assumptions of Cc. For a filter diameter of 0.02 mm (Df = 0.02 mm), and flow velocities of 1 cm/s and 10 cm/s, the values of the single fiber efficiencies for the exact Cc, Cc = 1, and the approximated Cc from this study are compared. As seen in Fig. 3, the approximated solutions of the single fiber efficiencies using the approximated Cc agree with those using the exact Cc. The single fiber efficiency with unity Cc exhibits a discrepancy compared to the exact values, increasing with the decreasing particle size.

3.2. Analytic Expression for the MPPS of Fibrous Filters

As explained in the introduction, an increase in the particle size increases the single fiber efficiency due to interception and gravitational settling, whereas a reduction in the particle size causes an increase in the single fiber efficiency because of Brownian diffusion. It is notable that there is a regime with an intermediate particle size, where two or more mechanisms operate simultaneously, but no mechanism predominates over others. In this regime, the single fiber efficiency is minimum. The minimum single fiber efficiency diameter or the MPPS can be acquired by the differentiation of the single fiber efficiency with respect to the particle size, and the acquired value can be used to establish a value of zero. Previous studies determined the MPPS and the corresponding minimum single fiber efficiency with no consideration of Cc or with complex expressions [1516]. Thus, the effects of Cc and the corresponding expression for the minimum single fiber efficiency, as well as the MPPS, must be improved in a way that considers Cc and simplifies those expressions. In this study, we approximated Cc to accurately estimate the single fiber efficiency and MPPS, as well as the minimum single fiber efficiency.
The consequent equation for the MPPS of fibrous filters can be obtained as follows, by differentiating Eq. (11) with respect to the dp:
(13)
$∂ηT∂dp=-3(2.6)(0.6)2/33πμdp(1-αK)1/3λ-1/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3dp-85-8(5.2)(3.34)(0.6)2/3(3)(5)(1-αK)1/3λ14/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3dp-13/5+{2(1-αK)(1Df)2+ρpg9μu}dp=0$
Eq. (13) can be expressed in a simpler form as follows: $∂ηT∂dp=ϕ1dp-8/5+ϕ2dp-13/5+ϕ3dp=0.$
where
(14)
$ϕ1=-3(2.6)(0.6)2/33πμdp(1-αK)1/3λ-1/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3ϕ2=-8(5.2)(3.34)(0.6)2/3(3)(5)(1-αK)1/3λ14/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3ϕ3={2(1-αK)(1Df)2+ρpg9μu}$
The first and second terms (ϕ1 and ϕ2) refer to the diffusion, and the third term (ϕ3) refers to the interception, and gravitational settling mechanisms in Eq. (14). The single fiber efficiency due to diffusion increases as the dp decreases, while that due to interception increases as the dp increases. Thus, the leading terms can be estimated for each dominant particle or collector-size region. If the two dominant terms in Eq. (14) are determined, the resulting approximated equations can be generated as follows [6, 7, 16]:
(15)
$ϕ1dp-8/5+ϕ3dp=0ϕ2dp-13/5+ϕ3dp=0.$
The subsequent solutions from Eq. (15) are expressed as follows:
(16)
$ds1=(-ϕ1ϕ3)13/5, ds2=(-ϕ2ϕ3)5/18$
Further, the minimum scavenging coefficient particle size is expressed as in Eq. (17) by applying the harmonic-mean type approximation [16]:
(17)
$dp,min=ω¯11ds12+1ds22$
Here, the correction parameter, ω̄, can be adapted to minimize the errors between the exact and approximated MPPS. In this study, an ω̄ of 0.6 is suggested by comparing the exact and harmonic mean results.
Fig. 4 shows the MPPS as a function of the velocity, considering Df of 0.02 mm and 0.1 mm. The MPPS can be determined in accordance with a dominant mechanism, for any given condition. As seen in Fig. 4, the MPPS increases as the filtration velocity increases up to a point, and after the point, decreases with the increasing velocity. According to the previous study [5], the MPPS shifts to a larger size as the flow velocity increases for fiber diameter (df) of 0.02 mm, when Brownian diffusion and the gravitational force are dominant. The MPPS shifts to a smaller size as the flow velocity increases for df of 0.1 mm, when Brownian diffusion and interception are dominant. As shown in Fig. 4, the MPPS obtained using the analytical expression of this study agrees well with the exact MPPS. Fig. 5 depicts the MPPS as a function of the filter packing density; df of 0.02 and 0.2 mm are compared for filtration velocities of 1 and 10 cm/s, respectively. The actual MPPS and the one determined in this study show a good agreement. For a Df of 0.2 mm, the MPPS increases with the increase in packing density up to a value of approximately 0.3, after which the MPPS starts to decrease. However, for a Df of 0.02 mm, the MPPS decreases with the increase in packing density over the density range in Fig. 5.

3.3. Minimum Single Fiber Efficiency

Based on the MPPS, the corresponding minimum single fiber efficiency (ηmin) is obtained by substituting dp in Eq. (11) with dp,min in Eq. (17). Fig. 6 shows the minimum single fiber efficiency as a function of the filtration velocity; the exact solution and approximated one from this study are compared. The minimum single fiber efficiency decreases with the increase in filtration velocity. The minimum single fiber efficiency is greater at smaller df over the filtration velocities up to ~ 20 cm/s and for lower filtration velocities. Nevertheless, the difference in the minimum single fiber efficiency between different df decreases with the increase in filtration velocity.

4. Conclusions

The Cc is significant, for particle sizes below 2–3 μm, in air at ambient conditions. In filtration studies, the effects of Cc are critical and can be considered for the exact estimation of the collection efficiency and MPPS. For instance, in the regime where the diffusion mechanism is dominant, the aerosol slip effects cannot be neglected for small particle sizes, and the effects should be calibrated using Cc. However, the complex formula for Cc requires a simplified expression, for parameterization studies.
In this study, an expression for the MPPS and corresponding minimum single fiber efficiency were analytically derived based on the newly developed analytically simplified Cc expression in association with the slip effects of small particles. Slip correction was implicitly embedded in the D for aerosol particles with low Kn. The comparison of the obtained analytical solution for the MPPS, which considers the particle slip of small particles, with the exact solution demonstrated a good agreement. This result indicates that the simplified expression for Cc, demonstrated in this study, can be used for obtaining the analytical solution for the MPPS, including particles with low Knudsen numbers, with a high confidence level.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2018R1D1A1A09083227), and by the KOPRI program (PN19081), funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant (NRF-2016M1A5A1901786).

References

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Fig. 1
Comparison of the exact and approximated (a) Cunningham slip correction factors, (b) Diffusion coefficients, and (c) Peclet numbers.
Fig. 2
Comparison of the exact and approximated (a) Cunningham slip correction factors, (b) Diffusion coefficients, and (c) Peclet numbers, as functions of the particle diameter (Df = 0.02 mm).
Fig. 3
Single fiber efficiency as a function of the particle diameter for different Cunningham slip correction factors (Cc = 1, exact solution with Eq. (1), and approximated value in this study; Df =0.02mm).
Fig. 4
Most penetrating particle size as a function of the filtration velocity for different filter diameters of 0.02 mm and 0.1 mm.
Fig. 5
Comparison of the exact solution of the most penetrating particle size with its analytical counterpart, as a function of the packing density.
Fig. 6
Comparison of the exact solution of the minimum single fiber efficiency, as a function of the filtration velocity, with its analytical counterpart, for different filter diameters of 0.02 mm and 0.1 mm.
Table 1
Comparison of the Expressions for the Single Fiber Efficiency by Diffusion (Previous Expression vs. Currently Derived Expression)
Previous expression [2] Current expression
Single fiber efficiency by diffusion (ηD) $• 2.6(1-αK)1/3(kT3πμdpuDf)2/3 for λdp≪1• 2.6(1-αK)1/3(3.33kTλ3πμdp2uDf)2/3 for λdp≫1• 2.6(1-αK)1/3(kTCc3πμdp2uDf(3.69λ))2/3$for intermediate size. For the entire size range, $2.6(0.6)2/3(1-αK)1/3(1λ)1/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3dp-3/5+5.2(3.34)(0.6)2/33(1-αK)1/3(λ)14/15(kT3Dfuπμ)2/3dp-8/5$
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