Comparative Analysis and Evaluation of Modeling Methods for Nuclear-Grade HEPA Filters
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methodology
2.1. System Description
2.2. Mathematical Modeling
- PSL: offers the advantage of a uniform particle size distribution, making it useful for evaluating the consistency of filter performance.
- Fluorescein soda: effective in visualizing particle capture and distribution within the filter media.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Single Fiber Efficiency
3.2. Overall Efficiency
3.3. Decontamination Factor (DF)
3.4. Influence of Filtration Velocity on the MPPS
- Medium Heterogeneities: Variations in packing density and thickness can create localized regions with differing filtration performance. These heterogeneities can significantly affect the overall efficiency of the filter by altering the flow pathways and particle capture dynamics.
- Fiber Size Distribution: Real HEPA filters typically exhibit a polydisperse fiber size distribution, which affects the interaction between particles and fibers. The uniform fiber diameter assumptions in the model do not capture the full range of interactions that occur in actual filter media, potentially leading to discrepancies between the modeled and experimental efficiencies.
- Velocity Gradients: Non-uniform flow distribution through the filter can result in velocity gradients that influence particle capture mechanisms. Areas of higher velocity may enhance impaction and interception, where as those of lower velocity may improve diffusion-based capture.
3.5. Model-Experimental Comparison at Different Velocities
3.6. Fiber Diameter Implications
3.7. 3D Visualization of Filter Performance
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
HEPA | High-Efficiency Particulate Air |
MPPS | Most Penetrating Particle Size |
IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
NSRPR | Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Regulations |
SEM | Scanning Electronic Microscopy |
E | Overall efficiency, Equation (7) |
η | Total single fiber efficiency, Equations (5) and (6) |
ηD | Single fiber efficiency by diffusion, Equation (1) |
ηR | Single fiber efficiency by interception, Equation (2) |
ηI | Single fiber efficiency by inertial impaction, Equation (3) |
α | Medium packing density, 0.008 < α < 0.151 |
R | Characteristic number, R = dp/df; 0.0045 < R < 0.12 |
dp | Particle diameter, 0.05 ≤ dp ≤ 5 µm |
df | Fiber diameter µm |
Uf/U | Superficial velocity, 1 < uf < 30 cm/s |
ρP | Particle density: 1500 kg/m3 |
µ | Fluid dynamic viscosity |
t | Thickness of the filter |
Pe | Peclet number |
St | Stokes number |
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Fiber diameter | Geometric median diameter (µm) Geometric SD Numerical mean diameter (µm) | 0.6 2.2 0.9 |
Thickness (µm) | 521 ± 31 | |
Weight (g.m−2) | 92 ± 2 | |
Packing density | 0.071 ± 0.006 |
Particle size | 0.18 micrometre |
Filtration velocity | 2.98 (cm/s) |
Particle density | 1500 (kg/m3) |
Temperature | 298 (K) |
Dynamic viscosity of air | 1.85 × 10−5 (kg/m.s) |
Particle mean free path | 6.4 × 10−8 (m) |
Sn. | Filtration Velocity, (cm/s) | E | MPPS (µm) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 0.99995348 | 0.999947 | 0.000 | 0.27 |
2 | 1.5 | 0.99971686 | 0.999671 | 0.005 | 0.24 |
3 | 2 | 0.99921856 | 0.999086 | 0.013 | 0.23 |
4 | 2.5 | 0.99848275 | 0.998217 | 0.027 | 0.22 |
5 | 3 | 0.99756455 | 0.997128 | 0.044 | 0.21 |
6 | 3.5 | 0.99651831 | 0.995884 | 0.064 | 0.2 |
7 | 4 | 0.99538846 | 0.994537 | 0.086 | 0.2 |
8 | 4.5 | 0.99420883 | 0.993128 | 0.109 | 0.19 |
9 | 5 | 0.99300433 | 0.991687 | 0.133 | 0.18 |
10 | 5.5 | 0.99179301 | 0.990235 | 0.157 | 0.18 |
11 | 6 | 0.99058775 | 0.988789 | 0.182 | 0.18 |
12 | 6.5 | 0.98939765 | 0.98736 | 0.206 | 0.17 |
13 | 7 | 0.98822904 | 0.985954 | 0.231 | 0.17 |
14 | 7.5 | 0.98708622 | 0.984578 | 0.255 | 0.17 |
15 | 8 | 0.98597202 | 0.983235 | 0.278 | 0.17 |
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Al Dabbas, A.; Al-Azba, M.; Kopecskó, K.; Fawaier, M.; Alshebli, A.; Al-Hyari, L.; Joubert, A. Comparative Analysis and Evaluation of Modeling Methods for Nuclear-Grade HEPA Filters. Fibers 2024, 12, 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12090071
Al Dabbas A, Al-Azba M, Kopecskó K, Fawaier M, Alshebli A, Al-Hyari L, Joubert A. Comparative Analysis and Evaluation of Modeling Methods for Nuclear-Grade HEPA Filters. Fibers. 2024; 12(9):71. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12090071
Chicago/Turabian StyleAl Dabbas, Ali, Mohammed Al-Azba, Katalin Kopecskó, Mohammad Fawaier, Ahmad Alshebli, Laith Al-Hyari, and Aurélie Joubert. 2024. "Comparative Analysis and Evaluation of Modeling Methods for Nuclear-Grade HEPA Filters" Fibers 12, no. 9: 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12090071