Collection Efficiency for Filters with Staggered Parallel Y and Triple Y Fibers: A Numerical Study

A numerical study is performed to determine the collection efficiency of filters composed of staggered parallel Y and triple Y fibers. By employing the Lattice Boltzmann method, the Navier–Stokes equations are solved for flow fields in a two-dimensional domain with periodic boundary conditions. Trajectories of particles with different diameters arranging from 0.02 μm to 5 μm are then computed by solving the particle motion equation hence obtaining the collection efficiency of single Y and triple Y fibers. The effects of fiber orientation, Brownian motion, particulate size and Reynolds number on the collection efficiency of these two types of fibers are also evaluated numerically.Y and triple Y fibers have low packing density and relatively large area to volume ratio, and the latter property helps enhance the Brownian diffusion collection mechanism for smaller particles. The large void zone of these fibers can accommodate more particles, which improves the particle loading capacity. It is also found out that the flow field and collection efficiency of triple Y fiber is less susceptible to different fiber orientations due to its geometric symmetry. The numerical results obtained in this work provide helpful information in designing high efficiency filters.