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Visually Based Characterization of the Incipient Particle Motion in Regular Substrates: From Laminar to Turbulent Conditions
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Particle movements provoke avalanche-like compaction in soft colloid filter cakes
Arne Lüken1, Lucas Stüwe1, Johannes Lohaus1
1Chemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Scientific Reports
|June 19, 2021
Summary
Understanding soft particle behavior during filtration is key. This study visualizes colloid cake formation and compression, revealing how particle history impacts filtration efficiency and resistance.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and Surface Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Filtration of soft matter involves colloid accumulation forming a compressible cake layer.
- Cake void size dictates permeation resistance and filtration efficiency.
- High flux increases cake compression and resistance, but soft particle behavior is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To visualize and analyze the formation and compression of soft particle filter cakes.
- To understand single-particle dynamics within filter cake voids.
- To differentiate between reversible and irreversible compression phenomena in soft filter cakes.
Main Methods:
- Microfluidic model systems for visualizing cake formation and compression.
- Analysis of single-particle movements and interactions within the cake.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) modeling for confirmation.
Main Results:
- Detailed visualization of soft filter cake formation and compression dynamics.
- Identification and differentiation of reversible and irreversible compression mechanisms.
- Validation of experimental observations through CFD-DEM simulations.
Conclusions:
- Soft particle compression history significantly influences filter cake morphology and properties.
- Linking single colloid behavior to macroscopic filtration performance is crucial.
- This research bridges the gap between micro-scale events and overall filtration processes.
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