A systematic approach for evaluation of gas-phase filter model

Abstract

This article reports the development of a systematic methodology for the evaluation of gas-phase filtration models. In this approach, two sets of experiments are performed. For the first, all of the required model input parameters are quantified either experimentally or empirically. The second set of experiments is needed for the overall model validation process. The proposed methodology was applied to an existing gas-phase filter model that was developed for application to a single or a mixture of contaminants. The model was evaluated for two gases, namely n-hexane and methyl ethyl ketone, and four scenarios: (1) single methyl ethyl ketone at a dry air condition, (2) single n-hexane at a dry air condition, (3) a mixture of methyl ethyl ketone and n-hexane at a dry air condition, and (4) a mixture of methyl ethyl ketone and n-hexane at a humid air condition. The model was able to predict the lifetime of the filter for a single contaminant with less than 10% relative error. For the binary mixture, the model could not predict the lifetime of the heavier compound; however, it was able to predict the lifetime of the filter for the lighter compound with about 25% relative error. For the case of a mixture, the model underestimates the displacement phenomenon of a lighter compound. It was also noted that in the case of a heavier compound, there is good agreement between the model's prediction, when it was applied to a single gas, and the experimental data for the single and mixture gas. It was also concluded that humidity has little effect on the breakthrough profile.