Biofilter Media Gas Pressure Loss as Related to Media Particle Size and Particle Shape

Abstract

AbstractPressure loss (ΔP) is a key parameter for estimating biofilter energy consumption. Accurate predictions of ΔP as a function of air velocity (V) are, therefore, essential to assess energy consumption and minimize operation costs. This paper investigates the combined impact of medium particle size and shape on the V-ΔP relationship. The V-ΔP measurements were performed using three commercially available materials with different particle shapes: crushed granite (very angular particles), gravel (particles of intermediate roundness), and lightweight clay aggregrate (almost spherical particles). A total of 21 different particle-size fractions, with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 14 mm, were considered for each material. As expected, ΔP decreased with increasing particle size in agreement with earlier findings. The value of ΔP, however, also showed a tendency to decrease with increasing particle roundness especially for fractions containing smaller particles. A new model concept for estimating V-ΔP acr...