Explore on Pressure-Drop Performance of Nanofibrous Filtration Membrane

Abstract

High filtration efficiency of nanofibrous membrane has been proved in air filtration area, but, in addition to filtration efficiency, pressure drop is another important characteristic of fibrous filter. Because pressure-drop is related to energy wastage of filtration, it’s necessary to study. While there are not enough studies dedicated to pressure-drop of nanofibrous membrane filters. Here, different thickness PVA nanofibrous membranes were made by electrospinning, and they deposited on cotton scaffolds to form nanofibrous filter samples. Through testing these samples, we found as thickness of nanofibrous membrane increased, pressure-drop rose almost linearly, while filtration efficiency presented a different change trend. When thickness of nanofibrous membrane reaching a point, filtration efficiency attained extreme limit, even if increasing thickness nanofibrous membrane, filtration efficiency only rose limitedly, but pressure-drop still increased rapidly. At the same time, we found despite the thickness of nanofibrous membrane was thinner than conventional fibrous filter, pressure-drop of nanofibrous filter was obviously higher than conventional fibrous filter. So it’s remarkable phenomena. Through theoretical analysis and simulation, the causation of high pressure-drop of nanofibrous filter was discussed and provided. Decreasing diameter of fiber caused resistance performance change. It’s necessary to carry on a further research.