Glass fiber coalescing filter media augmented with polymeric submicron fibers and modified with angled drainage channels

Abstract

Glass fiber filter media are widely used in separation of droplets from liquid aerosols. In prior works two possible enhancements to the performance of the glass fiber media were studied: (1) the capture efficiencies were increased by augmenting the glass fibers with sub-micron sized electrospun polymer fibers, and (2) the pressure drop was decreased by modifying the filter media with insertion of 45° drainage channels. In this paper we report the simultaneous application of these two enhancements on the performance of the filter media.Filters were fabricated by inserting low surface energy woven polymer fiber drainage channels at various angles within non-woven glass fiber filter media augmented with Nylon sub-micron fibers. The effects of the presence and geometry of the drainage channels on the filter performance were evaluated experimentally. The sub-micron fibers gave the filter high coalescence and separation efficiencies while the drainage channels reduced the filter pressure drop. The micro glass fiber media augmented with 100nm Nylon fibers and modified with Polypropylene fiber drainage channels at 45° downward angles had the overall best performance.