Abstract
Blockage of pores by particles is found in many processes, including filtration and oil extraction. We present filtration experiments through a linear array of ten channels with one dimension which is sub-micron, through which a dilute dispersion of Brownian polystyrene spheres flows under the action of a fixed pressure drop. The growth rate of a clog formed by particles at a pore entrance systematically increases with the number of already saturated (entirely clogged) pores, indicating that there is an interaction or “cross-talk” between the pores. This observation is interpreted based on a phenomenological model, stating that a diffusive redistribution of particles occurs along the membrane, from clogged to free pores. This one-dimensional model could be extended to two-dimensional membranes.
Highlights
Blockage of pores by particles is found in many processes, including filtration and oil extraction
Since a typical filtration membrane consists of a large number of closely-spaced pores, clog formation at one pore could affect its neighbours, and the macroscopic behavior of the membrane. Considered in this way, there is a notable lack of information related to clog formation at the pore scale, with connection to the membrane scale by consideration of interactions between pores. We address this gap of knowledge at an intermediate scale, by considering in detail the time evolution of the clog formation process at pore scale, in a short one-dimensional (1-D) array of pores
We measure a clogging growth rate as a function of the number of already clogged pores and we propose a model based on a local increase of colloid concentration close to clogged pores to explain the observations
Summary
Blockage of pores by particles is found in many processes, including filtration and oil extraction. The growth rate of a clog formed by particles at a pore entrance systematically increases with the number of already saturated (entirely clogged) pores, indicating that there is an interaction or “cross-talk” between the pores. This observation is interpreted based on a phenomenological model, stating that a diffusive redistribution of particles occurs along the membrane, from clogged to free pores. Since a typical filtration membrane consists of a large number of closely-spaced pores, clog formation at one pore could affect its neighbours, and the macroscopic behavior of the membrane Considered in this way, there is a notable lack of information related to clog formation at the pore scale, with connection to the membrane scale by consideration of interactions between pores. We measure a clogging growth rate as a function of the number of already clogged pores and we propose a model based on a local increase of colloid concentration close to clogged pores to explain the observations
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