The fluid mechanical properties of microstructures, such as the fitting efficiency of filter media, are significantly influenced by their microscopic fiber structure. Based on the geometric recording of such microstructures, for example using computer tomography images, the flow processes within a microstructure can be calculated using modern Lattice-Boltzmann methods. Specially developed numerical algorithms can also be used to simulate the transport of particles and their attachment to the microscopic fiber structure. All relevant interactions between the fluid and the particles, such as drag forces and Brownian motion, are taken into account. In the case of attachment processes, this also includes molecular forces in particular, such as van der Waals forces. The blockage of already deposited particles, which is relevant for the flow, can be taken into account by a direct coupling between particle and fluid movement.
Comprehensive calculations of the flow phenomena and particle transport within a microstructure allow deep insights into the physical processes on a microscopic level and enable targeted optimization of the geometry of such fiber structures.
Numerical Analysis Processes
We use specially developed Lattice-Boltzmann methods (LBM) to calculate the fluid mechanical phenomena within the microstructures. A major advantage of these methods is that even highly complex geometries can be captured very easily. The calculation of the particle motion through the microstructures is performed by explicit or implicit algorithms to solve the equations of motion of the particles.
Further Information
