Electrostatic fibrous air filters: a theoretical study II. Report for the period October 1979-October 1980

A computer code is described which determines filter efficiencies using particle trajectories. It uses the Kuwabara flow field and accounts for the three mechanical mechanisms of diffusion, interception, and inertial impaction. The effect of imposing all possible combinations of electrical capture mechanisms on the Kuwabara flow is also included. These mechanisms result from fiber and particle charge as well as fiber and particle polarization. An alternative means of computing the inertial impaction efficiency is also presented. It is based on a perturbation analysis of the dynamic equations of particle motion. A model of the dynamic effect of fiber charge buildup and bleedoff is proposed which shows some promise in the study of single fiber efficiency dynamics. Finally, two possible approaches to the study of flow problems related to fiber and particle dendrite interaction have been identified.