Biofilter media gas pressure loss as related to media particle size and particle shape

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biofilter media gas pressure loss as related to media particle size and particle shape

AU - Pugliese, Lorenzo

AU - Poulsen, Tjalfe G.

AU - Røjgaard Andreasen, Rune

PY - 2013/1/1

Y1 - 2013/1/1

N2 - Pressure loss (ΔP) is a key parameter for estimating biofilter energy consumption. Accurate predictions of ΔP as a function of air velocity (V) are, therefore, essential to assess energy consumption and minimize operation costs. This paper investigates the combined impact of medium particle size and shape on the V-ΔP relationship. The V-ΔP measurements were performed using three commercially available materials with different particle shapes: crushed granite (very angular particles), gravel (particles of intermediate roundness), and lightweight clay aggregrate (almost spherical particles). A total of 21 different particle-size fractions, with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 14 mm, were considered for each material. As expected, ΔP decreased with increasing particle size in agreement with earlier findings. The value of ΔP, however, also showed a tendency to decrease with increasing particle roundness especially for fractions containing smaller particles. A new model concept for estimating V-ΔP across different particle-size fractions and shapes was proposed. This model yielded improved prediction accuracy in comparison with existing prediction approaches.

AB - Pressure loss (ΔP) is a key parameter for estimating biofilter energy consumption. Accurate predictions of ΔP as a function of air velocity (V) are, therefore, essential to assess energy consumption and minimize operation costs. This paper investigates the combined impact of medium particle size and shape on the V-ΔP relationship. The V-ΔP measurements were performed using three commercially available materials with different particle shapes: crushed granite (very angular particles), gravel (particles of intermediate roundness), and lightweight clay aggregrate (almost spherical particles). A total of 21 different particle-size fractions, with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 14 mm, were considered for each material. As expected, ΔP decreased with increasing particle size in agreement with earlier findings. The value of ΔP, however, also showed a tendency to decrease with increasing particle roundness especially for fractions containing smaller particles. A new model concept for estimating V-ΔP across different particle-size fractions and shapes was proposed. This model yielded improved prediction accuracy in comparison with existing prediction approaches.

KW - Air flow

KW - Filtration

KW - Granular media

KW - Moisture

KW - Particle shape

KW - Particle-size distribution

KW - Permeability

KW - Pressure loss

U2 - 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000771

DO - 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000771

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84893712176

SN - 0733-9372

VL - 139

SP - 1424

EP - 1431

JO - Journal of Environmental Engineering

JF - Journal of Environmental Engineering

IS - 12

ER -