Abstract
The objective of this study is to demonstrate a convenient numerical approach for simulating nanoparticle diffusion using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. It uses the Eluerian approach and solves the convective diffusion equation. The advantage is that it does not require defining user codes. We demonstrated the application of this approach by modeling nanoparticle capture by personal protective garments, both woven and non-woven. Such process usually has low face velocity, causing the primary capture mechanism to be diffusion. Simulation results for the woven media show satisfactory agreement with the classical filtration theory when the Peclet number lies between 0.1 and 100. Results for non-woven media also agree with experimental measurements within the range of concern. This work demonstrates a simple modeling approach for the design and selection of personal protective media against dermal exposure of nanoparticles in workplace.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 230-239 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Separation and Purification Technology |
| Volume | 98 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 19 2012 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank the support of members of the Center for Filtration Research: 3 M Corporation, Boeing Company, Cummins Filtration Inc., Donaldson Company, Inc., Entegris Inc., Hollingsworth & Vose Company, Mann+Hummel GMBH, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Shigematsu Works Co., Ltd., TSI Inc., and W.L. Gore & Associates and the affiliate member National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Parts of this work were carried out in the Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota, which receives partial support from NSF through the MRSEC program. Support of University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) and financial support of the Abplanalp-Sanders Memorial Fellowship is also acknowledged.
Keywords
- Diffusion
- Filtration
- Nanoparticle
- Personal protective equipment