Experimental investigation of deposition and removal of particles during gas filtration with various fabric filters

The aim of this study was to investigate the deposition of particles in three types of synthetic fabric filter by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and to determine the experimental adhesive force of filter cakes in fabric filters. The fabrics used were acrylic, polypropylene and polyester. The particulate matter was phosphate rock. The particles were deposited in the filters during 10 filtration cycles, with a superficial filtration velocity of 0.10 m/s and maximum pressure drop of 980 Pa across the filter. The cleaning technique used was reverse air flow at 0.12 m/s. The results showed that the deposition depth of particles in the polypropylene filter was lower than those observed in the polyester and acrylic filters. Nevertheless, the residual pressure drop of the polypropylene at the beginning of the filtration assays was highest, owing to the greater accumulation of particles at the surface of the filter and the characteristics of the filter itself. It was also observed that the adhesion force was higher in the polypropylene filter than in the other filters, making it hard to remove the filter cake from that filter.

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► The behavior of the particle deposition and adhesion forces can improve the understanding of the cycles of filtration.
► The polypropylene filter exhibited the highest number of particles retained on the surface of the filter.
► The acrylic and polyester filters trapped greater numbers of particles internally than the polypropylene filter.
► The adhesion force was higher in the polypropylene filter, making it difficult to remove the cakes from the filter.