Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory
Filters whose porosity decreases with depth are often more efficient at removing solute from a fluid than filters with a uniform porosity. We investigate this phenomenon via an extension of homogenization theory that accounts for a macroscale variation in microstructure. In the first stage of the pa...
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| Format: | Article |
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Royal Society
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32962/ |
| _version_ | 1848794529170194432 |
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| author | Dalwadi, Mohit P. Griffiths, Ian M. Bruna, Maria |
| author_facet | Dalwadi, Mohit P. Griffiths, Ian M. Bruna, Maria |
| author_sort | Dalwadi, Mohit P. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Filters whose porosity decreases with depth are often more efficient at removing solute from a fluid than filters with a uniform porosity. We investigate this phenomenon via an extension of homogenization theory that accounts for a macroscale variation in microstructure. In the first stage of the paper, we homogenize the problems of flow through a filter with a near-periodic microstructure and of solute transport owing to advection, diffusion and filter adsorption. In the second stage, we use the computationally efficient homogenized equations to investigate and quantify why porosity gradients can improve filter efficiency. We find that a porosity gradient has a much larger effect on the uniformity of adsorption than it does on the total adsorption. This allows us to understand how a decreasing porosity can lead to a greater filter efficiency, by lowering the risk of localized blocking while maintaining the rate of total contaminant removal. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:17:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-32962 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:17:38Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Royal Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-329622020-05-04T17:16:33Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32962/ Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory Dalwadi, Mohit P. Griffiths, Ian M. Bruna, Maria Filters whose porosity decreases with depth are often more efficient at removing solute from a fluid than filters with a uniform porosity. We investigate this phenomenon via an extension of homogenization theory that accounts for a macroscale variation in microstructure. In the first stage of the paper, we homogenize the problems of flow through a filter with a near-periodic microstructure and of solute transport owing to advection, diffusion and filter adsorption. In the second stage, we use the computationally efficient homogenized equations to investigate and quantify why porosity gradients can improve filter efficiency. We find that a porosity gradient has a much larger effect on the uniformity of adsorption than it does on the total adsorption. This allows us to understand how a decreasing porosity can lead to a greater filter efficiency, by lowering the risk of localized blocking while maintaining the rate of total contaminant removal. Royal Society 2015-09-23 Article PeerReviewed Dalwadi, Mohit P., Griffiths, Ian M. and Bruna, Maria (2015) Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 471 (2182). pp. 1-20. ISSN 1471-2946 homogenization advection–diffusion–reaction porous-media flow depth filtration porosity-graded filter multi-scale modelling http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/471/2182/20150464 doi:10.1098/rspa.2015.0464 doi:10.1098/rspa.2015.0464 |
| spellingShingle | homogenization advection–diffusion–reaction porous-media flow depth filtration porosity-graded filter multi-scale modelling Dalwadi, Mohit P. Griffiths, Ian M. Bruna, Maria Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory |
| title | Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory |
| title_full | Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory |
| title_fullStr | Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory |
| title_short | Understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory |
| title_sort | understanding how porosity gradients can make a better filter using homogenization theory |
| topic | homogenization advection–diffusion–reaction porous-media flow depth filtration porosity-graded filter multi-scale modelling |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32962/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32962/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32962/ |