A flow intensification model for granular filter applications

a flow intensification model is proposed. We first give an estimation of the flow intensification factor, and then the velocity field in the vicinity of a single granule subject to the intensified flow is obtained. Creeping flow is assumed and Happel's model is used to represent the granular media. Based on the flow field, the initial collector efficiency $\eta _{0}$ is calculated from trajectory analysis and compared with experimental data. The reasonably good agreement between the theory and experiments suggests that the current model might be employed as a starting framework for further theoretical development and numerical modeling for granular filter applications.