TY - CONF

T1 - Maximising open area whilst retaining strength in novel metal additive manufactured filter media

AU - Burns, Neil

AU - Burns, Mark

AU - Travis, Darren

AU - Geekie, Louise

AU - Hasib, Hazman

AU - Rennie, Allan

PY - 2014/10

Y1 - 2014/10

N2 - Introduction: Filtration media selection is dependent upon filtration level required and operational pressures. Traditionally, the filter portion is formed from woven wire mesh manufactured from drawn wire, arranged in a grid pattern although different weaves are available, allowing different levels of filtration using different wire diameters. The open area of the filter is limited by the wire diameters, affecting the overall strength of the woven mesh. The design freedoms of additive manufacturing (AM) allows filter media design with known aperture sizes whilst reducing equivalent wire diameter to produce filter media with a greater open area compared to the equivalent woven wire mesh.Method: AM filter media were designed to have aperture sizes of 500µm and 1000µm as found in #32 and #18 mesh respectively, but with a decrease in ‘wire’ diameter to increase the ratio of open area. Strength was increased through addition of further filtration layers to form depth filters. The filter media were then tested for aperture size, collapse pressure and pressure drop. Results: AM filter media designs delivered an increase in open area compared to comparable woven wire mesh media. Addition of further layers increased the filters strength and the complexity of the particulate path through the filter and so decreased the path size. Conclusions: Filter media designs produced using AM can be manipulated to produce an increase in open area, retaining strength compared to conventional woven wire mesh. The increased open area decreases the pressure drop across the filter and so less pumping energy is required.

AB - Introduction: Filtration media selection is dependent upon filtration level required and operational pressures. Traditionally, the filter portion is formed from woven wire mesh manufactured from drawn wire, arranged in a grid pattern although different weaves are available, allowing different levels of filtration using different wire diameters. The open area of the filter is limited by the wire diameters, affecting the overall strength of the woven mesh. The design freedoms of additive manufacturing (AM) allows filter media design with known aperture sizes whilst reducing equivalent wire diameter to produce filter media with a greater open area compared to the equivalent woven wire mesh.Method: AM filter media were designed to have aperture sizes of 500µm and 1000µm as found in #32 and #18 mesh respectively, but with a decrease in ‘wire’ diameter to increase the ratio of open area. Strength was increased through addition of further filtration layers to form depth filters. The filter media were then tested for aperture size, collapse pressure and pressure drop. Results: AM filter media designs delivered an increase in open area compared to comparable woven wire mesh media. Addition of further layers increased the filters strength and the complexity of the particulate path through the filter and so decreased the path size. Conclusions: Filter media designs produced using AM can be manipulated to produce an increase in open area, retaining strength compared to conventional woven wire mesh. The increased open area decreases the pressure drop across the filter and so less pumping energy is required.

M3 - Abstract

T2 - American Filtration & Separations Society Next Generation Filter Media Conference: Embracing Future Challenges

Y2 - 14 October 2014 through 15 October 2014

ER -