Francesca Bernardi, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Understanding microscale fluid and particle transport is critical to perfecting the manufacturingand use of microfluidic technologies in medical, industrial, and environmental engineeringapplications. In this talk, I will focus on the microfiltration systems utilized by municipal facilitiesin the US performing water purification for potable water reuse. In these systems, as wastewateris pushed through the filters, foulants and pollutants are captured by the membrane allowingclean, drinkable water to exit.
I will introduce two 2D mathematical approaches to model filters with different geometries: (1)a flat-sheet membrane model tackled via Monte Carlo simulations to qualitatively capture foulingand cleaning mechanisms. And (2) a single hollow-fiber membrane model approximatedanalytically through the fluid dynamics in a semi-infinite channel with permeable walls. Resolvingthe solute and particle transport details of the microfiltration process would allow for bettercontrol of fouling and cleaning mechanisms and could improve its efficiency. Open questions andpossible next steps will be discussed.