Increase of collection efficiency in fibrous filter media through magnetic alignment of elongated aerosol particles

This research explored the effect of magnetically aligned poly-disperse aerosol fibers on filtration in nylon net filters. Efficiencies of the filters were tested at varying face velocities (1.5, 5.1, and 10.2 cm/sec ), magnetite compositions (by mass) (10, 20, and 30%), and magnetic field strengths (0, 50, and 100mT). Single-fiber theory provided theoretical rationale for fiber behavior in a uniform magnetic field. The filters were challenged with cromoglycic acid coated with magnetite particles. The resulting masses and fiber distributions on the filter and downstream filtrate were measured.;Findings from the experiment, matched by supporting theories, confirmed significant efficiency increases at 1.5 cm/sec at all magnetite compositions, and for 5.12 cm/sec at 20% and 30% compositions. A saturated efficiency was reached for further increases in field strength. The author validates the method and suggests that fiber alignment in a magnetic field could warrant applications in the filtration and fiber detection fields.