DESALINATION ELSEVIER Desalination 146 (2002) 129-l 34 www.elsevier.com/locate/desaI Effect of pore morphology on fluid flow and particle deposition on a track-etched polycarbonate membrane Kuo-Lun Tung*, Ching-Jung Chuang Department of Chemical Engineering, and R&D Centerfor Membrane Technologv Chung Yuan University Chungli 320, Taiwan Tel. +886 (3) 456-3171 ext. 4129; Fax +886 (3) 437-2159; email: kuolun@cycu.edu.tw Received 8 February 2002; accepted 22 February 2002 Abstract Three-dimensional particles deposition on a filter pore of a track-etched polycarbonate membrane was studied numerically by analyzing forces acting on the depositing particles. The simulation was applied to examine how the morphology of the filter pore affects the deposition of particles on a membrane pore at the initial stage of filtration. The model of membrane structure is a 3D porous surface with circular holes of finite thickness. Both of the effects of constriction and expansion of inner pore geometries on fluid flow and particle deposition are taken into consideration in numerical calculation, and are compared with that of capillary pore. The disturbance of flow field and particle trajectory due to the presence of particles was taken into consideration during each simulation. Simulated results show that the effect of filtration rate, i.e., operating pressure, has a significant influence on the packing morphology of particles on a filter pore. Keyword: Microfiltration; Pore morphology; Particle deposition; Track-etched polycarbonate membrane; Membrane fouling; Computer simulation 1. Introduction depends on the effective control of fouling Pressure-driven membrane filtration is an efficient mode for recovering highly valued fine products in many industries. The efficiency and economic competitiveness ofmembrane filtration *Corresponding author. problems of filter membranes. The extent and type of particle capture by the membrane surface are vital for membrane separation since these pertain to the limiting phenomena of membrane fouling [ 11. Most of the theoretical works on particle deposition and subsequent filter cake Presented at the International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes (ICOW, Toulouse, France, July 7-12, 2002. 001 l-9164/02/$- See front matter 0 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved PII: SO0 I l-9 164(02)00504-O