Fractional Penetrations for Electrostatically Charged Fibrous Filters in the Submicron Particle Size Range

Abstract Particle penetrations through commercially available, electrically charged fibrous filters have been measured. The particles were monodisperse and in charge equilibrium. Tests were conducted for several particle sizes in the range 0.02 μm ≤ x ≤ 1 μm. The face velocity was varied in the range of 2 cm/s to 30 cm/s. The penetration has a bimodal dependence on particle size. This behaviour is not found for uncharged filters. The reduction in penetration and bimodal dependence is attributed to electrical collection effects. As the face velocity is increased, the electrostatic collection effects are significantly reduced. The results agree quantitatively with a model for particle penetration through charged fibrous filters recently presented in the literature by the authors.