Numerical Study of the Solid Volume Fraction and Pressure Drop of Fibrous Media by Response Surface Methodology.

In order to establish a realistic fibrous media structure, internal microscopic cross-sectional images were taken by scanning electron microscopy and then processed by Matlab. Finally, the 3D models of the fibrous media were reconstructed using Gambit software. The influences of structural parameters of the fibrous media on solid volume fraction and pressure drop were analyzed by response surface methodology, and the internal gas flow fields of the fibrous media were simulated using Ansys Fluent. The simulation results of the pressure drop are in good agreement with the Davies experimental correlation data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]