PNNL

Abstract

Here we compare dead-end filtration to mesofluidic separation, which produces filtrate or permeate depleted of particles larger than a desired cutoff size. Dead-end filtration is well-established across a broad range of industries but rapidly loses throughput with even modestly concentrated slurries due to significant depth and cake fouling. Periodic back pulsing reduces but does not eliminate fouling. In contrast, mesofluidic separation is an emerging technique that provides continuous filtration with large internal void volumes to reduce or eliminate cake and depth fouling at similar or higher flowrates. Yet, mesofluidic separation has not been compared directly to dead-end filtration. Here we compare and contrast these two approaches on these two key performance metrics: pressure drop and flowrate over time. We find that mesofluidic separation maintains throughput and pressure drop orders of magnitude longer than dead-end filtration. Head-to-head comparison with “sticky” slurries finds mesofluidic separators lose 55% both over 7 h. Logarithmic projection supported by the data, suggest