A MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF STEADY-STATE CROSS-FLOW MICROFILTRATION IN A WOVEN HOSE SUPPORT

Cross-flow microfiltration is a filtration technique in which the continuous build-up of filter cake is avoided by pumping a slurry through a porous hose or tube. The filtrate permeates through the walls of the hose and the cake which develops on the inside of the walls is continuously scoured away by the slurry. Presented in this paper is a four parameter mathematical model of cross-flow microfiltration which enables the effects of slurry concentration, pressure, slurry flowrate and hose diameter on the steady-state flux of the filter to be quantified. The model has been verified for cross-flow microfiltration of calcium carbonate in a 25 mm diameter fabric hose.