Improved Microfiber Filter Performance by Augmentation with Nanofibers

The effect of mixing nanofibers into a non-woven microfiber filter media is determined theoretically. The results show the capture efficiency increases more rapidly than pressure drop. The filter performance is characterized by a Relative Quality Factor and the amount of nanofiber added to the filter is measured as the ratio of surface area of nanofibers per surface area of microfibers. Calculations show the Relative Quality Factor passes through a maximum in the range of 1 to 2 area ratio for a wide range of fiber diameters and particle diameters.