Bench-Top Test Station for the Evaluation of Coalescer Filter Architectures that Remove Seawater Aerosols
Abstract
The intrusion of salt-water aerosols through the air intakes of turbines in surface vessels is a long-standing Navy concern, resulting in diminished performance under operation and the incursion of additional costs and delays associated with near- and long-term maintenance. To mitigate this problem, new filtration schemes must be developed that satisfy the following requirements: (1) supporting fast air-flow rates (0.110 m s1)with negligible pressure drop; (2) removing seawater aerosols with high efficiency at those extreme flow rates, particularly targeting droplets/particles<20-m in diameter; and (3) expressing mechanisms for either periodic regeneration or self-cleaning of the filter architecture with long-term use. The NRL is developing filter architectures comprising porous metal meshes whose surfaces are modified with microstructural features that interact specifically with flowing aerosols at high flow rates. The resulting coalescer filter captures small aerosol particles and encourages their growth to later droplets that are shed by gravity. This memorandum report details the test stand that the NRL has developed to routinely validate these coalescer filters at a bench-scale form factor, as a precursor to scale-up and testing with a room-size test apparatus at NSWC Philadelphia Division. We detail the design of the test station and prescribe instruments and methods for the evaluation of coalescer architectures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 25, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1107595
Entities
People
- Brandon J Hopkins
- Jeffrey W Long
- Joseph F Parker
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory