In this paper, the silting characteristics of capillary passages whose diameters are much larger than those of the contaminants in fluids are experimentally studied. Air Cleaner Fine Test Dust was used as the solid particles. The parameters are : the concentration of particles, diameter and length of the capillary passages, viscosity and additives of working fluids.
The results are as follows :
1) The flow is stopped suddenly or decreased gradually due to blockage of the capillary passages.
2) The silting spots distribute throughout the length of the passages; however, silting is easy to occur in the first half of the passage. Many particles adhered are observed there.
3) The frequency of silting is increased as the concentration of the particles increases ; when the fluid viscosity is the same, the frequency of silting is affected by the additives.
4) In the case where the ratio of the average particle size (
d*) to the inner diameter of the capillary passages (
D) and the concentration of the particles is held constant, the frequency of silting is mainly determined by the amount of the particles that has passed.
5) The frequency of silting is influenced more by
d*/D than the amount of the particles that has passed. Furthermore, through the taking of photos, it is clarified that the adhesion of coagulated particles to the inlet or inner wall of the capillary passages causes the silting.
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