ELEMENTS OF PARTICLE DEPOSITION ONTO NONPOROUS SOLID-SURFACES PARALLEL TO SUSPENSION FLOWS

The available information on particle deposition from suspensions flow ing parallel to nonporous smooth and rough surfaces is summarized in t erms of particle transport to, attachment at, and reentrainment from t he surface. Operation under both isothermal and nonisothermal conditio ns is considered, and explanations are provided for declining rates of net deposition with time. Particle attachment, commonly accounted for by an elusive sticking probability, is treated alternatively as a rat e process in series with particle transport. The Kern-Seaton equation for falling rate asymptotic fouling, commonly interpreted as a model i n which gross particle deposition is undermined by particle reentrainm ent at a rate proportional to the mass of deposit accumulated at any g iven time, is given alternative possible interpretations by involving autoretardation of deposition in lieu of, or in addition to, reentrain ment. Problems meriting further investigation are identified, implicit ly or explicitly. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1997.