PHYSICS-BASED SIMPLE ANALYTICAL MODEL OF WATER FLOW THROUGH MICRO-POROUS FILTER

Abstract

In this paper, we studied governing wear mechanisms related to copper and copper-based alloys and composites considering their application for water filters. We reviewed the most important wear mechanisms of copper and its alloys including adhesion, abrasion, fatigue, erosion, cavitation with examples of copper application in tribological systems. Erosion corrosion has significant role in tribological behaviour of copper-based materials and their contacts in a fluid medium. We provided mathematical explanation of processes that occur during fluid flow through porous structures, including Darcy’s law and Brinkman’s equation. We developed the initial finite element (FE) model of water flow through porous medium to determine zones with increased possibility of wear occurrence. Computational model indicated that higher loads are present on the inflow side of the porous structure, thus the higher values of wear could be expected in that zone.