Discussion Forum

I've gotten myself in quite the rabbit hole here. For context, my model is a 2D cross-flow microfiltration system, where I defined a my membrane matrix my creating an array of slots, some acting as walls, some acting as channels for fluid and particles to pass through (of an allowable diameter).

I've been wanting to model particle trajectories of 2 species and see how to interact with my membrane geometry. Initially, I thought "okay, for a pore (channel inlet) of 6 (um), a particle of 8(um) should not be able to pass and a particle of 4(um) should easily be able to pass". Well this is not the case, since the Particle tracing module treats particles as point masses, where volume displacement is not considered. This inherently eliminates the model logic of preventing large particles from passing, and allowing smaller particles to pass through.

At this point I recognize that an alternative module to consider would be the Porous Media and Subsurface Module. Darcy's Law, Two-Phase Darcy's Law, and Free and Porous Media Flow all seem like potential alternatives since they allow me to specify a particle diameter ... but how can I couple the derived transport solution in the context of particle tracing, once I have resolved a solution that actually considers particle volume displacement?

In other words, how can I ultimately use the Particle Tracing Module to visualize the particle-membrane interactions, once I have completed a study that actually accounts for volume displacement?