Filtration & Fluid Management

3D micro-imaging and image-based simulation solve long standing challenges in filtration and fluid management industry.

Membrane microfiltration is used widely, from processing small particles and colloids, to biological applications such as protein precipitates and microorganisms. Porous membranes designed with specific porosity, surface area, pore size distribution, and permeability play critical roles in achieving health, environmental, or engineering performance goals, when sieving, or separating elements, is required. 

DigiM has done work with MIT on High Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography for the Measurement and Simulation of Decreased Permeability in the Wall-Flow Diesel Particulate Filter due to the Accumulation of Lubricant-Derived Ash. 

This study discusses the sample preparations necessary for such high CT resolution, the combination of CT and data post-processing (creating mesh files from CT datasets and CFD flow simulations), the comparison between calculated and experimentally measured permeability values and the implications of the ability to calculate permeability in the combined ash-catalyst substrate system. 

Again, with MIT, DigiM further studied Permeability Measurements and Calculations for Lubricant-Derived Ash in the Diesel Particulate Filter: Combining Physical Measurements with Ultra-High Resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography and Deep Image Analysis for the Increased Fundamental Understanding of Ash Permeability. 

This study discusses the sample preparations necessary for high CT resolution, the combination of CT data and deep image processing for permeability calculations, the comparison between calculated and experimentally measured permeability values and the implications of the ability to calculate accurate permeability values in the combined ash-catalyst substrate system.

For more information on our work with MIT, please refer to the publication section below.