What is the common air velocity through a viscous filter?

The common air velocity through a viscous filter is generally around 2.5 m/s (500 ft/min). This velocity is chosen because it achieves a good balance between effective filtration and energy usage. At this speed, the filter operates efficiently, allowing sufficient air to pass through while still capturing particulates effectively.

When air moves through a viscous filter at this velocity, it maximizes the interaction between the air and the filtration medium, ensuring that airborne contaminants are trapped without requiring excessive energy input for fan operation. Higher air velocities could risk compromising filter efficiency by allowing more particles to pass through without being trapped, leading to poorer air quality.

In practical applications, maintaining an air velocity of around 2.5 m/s can help in optimizing HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, improving performance and reducing operational costs. Thus, this option reflects a standard practice used within the industry for air filtration systems.