Discussion on artificial dust and dust generation methods for dust-loading test of high efficiency particulate air filters

HEPA filters are challenged with KCl aerosol and a variety of artificial dust. The results show that the aerosol is not suitable for the HEPA filter dust-loading test because the experiment is difficult to complete in the acceptable time. ISO A2 dust and fumed silica powder are used respectively to carry out the dust-loading experiment by the dust generation method of the cyclone separator in series with the dust feeder. The results show that the dust generation method of fumed silica plus cyclone separator can produce artificial dust particles that are closer to the actual use of HEPA filter, so that the filter can obtain a faster resistance growth rate under a smaller dust capacity. The experimental time is effectively shortened, and there is almost no dust fall in the dust-loading experiment. The experimental method has good operability and is suitable for dust-loading test of HEPA filters.