Influence of flow properties on a structure of a mineral wool primary layer

Mineral wool primary layer formation is influenced by the aerodynamic characteristics of the blow-away airflow and the secondary surrounding airflow. The distribution of mineral wool fibres in the primary layer was determined experimentally using a computer-aided visualization method. The flow properties in the region where the primary layer is formed were analysed. Numerical simulations with experiment-based boundary conditions were performed. The numerically obtained profile of mineral wool thickness at the collection chamber outlet agreed with the results of the experiment. Presented numerical model confirms that the forming of the primary layer is significantly dependent on local aerodynamic characteristic of the airflow in the collection chamber. Interaction between the local anomalies on the forming layer and the corresponding aerodynamic effects in the surrounding region was also analysed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.