In terms of air filtration, what does a higher face velocity typically indicate?

A higher face velocity in air filtration indicates a faster airflow through the filter media. While higher face velocity might seem advantageous for increasing airflow, it typically leads to increased turbulence and a higher likelihood that particles will pass through the filter without being captured. This is because, at higher velocities, there is less time for particles to interact with and adhere to the filter media before they exit it. Consequently, while navigating through the filter, smaller particles may escape, resulting in a higher risk of particle capture failure.

In contrast, lower face velocities often promote better particle capture as the slowed airflow allows particles more time to settle into the filter media. Therefore, recognizing that higher face velocity is linked to a greater risk of particles bypassing filtration underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate airflow rates to optimize the efficiency of the filtration system.