Clarkson University
The CAMP building
Of Interest
CRCD Home
ME 537 Home
Syllabus
Assignments
Downloads
Site Map
Course Notes
Engineering Mathematics
Review of Viscous Flows
Review of Computational Fluid Mechanics

Particle Adhesion
Simulation Methods
Experimental Techniques
Applications
Search Powered by Google

The National Science Foundation
ME 537 The National Science Foundation
 Aerosols
Introduction to Aerosols | Drag, Lift Forces | Aerosol Kinetics | Virtual Mass, Basset Forces & BBO Equation | Nonspherical Particles | Brownian Motions | Particle Deposition Mechanisms | Electrodynamics | Aerosol Coagulation |

Coagulation of Particles

Aerosol particles collide due to their random motions and coalesce to form larger chains of flocs made up of many particles. The Brownian (thermal) motion of particles, turbulence, presence of a shear field, and external forces such as gravity and electrical forces could cause coagulation.

Coagulation of Monodisperse Spheres

 Smoluchowski was the first to develop a model for the coagulation of monodispersed spherical aerosols. He considered the reference particle to be fixed as shown in Figure 1. The other particles would then diffuse to the reference particle by the action of the Brownian motions. The concentration then satisfies the following diffusion equation:

(1)

subject to boundary conditions

(2)

(3)

Here,  is the concentration far away. Equation (2) assumes sticking of particles without rebound upon contact.

Figure 1. Schematic of Brownian coagulation of monodispersed particles.



Dr. Goodarz Ahmadi | Turbulence & Multiphase Fluid Flow Laboratory | Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering
Copyright © 2002-2005 Dr. Goodarz Ahmadi. All rights reserved.
Potsdam, New York, 13699
ahmadi@clarkson.edu