Particle Removal and Re-entrainment in Turbulent Flows using Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS)

Aerosol particle removal and re-entrainment in turbulent channel flows are studied. The instantaneous fluid velocity field is generated by the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the Navier-Stokes equation via a pseudospectral method. Particle removal mechanisms in turbulent channel flows are examined and the effects of hydrodynamic forces, torques and the near-wall coherent vorticity are discussed. The particle resuspension rates are evaluated, and the results are compared with the model of Reeks. The particle equation of motion used includes the hydrodynamic, the Brownian, the shear-induced lift and the gravitational forces. An ensemble of particles is used for particle resuspension and the subsequent trajectory analyses. It is found that large size particles move away roughly perpendicular to the wall due to the action of the lift force. Small particles, however, follow the upward flows formed by the near wall eddies in the low speed streak regions. Thus, turbulent near wall vortical structures play an important role on small particle resuspension, while the lift is an important factor for re-entrainment of large particles. The simulation results suggests that small particles primarily move away from the wall in the low speed streaks, while larger particles (with are mostly removed in the high speed streaks.

Funded by NYSTAR through Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP)