Numerical simulation of the growth of nanoparticles in a flame CVD process

Abstract

The growth of titania nanoparticles in a flame CVD process has been simulated by computational fluid dynamics, based on the change rate of particle number density due to their collisions calculated from an integral collision kernel. The assumptions made on constant particle volume density nv ( nd 3), constant density of particle surface area ns ( nd 2), and constant entity nd 2.5 in coagulation process have been examined. Comparisons have been made on particle size distribution between measurement results and predictions from present model of particle growth and Kruis model of particle dynamics for titania nanoparticles synthesized by the flame CVD process. Effects of operational parameters such as O 2 mole fraction and particle number density on mean particle size and size distribution have been discussed.