Overall efficiency of tubular inlets sampling at 0–90 degrees from horizontal aerosol flows

Abstract

We have developed a unified and comprehensive model for the overall efficiency of tubular inlets sampling from horizontal aerosol flows at 0–90° relative to the wind direction. In our model, derived from experimental data obtained in our wind tunnel, the transmission efficiency is separated into two components: one due to gravitational settling in the boundary layer and the other due to impaction. The gravitational settling component is determined by extending our previously developed isoaxial sampling model to nonisoaxial sampling. The impaction component is determined by a new model that quantifies the particle losses caused by direct wall impaction. The model also quantifies the additional particle losses resulting from the turbulent motion in the vena contracta which is formed in the inlet when the inlet velocity is higher than the wind velocity. The equation for the gravitational settling component considers the inertial behaviour of the particles by including the Stokes number, the flow development in the boundary layer by including the Reynolds number and the gravitational settling in the boundary layer by including a modified gravitational settling parameter. The equation for the impaction component considers direct wall impaction and the losses due to vena contracta formation through the Stokes number, velocity ration and sampling angle. Direct wall impaction is further differentiated by the gravity effect on the impaction process which distinguishes upward from downward sampling. Our equations for transmission efficiency in combination with aspiration efficiency equations determine the overall efficiency of tubular, sharp-edged inlets at all orientations of the inlet relative to horizontal aerosol flows.