Solution of general dynamic equation for nanoparticles in turbulent flow considering fluctuating coagulation

Abstract

A new averaged general dynamic equation (GDE) for nanoparticles in the turbulent flow is derived by considering the combined effect of convection, Brownian diffusion, turbulent diffusion, turbulent coagulation, and fluctuating coagulation. The equation is solved with the Taylor-series expansion moment method in a turbulent pipe flow. The experiments are performed. The numerical results of particle size distribution correlate well with the experimental data. The results show that, for a turbulent nanoparticulate flow, a fluctuating coagulation term should be included in the averaged particle GDE. The larger the Schmidt number is and the lower the Reynolds number is, the smaller the value of ratio of particle diameter at the outlet to that at the inlet is. At the outlet, the particle number concentration increases from the near-wall region to the near-center region. The larger the Schmidt number is and the higher the Reynolds number is, the larger the difference in particle number concentration between the near-wall region and near-center region is. Particle polydispersity increases from the near-center region to the near-wall region. The particles with a smaller Schmidt number and the flow with a higher Reynolds number show a higher polydispersity. The degree of particle polydispersity is higher considering fluctuating coagulation than that without considering fluctuating coagulation.