Numerical simulation and experimental verification of particle coagulation dynamics for a pulsed input

Area of Science:

• Physical Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Particle coagulation is crucial in various industrial and environmental processes.
• Conventional Smoluchowski models often simplify collision dynamics and particle sizing.
• Accurate simulation of coagulation is vital for process optimization and understanding particle formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate improved mathematical models for particle coagulation dynamics.
• To investigate the impact of realistic particle size distributions and curvilinear collision models.
• To compare simulation results with experimental observations for enhanced accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized improved sectional modeling techniques for pulsed particle input systems.
• Modified the size density function with realistic particle size distribution assumptions.
• Implemented a comprehensive curvilinear collision model and adjusted mass transfer for size-disparate doublets.
• Incorporated fractal scaling relationships alongside curvilinear models.

Main Results:

• Rectilinear models over-predict coagulation rates, with increased error for larger and more heterogeneous systems.
• Decreasing fractal dimension of aggregates significantly increased coagulation rate.
• The curvilinear model reduced the importance of fluid shear rate on coagulation, especially for larger particles.
• Simulations accurately predicted particle size distribution evolution, aligning with jar-test experiments.

Conclusions:

• Combining curvilinear collision models and fractal scaling provides more accurate and realistic coagulation simulations.
• The enhanced modeling approach offers significant improvements over conventional Smoluchowski methods.
• The validated model is applicable for studying coagulation dynamics in various systems.