A stochastic model for particle deposition and bounceoff

Yee Lin Wu, Cliff I. Davidson, Armistead G. Russell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new model for particle deposition and bounceoff that combines current knowledge of turbulent bursts with the stochastic properties of turbulent fluctuations is presented. The model predictions for deposition velocities agree with experimental results in the literature for dimensionless particle relaxation time τp+ > 2. For τp+ > 10, most of the particles delivered to the edge of the viscous sublayer are able to deposit onto the surface due to their inertia; the deposition velocity approaches an asymptotic value because the process becomes limited by the rate of turbulent delivery to the viscous sublayer. Because of the penetration of turbulent fluctuations into the viscous sublayer, the minimum values of vertical velocities needed for particles to deposit onto the surface are smaller than those predicted by the free flight model. Most of the deposition occurs from those turbulent fluctuations at the upper tail of the distribution of the vertical component of air velocity. In addition to the deposition velocity, the model is able to provide the distribution of particle velocities on reaching the surface which is used to compute the fraction of particle bounceoff. The model predictions for the fractions of rebound agree reasonably with the measured results from a wind tunnel experiment for τp+ > 2. However, both the deposition velocity and the fraction of rebound are underestimated by the model for τp+ < 2. Other mechanisms such as Brownian diffusion must be included in further revisions to this model in order to obtain satisfactory predictions for smaller values of τp+.Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng King University, Taihan, Taiwan.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)231-244
Number of pages14
JournalAerosol Science and Technology
Volume17
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Pollution

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