Growth Characteristics of Atmospheric Fine Particles in Turbulent Water Vapor Environment
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 8
Abstract
A heterogeneous condensation process facilitates the growth of fine particulate matter, making it more easily removable. The aim of this study was to effectively eliminate pre-existing fine particles in the atmosphere by investigating the growth characteristics of particles in turbulent water vapor environments using experimental and numerical methods. The results reveal that the presence of soluble and hydrophilic particles in atmospheric fine particulate matter enhances their growth compared to coal particles. Increasing temperature differences, reducing particle number concentrations, and elevating the proportion of soluble particle components contribute to particle growth. When the temperature difference is below 10K, particle growth is less effective. The beneficial impact of particle collision and coagulation, partly offsetting water vapor competition, was observed with an increase in particle number concentration. The addition of soluble and hydrophilic components promoted particle activation, further fostering particle growth. The region near the wall exhibited more significant particle growth due to higher supersaturation and lower flow velocity. These findings theoretically support the application of heterogeneous condensation processes in atmospheric purification.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51876038).
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 8 • August 2024
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Aug 23, 2023
Accepted: Jan 17, 2024
Published online: May 30, 2024
Published in print: Aug 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Oct 30, 2024
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