Numerical study on heterogeneous behavior of fine particle growth

  • FAN, Fengxian (Key Laboratory of Clean Coal Power Generation and Combustion Technology of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University) ;
  • YANG, Linjun (Key Laboratory of Clean Coal Power Generation and Combustion Technology of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University) ;
  • Yuan, Zhulin (Key Laboratory of Clean Coal Power Generation and Combustion Technology of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University) ;
  • Yan, Jinpei (Key Laboratory of Clean Coal Power Generation and Combustion Technology of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University) ;
  • Jo, Young Min (Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyung Hee University)
  • Received : 2009.12.07
  • Accepted : 2009.12.27
  • Published : 2009.12.31

Abstract

$PM_{2.5}$ is one of critical air pollutants due to its high absorbability of heavy metallic fumes, PAH and bacillary micro organisms. Such a fine particulate matter is often formed through various nucleation processes including condensation. This study attempts to find the nucleation behaviors of $PM_{2.5}$ arisen from coal power stations using a classical heterogeneous Fletcher's theory. The numerical simulation by C-language could approximate the nucleation process of $PM_{2.5}$ from water vapor, of which approach revealed the required energy for embryo formation and embryo size and nucleation rate. As a result of the calculation, it was found that wetting agents could affect the particle nucleation in vapor condensation. In particular, critical contact angle relates closely with the vapor saturation. Particle condensation could be reduced by lowering the angles. The wetting agents aid to decrease the contact angle and surface tensions, thereby may contribute to save the formation energy.

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