Modelling of Soot Aerosol Dynamics in Turbulent Flow

Abstract

Aerosol dynamics plays an important role in the modelling of soot formation in combustion processes, as it is responsible for predicting the distribution of size and shape of soot particles. The distribution is required for the correct prediction of the rates of surface processes, such as growth and oxidation, and furthermore it is important on its own because new regulations on particulate emissions require control of the number of smaller particles. Soot formation is strongly dependent on the local chemical composition and thermodynamic conditions and is therefore coupled with fluid dynamics, chemical kinetics and transport phenomena. Comprehensive modelling of soot formation in combustion processes requires coupling of the population balance equation, which is the fundamental equation governing aerosol dynamics, with the equations of fluid dynamics. The presence of turbulence poses an additional challenge, due to the non-linear interactions between fluctuating velocity, temperature, concentrations and soot properties. The purpose of this work is to review the progress made in aerosol dynamics models, their integration with fluid dynamics and the models for addressing the turbulence-soot interaction.