EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF DUST PARTICLE DEPOSITION IN A TURBULENTCHANNEL FLOW

An experimental set-up was designed, constructed, and used to study th e wall deposition rate of particles in a turbulent channel flow. Depos ition velocities for two classes of particles, namely, spherical glass particles with diameters of 5-45 mum, and five compact dust component s in the size range of 1-10 mum were studied. The particle concentrati on at the test section was measured with the aid of an isokinetic prob e. The particles were deposited onto a flat gold plate covered with a thin film coating. The coating was used to reduce the effect of partic le bounce from the surface. The statistics of deposited particles were analyzed by an image processing technique which counts and sizes the particles. The deposition rate of spherical particles was found to inc rease with diameter. The deposition velocities for compact dust compon ents were found to closely resemble those of equivalent spherical part icles. The measured deposition velocities were in good agreement with the available experimental data and the empirical model.