NUMERICAL-SIMULATION STUDIES OF THE TURBULENT AIR-FLOW THROUGH A SHROUDED AIRBORNE AEROSOL SAMPLING PROBE AND ESTIMATION OF THE MINIMUM SAMPLER TRANSMISSION EFFICIENCY

In this paper, we present the results of axisymmetric, finite element- based numerical simulation studies of the turbulent airflow through a shrouded airborne aerosol sampling probe operating in a 100 m s(-1) ai rstream at a sampling altitude of 6069 m (20000 ft) above sea level. W e calculate the aspiration efficiency of the sampler and the minimum t ransmission efficiency of the diffuser probe by simulating the traject ories of particles in the size range 0.1-15 mu m as they pass through the system. We compare these results with wind tunnel measurements and finite difference-based numerical simulation studies. We also estimat e the minimum transmission efficiency of a shrouded probe recently res ted in an aerosol wind tunnel. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.