Method of moments solutions for a laminar flow aerosol reactor model

This study compares the capabilities of the conventional and quadrature met hods of moments to describe condensational growth in a well-known laminar h ow aerosol reactor model. Governing equations for energy, lower order radia l moments of the particle size distribution, and vapor transport are writte n for a two-dimensional model using both approaches, Conventional and quadrature techniques to obtain closure of the moment equa tions are applied and compared. The conventional method requires certain ap proximations to the growth law. These include assumptions that the Kelvin e ffect is negligible and that the particle growth rate function is linear in particle size. In contrast, restrictive constraints of the conventional me thod of moments to obtain closure are avoided by applying the quadrature me thod. Numerical results for the laminar flow aerosol reactor model are obta ined for a six moment formulation of the seed particle distribution to illu strate application of the quadrature method to continuous polydisperse dist ributions. We present the first calculations with the new quadrature method of moments to a two-dimensional aerosol transport and growth model.