Particle Wall Loss Rates in Vessels

Aerosol particle wall loss rates were determined experimentally in a spherical continuous stirred tank reactor. The particle size and mixing rate dependences are shown to agree with the theoretical result of Crump and Seinfeld, in which the particle loss coefficient β is related to particle diffusivity D, particle settling velocity v, the coefficient of the eddy diffusivity k e, and vessel radius R. For the vessel used in these experiments, k e was found to be proportional to the 3/2 power of the volumetric flow rate, in accordance with theoretical expectations. Results of a similar nature may be expected to hold in vessels of arbitrary shape.