Asymptotic Particle Size Distributions Attained during Coagulation Processes

The effects of the collision kernel on the self-preserving size distribution and on the gelation phenomenon of aerosol coagulation were investigated. An analytical solution for the asymptotic width of log-normally preserving size distribution during coagulation was obtained as a function of the degree of homogeneity using arbitrary shape of homogeneous collision kernels. From the solution obtained, it was shown that when the degree of homogeneity is larger than 1, self-preserving size distribution does not exist, and gelation occurs. A very accurate numerical coagulation simulation method, the sectional method, was also used for calculating the self-preserving particle size distribution for some specific classes of coagulation kernels and the results were compared with the analytical solution obtained by the log-normal method. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.