The Importance of Collision Efficiency in the Coagulation of Nuclear Aerosol Particles

The importance of Brownian and gravitational collision efficiencies in aerosol coagulation is examined through results from the AEROSIM computer code, which models the behavior of nuclear aerosol particles in a closed volume. Viscous, retarded London van der Waals and electrostatic forces are included in the NACE computer program for the calculation of collision efficiency. Results reveal that the minimum ratios of particle concentration with and without calculated collision efficiencies are 0.51 for Brownian coagulation plus sedimentation, 0.01 for gravitational coagulation plus sedimentation, and 0.08 when all the mechanisms are included.