Impaction of Solid Aerosol Particles on Fine Wires

Abstract

The results of an initial study of the collection of 3-μm-diameter latex microspheres, dispersed in a laminar jet stream, on wires with diameters ranging from 0.001 and 0.010 in. (25.4 to 254 μm) are presented. The measured total collection efficiency based on the Stokes and Reynolds numbers and the interception parameter in regions on the wire where particles were collected are compared with previous experimental and theoretical results. For all cases examined, this efficiency is found to be significantly less than that predicted by theory. This difference is correlated with the particle's incident velocity. Particles below a critical velocity do not reach the wire's surface, and particles above another critical velocity always rebound from it. The probability of adhesion for these cases is assessed in terms of particle incident kinetic energy and is found to agree with the results of other similar experiments.