Electro-Brownian coagulation of charged nanoparticles has been theoretically investigated, for a range of the moderate Knudsen numbers, 0.1 < Kn < 10, which correspond to the transition flow regime. New results include: (1) refining a classical theory of coagulation in transition regime, (2) criteria of regulated coagulation of charged particles (an “aerosol analogy” of the DLVO theory), (3) an exact charge-size distribution function of charged aerosol ensemble in bipolar ion atmosphere (Boltzmann's equilibrium), (4) criteria of applicability and limits of the refined classical approach. A comparison of theoretical and experimental data demonstrates adequacy of the refined theory in the range of its validity.

References:

1) Smorodin, V., Sarofim, A., and Joann Lighty. Study of Electro-Brownian Coagulation of Fine Aerosol (Soot) Particles. In: Abstracts of the 9th Intl. Congress on Combustion By-Products and their Health Effects. June 12-15, 2005, Tucson, Arizona, USA;

2) http://www.icse.utah.edu/Present/Brown_smor.pdf