Morphology and mobility diameter of carbonaceous aerosols during agglomeration and surface growth

Abstract

Agglomeration and surface growth of fractal-like carbonaceous aerosols in the absence of oxidation and condensation of volatiles are investigated by Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) from the free molecular to transition regime, accounting for primary particle polydispersity and chemical bonding (aggregation). That way, carbon black or soot formation is elucidated in plasma reactors, quenched flames and combustion engines running at high exhaust gas recirculation where oxidation of carbon is limited or non-existent. During nascent soot formation polydisperse spheres and aggregates are formed, attaining an asymptotic geometric standard deviation of 1.2 ± 0.01, in agreement with experiments in p..