Effect of supersaturation distribution on particle heterogeneous condensation in growth tube

Abstract

Supersaturation is a critical factor influencing the growth of fine particles in heterogeneous nucleation processes. To further investigate its effects on particle growth behavior, this study employs numerical simulations, coupling the particle growth rate equation with a population balance model to systematically analyze the impact of various supersaturation distributions on particle growth. The results indicate that, in the axial direction, the closer the supersaturation peak is to the outlet of the growth tube, the more effective the particle growth, with a maximum increase of 10.20%. In the radial direction, higher supersaturation near the tube wall results in better particle growth at the outlet, with a maximum increase of 28.70%. A more uniform supersaturation field is found to promote particle growth. Conversely, when the supersaturation near the wall is relatively low, particles are less likely to be effectively activated, leading to restricted growth. Additionally, this paper explores the growth of fine particles under different supersaturation field configurations, demonstrating the generality of the observed patterns.