Using a combined power law and log-normal distribution model to simulate particle formation and growth in a mobile aerosol chamber
We present the combined power law and log-normal distribution (PL+LN) model, a computationally efficient model to be used in simulations where the particle size distribution cannot be accurately represented by log-normal distributions, such as in simulations involving the initial steps of aeroso...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/7067/2016/acp-16-7067-2016.pdf |
| Summary: | We present the combined power law and log-normal distribution
(PL+LN) model, a computationally efficient model to be used in simulations
where the particle size distribution cannot be accurately represented by
log-normal distributions, such as in simulations involving the initial steps
of aerosol formation, where new particle formation and growth occur
simultaneously, or in the case of inverse modeling. The model was evaluated
against highly accurate sectional models using input parameter values that
reflect conditions typical to particle formation occurring in the atmosphere
and in vehicle exhaust. The model was tested in the simulation of a particle formation
event performed in a mobile aerosol chamber at Mäkelänkatu street canyon
measurement site in Helsinki, Finland. The number, surface area, and mass
concentrations in the chamber simulation were conserved with the relative
errors lower than 2 % using the PL+LN model, whereas a
moment-based log-normal model and sectional models with the same computing
time as with the PL+LN model caused relative errors up to 17 and
79 %, respectively. |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |