This work focusses on developing and solving the conservationequations for a spatially homogeneous aerosol. We begin by developingthe basic equations, and in doing so, a new form of the conservationequation or General Dynamic Equation (GDE), termed the discrete-continuousGDE, is presented. In this form, one has the ability tosimulate aerosol dynamics in systems in which processes are occurringover a broad particle size spectrum, typical of those found in theatmosphere. All the necessary kinetic coefficients needed to solvethe GDE are discussed and the mechanisms for gas-to-particle conversionare also elucidated.
Particle growth rates limited by gas phase diffusion, surfaceand volume reactions are discussed. In the absence of coagulation,analytic solutions for the above particle growth rates, arbitraryinitial and boundary conditions, arbitrary sources, and first orderremoval mechanisms are developed.
To account for all processes, numerical solutions are required.Therefore, numerical techniques and the errors associated with thenumerical solution of the GDE are discussed in detail. By comparingthe numerical solution to both analytical solutions for simplifiedcases and smog chamber data, it is shown that the numerical techniquesare highly accurate and efficient.
Techniques for simulating a sulfuric acid and water aerosol arepresented. By application of the discrete-continuous GDE, the effectof neglecting cluster-cluster agglomeration, and the effect of apreexisting aerosol on the nucleation rate of a sulfuric acid andwater aerosol are studied. The effects of coagulation are also elucidatedby simulating the system with the full continuous GDE and theanalytic solution to the continuous GDE in the absence of coagulation.Fairly good agreement between the predicted and experimentally observed distributions is obtained.
Finally, an exact solution to the continuous form of the GDE fora multicomponent aerosol for simplified cases is developed.
