Evolution of particle size distribution in air in the rainfall process via the moment method

Abstract

Population balance equation is converted to three moment equations to describe the dynamical behavior of particle size distribution in air in the rainfall. The scavenging coefficient is expressed as a polynomial function of the particle diameter, the raindrop diameter and the raindrop velocity. The evolutions of particle size distribution are simulated numerically and the effects of the raindrop size distribution on particle size distribution are studied. The results show that the raindrops with smaller geometric mean diameter and geometric standard deviation of size remove particles much more efficiently. The particles which fall in the “greenfield gap” are the most difficult to be scavenged from the air.