Scavenging of sub-micrometre aerosol particles by water drops

Abstract

Experiments were carried out in order to measure the collection efficiencies, E, with which small-sized water drops (of radii between 400 and 500 μm) carrying electrical charge, Q_a (from 5 × 10⁻¹⁴ to 2 × 10⁻¹¹ C), collect monodisperse aerosol particles of radii between 0.35 and 0.88 μm. The measured values of collection efficiency were within the range 1–6% and were in good agreement with previous results. The measurement show an increase in E with increase in aerosol particle radius, drop radius and drop charge.