Continuum regime motion of a growing droplet in opposing thermo-diffusiophoretic and gravitational fields of a thermal diffusion cloud chamber

A model for the motion of aerosol particles by Stefan flow, thermo-diffusiophoresis and gravity in a continuum regime is described, which considers a phase change on the particle surface. It is tested in a thermal diffusion cloud chamber where a droplet formed by nucleation quickly grows and simultaneously moves upwards due to vertical temperature and concentration gradients. Kinetic coefficients are assumed to be constant. Model predictions of the height where the droplet reverses its motion are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental results of Zdimal et al. ((1996). Colloids Surfaces A, 106, 119), The droplet motion seems to be predicted well at higher gradients and vapor fluxes, but model underestimates droplet motion at lower ones. For those cases also the free-molecule and transition regimes need to be included, (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.