Capture of airborne particles using intensified vortices

Aeroelastically intensified vortices can be used to increase interphase transport of both heat and mass. In this investigation, plunge and torsional oscillators were used to increase the deposition of airborne particles upon flat plate collectors. Particle capture rates were measured gravimetrically for two different particle sizes and the spatial distributions of collected particles were examined with image analysis. In addition, hot-wire anemometry was used to measure flow periodicities and velocity defects behind both fixed and oscillating bodies. The results show conclusively that the generated vortices increase the rate of deposition for some types of particles; furthermore, the momentum loss resulting from the oscillators is modest and the scheme described here offers a means by which the deposition pattern can be tailored to specific requirements.