Mechanism of detachment of colloidal particles from a flat substrate in a turbulent flow

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9797(73)90323-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Visser [J. Colloid Interface Sci. 34, 26 (1970)] has used hydrodynamic techniques, i.e., rotating cylinders, to study the removal of submicron particles from various substrates. He developed empirical relationships which relate the force of adhesion to the viscous drag experienced by the particle, which is assumed to be embedded in a steady, viscous sublayer. Although this technique is a valuable experimental tool, the question of how a particle is moved is evaded.

Detailed investigations of the turbulent boundary layer (reported in the fluid mechanics literature) have shown that the viscous sublayer is anything but steady, and is continually disrupted by turbulent “bursts.” These bursts, which are not unlike miniature tornados, may cause instantaneous lift forces sufficient to detach a particle. This model of an unsteady sublayer has been used to predict the possible lift forces acting on the particle. These can arise either from impulsive motions or from the generation of a quasi-steady updraft over a particle by a burst. From these predicted lift forces, a removal criterion is obtained which for a given fluid reduces to τωd4/3 ⩾ constant where τω is wall shear stress and d is particle diameter. This result is shown to be in general agreement with previous empirical studies. The rate of removal can be predicted by combining this analysis of lift forces with literature data on the size and frequency of bursts. Although this latter information is taken from studies in pipe-flow and flow over a flat-plate, the predicted rates are in qualitative agreement with the experimental data from rotational instruments.

References (33)

  • J Visser

    J. Colloid Interface Sci.

    (1970)
  • M Van Den Tempel

    Advan. Colloid Interface Sci.

    (1972)
  • G.A Sehmel

    J. Colloid Interface Sci.

    (1971)
  • M.E O'Neill

    Chem. Eng. Sci.

    (1968)
  • A.J Goldman et al.

    Chem. Eng. Sci.

    (1967)
  • J.C Rotta
  • T.K Sherwood et al.

    Chem. Eng. Sci.

    (1959)
  • P.R Owen

    Aerodynamic Capture of Particles

  • P.R Owen

    J. Fluid Mech.

    (1969)
  • S.K Beal

    Nucl. Sci. Eng.

    (1970)
  • A.J Raudviki

    Loose Boundary Hydrodynamics

    (1967)
  • A.D Zimon

    Adhesion of Dust and Powders

    (1964)
  • P.G Saffman

    J. Fluid Mech.

    (1965)
  • A Fage et al.
  • L.A Masoroni et al.

    Direct Observation of Particle Re-entrainment

  • R.A Bagnold

    The Physics of Wind Blown Sands and Desert Dunes

    (1941)
  • Cited by (308)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text