Method of Taylor expansion moment incorporating fractal theories for Brownian coagulation of fine particles

Abstract

Fine particles aggregating into larger units or flocculation body is a random combination process. Increasing the size and density of flocculation body is the main approach to rapid particle removal or sedimentation in water. Aiming at the Brownian coagulation of fine particles, a new method of Taylor expansion moment construction of fractal flocs has been developed in this paper, incorporating the Taylor expansion approach based on the moment method and the fractal dimension of the floc structure originated from fractal theories. This method successfully overcomes the limit of previous moment methods that require pre-assumed particle size distribution. Results of the zero and second order moments of Brownian flocs from the proposed method are compared with those from the Laguerre method, integral moment method and finite element method. It is found that the higher accuracy and efficiency of computation have been achieved by the new method, compared to the previous ones. Effects of the fractal dimension on the zero and second order moments, geometric average volume and standard deviation are also analyzed using this method. The self-conservation characteristics of particle distribution is observed without presumption of initial distributions.