Ammonium Chloride Aerosol Nucleation and Growth in a Cross-Flow Impinging Jet Reactor

The nucleation and growth of an ammonium chloride aerosol starting from gaseous ammonia and hydrogen chloride was investigated experimentally and with the use of a mathematical model. The reactor was composed of 2 opposed jets perpendicular to a main stream and was operated under laminar/transition flow conditions. The reactants were segregated when they entered the reactor. The parameter observed was the particle size distribution of the aerosol described by its moments. Considerable scatter in the experimental results complicated their analysis, but some important trends could be identified. The model results were strongly affected by the fluid mechanics model, which influenced the predicted mixing inside the reactor. This work shows the importance of fluid mixing in controlling the aerosol size distribution.