Particle Mixing and Diffusion in the Turbulent Wake of a Sphere

The mixing and diffusion of monodisperse aerosols from a turbulent free stream into the wake created by a solid sphere were studied experimentally and analytically. Experimental measurements with regard to wake velocity profiles and momentum transport were taken in a tubular flow system by hot-wire anemometry. Particle concentration profiles, measured in the wake by means of a screen collection technique, were used to calculate mixing and diffusion parameters for the aerosols used. Experimental results are presented for the mean velocity and particle concentration profiles, wake centerline velocity and particle concentration, wake velocity and concentration half widths, and momentum and particle diffusivities. It is shown that the experimental results may be reasonably described in terms of two phenomenological theories, i.e., Prandtl's mixing length and constant diffusivity in the radial cross section of the wake. Certain departures from predicted concentration behavior are empirically analyzed resulting in the ability to predict overall particle mixing and diffusion characteristics in a turbulent wake.