Particle Deposition Phenomena in Turbulent Flows

Particle deposition in turbulent flows underpins a range of environmental, industrial and health‐related processes. In turbulent regimes, eddies and velocity fluctuations modulate particle trajectories through mechanisms such as inertial impaction, turbulent diffusion and turbophoretic drift. The relative importance of these mechanisms depends on particle properties (size, density, shape) and flow characteristics (Reynolds number, geometry, surface roughness). In engineering applications, deposition on heat‐exchange surfaces degrades thermal performance, while in ventilation systems deposited particulate fouls ducts and impacts indoor air quality. In environmental contexts, aerosol deposition to soil and vegetation influences climate forcing and pollutant transport. Fundamental studies employing Eulerian–Lagrangian simulations and Reynolds stress closures have elucidated the roles of secondary flows in curved channels, wall roughness in dimpled conduits and the interplay between gravity and turbophoresis. Improved modelling approaches now enable prediction of deposition efficiencies across a broad spectrum of flow configurations, supporting design optimisation in power generation, pollution control and biomedical devices.

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Particle Deposition Phenomena in Turbulent Flows publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in particle deposition phenomena in turbulent flows across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Turbulent diffusion: The transport of particles driven by random velocity fluctuations in turbulent eddies, enhancing mixing and dispersion.

Inertial impaction: The process by which particles deviate from streamlines due to inertia and collide with surface boundaries in curved or obstructed flows.

Turbophoresis: The tendency of particles to migrate toward regions of lower turbulent intensity, often resulting in near‐wall accumulation.

Discrete phase model (DPM): A computational approach that treats particles as individual entities within a continuous fluid phase, tracking their trajectories and interactions.

Reynolds number (Re): A dimensionless parameter representing the ratio of inertial to viscous forces in a flow, governing the onset and intensity of turbulence.

References

1. Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Structure and Particle Deposition in a Three-Dimensional Heat Transfer Pipe with Corrugation. Energies (2024).
2. A CFD numerical simulation of particle deposition characteristics in automobile tailpipe: power abatement pathways. Frontiers in Energy Research (2024).
3. Simulation of Turbulent Flow Structure and Particle Deposition in a Three-Dimensional Heat Transfer Duct with Convex Dimples. Coatings (2023).
4. Numerical study of deposition rates of monodisperse particles in curved pipes with different expansion or shrinkage variables. Applied and Computational Engineering (2024).