Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere

<p>Electrostatic dispersion can significantly impact the microphysical behavior of charged particles and ions until reaching zero space charge. However, although radioactive particles can be strongly charged in air, the influence of electrostatic dispersion has been neglected in understanding...

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Main Authors: Y.-H. Kim, S. Yiacoumi, C. Tsouris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Aerosol Research
Online Access:https://ar.copernicus.org/articles/2/329/2024/ar-2-329-2024.pdf
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author Y.-H. Kim
S. Yiacoumi
C. Tsouris
C. Tsouris
author_facet Y.-H. Kim
S. Yiacoumi
C. Tsouris
C. Tsouris
author_sort Y.-H. Kim
collection DOAJ
description <p>Electrostatic dispersion can significantly impact the microphysical behavior of charged particles and ions until reaching zero space charge. However, although radioactive particles can be strongly charged in air, the influence of electrostatic dispersion has been neglected in understanding their behavior. This study is aimed at investigating the time evolution of the charge and size distributions of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in air and developing simple approaches for applications. With processes involving charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion, a comprehensive population balance model (PBM) has been developed to examine particle charge/size distribution dynamics. It is shown that compared to nonradioactive particles, the charge and size distributions of radioactive particles may evolve differently with time because radioactivity and electrostatic dispersion can significantly affect the charging and aggregation kinetics of the particles. It is found that, after the Fukushima accident, background aerosols in the pathway of radioactive plumes might be highly charged due to ionizing radiation, suggesting that radiation fields may strongly influence in situ measurements of charged atmospheric particles. The comprehensive PBM is simplified, and then the verification and application of the simplified PBMs are discussed. This study provides useful insight into how radioactivity can affect the dynamic behavior of particles in atmospheric systems including radiation sources.</p>
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spelling doaj-art-cf96158bf46b45a4b1df910f691c4f812025-08-20T02:19:18ZengCopernicus PublicationsAerosol Research2940-33912024-12-01232934110.5194/ar-2-329-2024Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphereY.-H. Kim0S. Yiacoumi1C. Tsouris2C. Tsouris3Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USASchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0373, USASchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0373, USAOak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6181, USA<p>Electrostatic dispersion can significantly impact the microphysical behavior of charged particles and ions until reaching zero space charge. However, although radioactive particles can be strongly charged in air, the influence of electrostatic dispersion has been neglected in understanding their behavior. This study is aimed at investigating the time evolution of the charge and size distributions of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in air and developing simple approaches for applications. With processes involving charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion, a comprehensive population balance model (PBM) has been developed to examine particle charge/size distribution dynamics. It is shown that compared to nonradioactive particles, the charge and size distributions of radioactive particles may evolve differently with time because radioactivity and electrostatic dispersion can significantly affect the charging and aggregation kinetics of the particles. It is found that, after the Fukushima accident, background aerosols in the pathway of radioactive plumes might be highly charged due to ionizing radiation, suggesting that radiation fields may strongly influence in situ measurements of charged atmospheric particles. The comprehensive PBM is simplified, and then the verification and application of the simplified PBMs are discussed. This study provides useful insight into how radioactivity can affect the dynamic behavior of particles in atmospheric systems including radiation sources.</p>https://ar.copernicus.org/articles/2/329/2024/ar-2-329-2024.pdf
spellingShingle Y.-H. Kim
S. Yiacoumi
C. Tsouris
C. Tsouris
Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere
Aerosol Research
title Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere
title_full Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere
title_fullStr Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere
title_full_unstemmed Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere
title_short Charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere
title_sort charging aggregation and electrostatic dispersion of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere
url https://ar.copernicus.org/articles/2/329/2024/ar-2-329-2024.pdf
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AT syiacoumi chargingaggregationandelectrostaticdispersionofradioactiveandnonradioactiveparticlesintheatmosphere
AT ctsouris chargingaggregationandelectrostaticdispersionofradioactiveandnonradioactiveparticlesintheatmosphere
AT ctsouris chargingaggregationandelectrostaticdispersionofradioactiveandnonradioactiveparticlesintheatmosphere