Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter Instruments
Abstract In this study, we developed a compact low-speed wind tunnel. First, we computationally analysed the flow quality of different wall shapes for the contraction section, the most critical part of a wind tunnel, and selected the design exhibiting minimal boundary layer separation at simulated f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210006 |
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| author | Prashant Patel Shankar G. Aggarwal |
| author_facet | Prashant Patel Shankar G. Aggarwal |
| author_sort | Prashant Patel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this study, we developed a compact low-speed wind tunnel. First, we computationally analysed the flow quality of different wall shapes for the contraction section, the most critical part of a wind tunnel, and selected the design exhibiting minimal boundary layer separation at simulated flow velocities of 2 and 8 km h−1. Then, after constructing the wind tunnel, we experimentally evaluated its overall performance based on different parameters per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) guidelines (40 CFR 53.62). The air velocity and turbulence profiles were uniform, displaying ≤ 10% variation in the section we tested. Additionally, we measured the mass concentrations and size distributions of polydisperse dust particles, which were generated by a custom-made rotary dust feeder to ensure the homogeneity of the aerosol, inside the wind tunnel at air velocities of 2 and 8 km h−1 and found ≤ 10% deviation for the mean values across the test section relative to those for the central sampling point. We also assessed the effectiveness of the Well Impactor Ninety-Six (WINS) and Very Sharp Cut Cyclone (VSCC) in the wind tunnel at an air velocity of 8 km h−1 by determining the D50 cutoffs, which, being 2.44 ± 0.05 µm and 2.54 ± 0.05 µm, respectively, fulfilled U.S. EPA’s criteria. Furthermore, we compared the performance of a low-cost sensor against that of a reference instrument in measuring PM2.5 concentrations, and our results agreed with those from previous studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e224687ee18544ed9996561f4e983b62 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-e224687ee18544ed9996561f4e983b622025-02-09T12:20:19ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092021-03-0121712010.4209/aaqr.210006Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter InstrumentsPrashant Patel0Shankar G. Aggarwal1Gas Metrology, Environmental Sciences & Biomedical Metrology Division, CSIR-National Physical LaboratoryGas Metrology, Environmental Sciences & Biomedical Metrology Division, CSIR-National Physical LaboratoryAbstract In this study, we developed a compact low-speed wind tunnel. First, we computationally analysed the flow quality of different wall shapes for the contraction section, the most critical part of a wind tunnel, and selected the design exhibiting minimal boundary layer separation at simulated flow velocities of 2 and 8 km h−1. Then, after constructing the wind tunnel, we experimentally evaluated its overall performance based on different parameters per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) guidelines (40 CFR 53.62). The air velocity and turbulence profiles were uniform, displaying ≤ 10% variation in the section we tested. Additionally, we measured the mass concentrations and size distributions of polydisperse dust particles, which were generated by a custom-made rotary dust feeder to ensure the homogeneity of the aerosol, inside the wind tunnel at air velocities of 2 and 8 km h−1 and found ≤ 10% deviation for the mean values across the test section relative to those for the central sampling point. We also assessed the effectiveness of the Well Impactor Ninety-Six (WINS) and Very Sharp Cut Cyclone (VSCC) in the wind tunnel at an air velocity of 8 km h−1 by determining the D50 cutoffs, which, being 2.44 ± 0.05 µm and 2.54 ± 0.05 µm, respectively, fulfilled U.S. EPA’s criteria. Furthermore, we compared the performance of a low-cost sensor against that of a reference instrument in measuring PM2.5 concentrations, and our results agreed with those from previous studies.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210006Wind tunnelTheoretical designingCFD evaluationD50 cutoff of WINS and VSCCPerformance check of PM sensor |
| spellingShingle | Prashant Patel Shankar G. Aggarwal Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter Instruments Aerosol and Air Quality Research Wind tunnel Theoretical designing CFD evaluation D50 cutoff of WINS and VSCC Performance check of PM sensor |
| title | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter Instruments |
| title_full | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter Instruments |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter Instruments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter Instruments |
| title_short | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Aerosol Wind Tunnel and its Application for Performance Investigation of Particulate Matter Instruments |
| title_sort | theoretical and experimental evaluation of a compact aerosol wind tunnel and its application for performance investigation of particulate matter instruments |
| topic | Wind tunnel Theoretical designing CFD evaluation D50 cutoff of WINS and VSCC Performance check of PM sensor |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210006 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT prashantpatel theoreticalandexperimentalevaluationofacompactaerosolwindtunnelanditsapplicationforperformanceinvestigationofparticulatematterinstruments AT shankargaggarwal theoreticalandexperimentalevaluationofacompactaerosolwindtunnelanditsapplicationforperformanceinvestigationofparticulatematterinstruments |