Homogeneous Nucleation by Continuous Mixing of High Temperature Vapor with Room Temperature Gas

Abstract

The formation of aerosol particles by homogeneous nucleation in a supersaturated vapor has been studied experimentally and theoretically. In the laboratory, a particle-free gas at room temperature is continuously mixed with a high-temperature gas containing dibutylphthalate vapor in a new device for the study of aerosol nucleation called a particle size magnifier. A highly supersaturated vapor is rapidly formed in the mixing zone of the particle size magnifier, and the resulting number concentrations of aerosol particles are measured under various temperatures, mixing ratios, and mixing methods. Measured number concentrations are compared with those predicted by the classical and Lothe-Pound nucleation theories. The measured concentrations lie between the predictions of the two theories, and the trends with temperature and saturation ratio are consistent with either nucleation theory, provided vapor depletion is considered.