AAAR 36th Annual Conference October 16 - October 20, 2017 Raleigh Convention Center Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Abstract View
Homogeneous Nucleation of Carbon Dioxide in a Supersonic Laval Nozzle
KAYANE DINGILIAN, Yensil Park, Kyaw Hpone Myint, Barbara Wyslouzil, The Ohio State University
Abstract Number: 506 Working Group: Aerosol Physics
Abstract Understanding the nucleation of carbon dioxide (CO2) on a molecular level has significant implications on the future of assessing and countering climate change. In this work, we intend to study the homogeneous nucleation of carbon dioxide in a supersonic Laval nozzle. Results from previous experiments in the laboratory focusing on heterogeneous nucleation of CO2 indicated the presence of unexpected homogeneous CO2 nucleation. The nozzles used in this experiment are designed to reach temperatures of ~ 90-100 K when argon is the carrier gas. Pressure trace measurements (PTM) along the length of the nozzle provide the data for flow calculations determining nucleation rate, residence time, and other physical properties. Further analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) are used to confirm nucleation and calculate nucleation rate. Preliminary data from two nozzles have shown that carbon dioxide nucleation rates are on the order of 1015 particles per centimeter cubed per second. Experimental results will also be compared to classical nucleation theory and other models to help mend the gaps between predictive methods and reality.