Simulation of the absorption of gaseous SO2 by fog droplets using a refined interpolation-sectional droplet model

Abstract

This article examines the problem of numerical simulation of interaction between the gaseous sulfur dioxide emitted by road transport and fog in the conditions of high humidity. For this purpose, the author applies a multi-factor two-phase mathematical model, which takes into account the dynamics of turbulent main phase, dynamics and kinetics of the multi-sectional droplet phase, presence of thermal inconsistencies formed as a result of direct and diffused solar radiation in various ranges, diffusion of sulfur dioxide, and its absorption by the fog droplets. The article carries out a numerical calculation of the corresponding task within the modeling system of environmental processes AirEcology-P, which allows generating the optimal calculation code for a particular mathematical model. The proposed complex mathematical model that descries interaction between the emitted sulfur dioxide gas and the fog droplets is new; it specifies the calculation of the kinetics of droplet phase based on consideration of the additional factor of droplet fusion characteristic to fog. The submodel of the droplet phase was tested in the numerical simulation (the results were compared with the data of direct Lagrangian modeling of the composite of 1,000 droplets), indicating decent accuracy results. The article obtains the results of numerical simulation of interaction between the emitted SO2 and the droplets. The author demonstrates the self-cleaning ability of the atmosphere, the degree of which correlates with the initial concentration of the smallest droplets and the height from the surface.