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Wall Deposition

Posted Oct 23, 2025, 11:22 a.m. EDT Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Microfluidics, Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow Version 6.3 0 Replies

Ishita Hiremath

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Hello,

I’m currently trying to visualize aerosol deposition in the laminar flow regime using Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow in COMSOL, aiming to validate experimental results from a nebulizer-based setup.

My model consists of a cylindrical pipe (radius = 1 mm, length = 6.7 mm) with air flow velocity = 0.03 m/s. I’m simulating 0.5 µm particles with Stokes drag and Brownian motion enabled. However, I’m unable to observe significant deposition under these conditions. Interestingly, deposition increases sharply when gravity is included.

Has anyone successfully modeled nebulizer-like aerosol deposition in a laminar airflow field? Are there recommended settings or modeling approaches to better capture near-wall deposition without relying solely on gravity?

I’m also considering switching to the Transport of Diluted Species interface for a continuum approach to diffusion and deposition, and I’d appreciate any insights or comparisons from others who have tried this.

Ultimately, my goal is to compare cylindrical vs. rectangular channels to understand how geometry affects deposition patterns.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions and experiences!

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