Droplet Collision Dynamics in Turbulence

Abstract

The study of the collision dynamics of small spherical particles suspended in a fluid has several applications, in industry as well as science. Of particular interest to this study is the application to cloud droplets in the atmosphere. The Cloud Droplet Growth Bottleneck problem is an attempt to explain the rapid growth of cloud droplets from the size of a few microns to rain- drops which are a few millimetres in diameter. The collision and consequent coalescence of droplets is a major factor in this rapid growth and fluid turbu- lence is touted to explain the enhancement of collisions of droplets. In this study, we aim to explore the roles of vortices, or regions of fluid flow which are roughly circular in direction, in creating collisions between particles sus- pended in flow similar to atmospheric flows and their impact on the growth of droplets.