Characterization of a double-pass spray chamber for ICP spectrometry by computer simulation (CFD)

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is applied to fundamental investigations on the aerosol flow and its modification in spray chambers typically used in ICP–OES spectrometry. Detailed information is gained on the flow field (argon flow), the droplet motion and on the droplet deposition at different places on the walls inside the chamber, which is not accessible experimentally. The temporal course of the calculated mass flow rate at the outlet of a double-pass Scott type spray chamber is compared with an analytical signal received from the ICP spectrometer. The shape of the calculated time-resolved mass flow corresponds well with the shape of the analytical signal. The information on the detailed functions of various types of spray chambers gained by CFD can be used for optimization of their performance.