Sensitivity analysis of the aerosols transport equation

The aerosol dispersion equations, to perform sensitivity analysis due to uncertainties in model and input parameters, based on the moments method considering the spatial dependence, settling, diffusion and coagulation mechanisms, are presented. The Perturbative Method Differential-formalism is used to develop this set of equations. Two verification cases are solved initially concerning settling and gravitational coagulation: the steady state aerosol distribution in a vertical tube, and the evolution of a homogeneous aerosol population. The results are compared with analytical results and numerical ones obtained varying the perturbed parameters around their nominal values. Finally, the method is applied to analyze the aerosol transport in a 1-D vertical domain considering both space and time dependence; the sensitivity coefficients of the aerosol volume fraction with respect to global parameters related with the gravitational coagulation kernel, settling velocity and boundary conditions are deduced and analyzed.