A new analytical solution for agglomerate growth undergoing Brownian coagulation

•A new analytical solution for agglomerate Brownian equation was first proposed.•The accuracy of the new solution is affected by both fractal mass dimension and Knudsen number.•The new analytical solution was verified as a reliable method.

We proposed a new analytical solution for a population balance equation for fractal-like agglomerates. The new analytical solution applies to agglomerates with any mass fractal dimensions. Two well-known numerical methods, including the Taylor-series expansion method of moments and the quadrature method of moments, were selected as references. The reliability of the analytical solution with three mass fractal dimensions of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 in the continuum-slip regime was verified. The accuracy of the new analytical solution is affected by both the Knudsen number and the mass fractal dimension. The new analytical solution can be further improved in accuracy by introducing a correction factor to the originally derived mathematical formula. The new analytical solution was finally confirmed to possess potential for replacing the numerical solution in the continuum-slip regime.