CFD analysis of SVOC mass transfer in different chambers

•Study the mass transfer process of SVOCs from the perspective of velocity field.•Reveal that sorption and velocity field work together to affect steady time.•Inflow has obvious effect on steady concentration and less effect on steady time.•Provide guidance for subsequent chamber development of SVOC and even other pollutants with sorption ability.

Semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) in indoor environment is an important research topic because of their wide use and persistent effect on human health. SVOC chambers have been continually improved to study the mass transfer characteristics in indoor environment. CFD method is used in the present paper to study the effect on mass transfer, especially on steady time by velocity field from the comparison of SVOC mass transfer in two different SVOC chambers (A and B). The results indicate that the variance of air flow in small range strongly affects the steady concentration and has no obvious effect on steady time. Sorption ability itself has great impact on steady time. The great reduction of steady time in Chamber B is the combined effect of sorption and velocity field. The velocity field resulted from the special structure of Chamber B leads to a stronger convective mass transfer resistance, and hence causes a weaker effective sorption. Therefore, the less steady time in Chamber B is the result of weaker effective sorption besides a less sorption area of Chamber B than Chamber A.