Experimental study of aerosol transport in semi-realistic human airway model

abstrakt

angličtina

In vitro studies of aerosol transport in human airway models give considerable information for advancement of targeted drug delivery and serve for validation of numerical simulations where more accurate turbulence models are needed. We applied a semi-realistic transparent model of human airways for a study of flow of micron-sized spherical particles dispersed in air using Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA). The model is based on CT scans of human lungs and encompasses mouth cavity, realistic glottal geometry and three to four generations of bronchi with 3D branching. Cylindrical tubes were used to replace original rough and warped walls of airway channels. 1D PDA with classical optics was used for measurement of time-resolved velocity of particle-laden air flow in multiple points of the optically transparent model. Aerosol particles of DEHS with 3 um in diameter were produced by CMAG, mixed with air in a static mixer and resulting dilute dispersed two-phase mixture was led to the lung model. Mean axial velocity and turbulence intensity in several positions in the model are documented for three inspiration breathing flow rates. The particles flow in laminar or turbulent regime depending on Reynolds number with Stokes number << 1, which suggests the particles follow the air flow closely. Asymmetric distribution of the flow within cross-section of the flow channels is evidenced and attributed to the complex model geometry.

PARTICLE-LADEN AIR FLOW, SEMI-REALISTIC MODEL, HUMAN AIRWAYS

JEDELSKÝ, J.; LÍZAL, F.; ELCNER, J.; JÍCHA, M.

3. 9. 2012

University of Granada

Granada, Spain

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