TY - JOUR
T1 - Flow characterization in healthy airways and airways with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during different inhalation conditions
AU - Mutuku, Justus Kavita
AU - Chen, Wei Hsin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research.
Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/10
Y1 - 2018/10
N2 - The flow of air in the central and lower generations of the human airways results in complex secondary flows, which heavily affect the deposition of aerosol such as PM2.5 in the human airways. To figure out the flow dynamics in healthy airways and airways with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the flow distributions were predicted numerically. In a bronchial tube geometry (G5-G8), COPD was represented by an axisymmetric constriction in G6-2 of a four-generation airway. Real and unsteady breathing inhalation curves under rest, light activity, and moderate exercise were applied in the simulations. The velocity distribution, recirculation, and stagnation zones in the generation G6-2 affected by COPD together with the effects of sudden pressure drop in the constriction were investigated. Two symmetrical vortices (Dean vortices) were formed at the cross-sections of the geometry affected by COPD and their intensities were dependent on the Reynolds number. The mas flow rates in the healthy generation (G6-1) went to as high as 3.10 times the mass flow rate in the generation affected by COPD (G6-2). The simulations showed that inflammation of the bronchus greatly affected pressure distribution and the rates of mass flow in the human airway during inhalation. The overall pressure drop in the bifurcation affected by COPD was 3.38 Pa for rest, 10.91 Pa for light activity and 21.39 Pa for moderate exercise. A combination of these factors make COPD patients very susceptible to adverse health effects caused by inhalation of PM2.5.
AB - The flow of air in the central and lower generations of the human airways results in complex secondary flows, which heavily affect the deposition of aerosol such as PM2.5 in the human airways. To figure out the flow dynamics in healthy airways and airways with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the flow distributions were predicted numerically. In a bronchial tube geometry (G5-G8), COPD was represented by an axisymmetric constriction in G6-2 of a four-generation airway. Real and unsteady breathing inhalation curves under rest, light activity, and moderate exercise were applied in the simulations. The velocity distribution, recirculation, and stagnation zones in the generation G6-2 affected by COPD together with the effects of sudden pressure drop in the constriction were investigated. Two symmetrical vortices (Dean vortices) were formed at the cross-sections of the geometry affected by COPD and their intensities were dependent on the Reynolds number. The mas flow rates in the healthy generation (G6-1) went to as high as 3.10 times the mass flow rate in the generation affected by COPD (G6-2). The simulations showed that inflammation of the bronchus greatly affected pressure distribution and the rates of mass flow in the human airway during inhalation. The overall pressure drop in the bifurcation affected by COPD was 3.38 Pa for rest, 10.91 Pa for light activity and 21.39 Pa for moderate exercise. A combination of these factors make COPD patients very susceptible to adverse health effects caused by inhalation of PM2.5.
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U2 - 10.4209/aaqr.2018.06.0232
DO - 10.4209/aaqr.2018.06.0232
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85055212110
VL - 18
SP - 2680
EP - 2694
JO - Aerosol and Air Quality Research
JF - Aerosol and Air Quality Research
SN - 1680-8584
IS - 10
ER -