An asymptotic approach of Brownian deposition of nanofibres in pipe flow

Abstract

An asymptotic approach is considered for the transport and deposition of nanofibres in pipe flow. Convection and Brownian diffusion are included, and Brownian diffusion is assumed to be the dominant mechanism. The fibre position and orientation are modelled with a probability density function for which the governing equation is a Fokker–Planck equation. The focus is set on dilute fibres concentrations implying that interaction between individual fibres is neglected. At the entrance of the pipe, a fully developed velocity profile is set and it is assumed that the fibres enter the pipe with a completely random orientation and position. A small parameter \({\varepsilon =l/a}\) is introduced, where l is the fibre half-length and a is the pipe radius. The probability density function is expanded for small \({\varepsilon}\) and the solution turns out to be multi-structured with three areas, consisting of one outer solution and two boundary layers. For the deposition of fibres on the wall, it is found that for parabolic flow, and for the lowest order, the deposition can be obtained with a simplified angle averaged convective-diffusion equation. It is suggested that this simplification is valid also for more complex flows like when the inflow boundary condition yields a developing velocity profile and flows within more intricate geometries than here studied. With the model fibre, deposition rates in human respiratory airways are derived. The results obtained compare relatively well with those obtained with a previously published model.