Study on the multi-component particle-gas two-phase flow in a human upper respiratory tract

Abstract

CFD simulations are performed based on a three-dimensional upper respiratory tract (URT) model combined through Computerized Tomography (CT). A gas-solid two-phase flow model based on the Euler-Lagrange (E-L) method is used to analyze the gas-solid flow in the URT, and the van der Waals force among particles is considered. Simulated results show that most of the particles in the URT deposit on the entrance of the nasal cavity, the back wall of the throat, and the front wall of the exit. The flow velocities at these positions are relatively high, while the number of particles deposited in the vortex area is very small. Deposition of particles increases with the increase of particle size at the entrance of the nasal cavity and the throat. Small particles mostly deposit on the front wall of the throat. Compared with big particles, small particles are easier to flow toward the lower respiratory tract (LRT).