Abstract
This paper studies three-dimensional transient flow characteristics of a medical air-compressing nebulizer which is widely used to treat respiratory diseases in the medical field. The transient atomization process of air and water was numerically simulated and reproduced by solving Navier-Stokes equations, turbulent transport equations, the volume of fluid (VOF) model, and discrete phase model (DPM). The water volume fraction inside the nebulizer was simulated and demonstrated under different time. Besides, to better the working performance of the nebulizer, the effects of different working parameters such as different orifice diameters, length of the outflow pipe, and air velocity on the secondary atomization were also studied and discussed. It was found that the most suitable diameter of the orifice for this air-compressing nebulizer is 1.0 mm. Most suitable length of the outflow pipe and the air velocity for producing small air-water bubbles are 10 mm and 4 m/s, respectively.
Highlights
The medical air-compressing nebulizer is one of the important instruments to treat respiratory diseases in the medical field
The air is compressed to be a high-pressure state by the compressor firstly, and it is supplied to the bottom of the medical nebulizer
Yu et al numerically studied the flow-field properties of the gas-liquid dual-fluid atomizer which has high flow capacity and low energy consumption [19]. They found that an optimal orifice diameter exists to maximize water flow velocity and the secondary atomization etc
Summary
The medical air-compressing nebulizer is one of the important instruments to treat respiratory diseases in the medical field. About the medical aircompressing nebulizer, it uses gas-assisted dual-fluid equipment to atomize the medical liquid It includes two atomization processes: the first and the second atomization. Yu et al numerically studied the flow-field properties of the gas-liquid dual-fluid atomizer which has high flow capacity and low energy consumption [19]. They found that an optimal orifice diameter exists to maximize water flow velocity and the secondary atomization etc. All these studies mentioned above are very encouraging and helpful for improving the working performance of the nebulizer or atomizer, there lacks a detailed study to demonstrate the complete transient atomization process clearly inside the medical nebulizer. It could provide theoretical guidance for the optimal design of the medical air-compressing nebulizer
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