Flow Device Research Articles

A profile of the impella 5.5 for the clinical management of cardiogenic shock and a review of the current indications for use and future directions

ABSTRACT Introduction The Impella 5.5 device is a surgically inserted, trans-valvular, microaxial flow device capable of providing 5.5 L/min of continuous, antegrade flow from the left ventricle (LV) to the aorta. The ability of the Impella 5.5 to fully pressure and volume unload the dysfunctional LV while allowing for mobilization and rehabilitation has rapidly expanded use. Clinical use scenarios include escalation of support for acute myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock (AMICS), transition from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to mobile support, bridge to transplantation or durable MCS in acute decompensated heart failure, or perioperative use in post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS). Areas Covered This review provides a profile of the Impella 5.5 device, summarizes current literature surrounding clinical applications, reviews active and upcoming clinical trials, and projects future applications for the device in an expert review. Expert Opinion The development of the Impella 5.5 has allowed for monitoring of left heart recovery, optimizing right ventricular function, and rehabilitating patients to meet bridging endpoints. The 2018 heart transplant allocation system modifications have expanded use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) on the transplant waitlist, increasing the number of patients transplanted on support. With increased safety and durability, an expanding frontier is used in perioperative support for PCCS in high-risk cardiac surgery.

Room temperature quantitative liquid concentration device and application to interleukins analysis in a B-cell culture medium.

In biological analysis and medical diagnosis, there is an increasing demand for improving the lower detection limit without deteriorating the quantitativity; however, it is usually challenging. In this study, we utilized a cyclone flow device and established a liquid concentration method. An air cyclone flow induced a liquid cyclone flow in the concentration devices and enhanced the air/liquid interface area, which allowed an effective concentration of liquid from mL to mL at room temperature. The heating temperature and actual temperature inside the liquid were investigated to know the cooling effect of evaporation. The collection efficiency of larger than 98% was confirmed with a standard solution. Finally, the analytical procedure to realize a quantitative concentration was established, and the concentration and quantification of interleukins (IL-8, IL-17, and IL-23) from the supernatant of the B-cell culture medium was demonstrated. The B-cell was stimulated with CD40L, and the supernatant was concentrated 27 times at maximum.

Optimization of blue LED Photo-Flow synthesis in continuous flow reactors using design of experiments (DoE): Efficient synthesis of diverse diaryl ketones

Herein, we demonstrated the optimization of a blue LED (450 nm) induced C-C bond formation between various aryl and heteroaryl aldehydes with 1,4-quinones at room temperature in ethyl acetate using Design of Experiments (DoE). This reaction was conducted within a flow (micro and milli-fluidic) device using a millifluidic meandering channel reactor (MC2), resulting in a library of diversely substituted diaryl ketones with moderate to good yields. Control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) based computational investigations were performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.

Myocardial functional recovery following durable ventricular assist device in children

BackgroundVentricular assist device (VAD) explantation following myocardial functional recovery (MFR) for heart failure (HF) is uncommon in children and is associated with a risk of HF recurrence. Research QuestionWhat are the patient characteristics and outcomes for VAD explantation in children following MFR? Material and MethodsRetrospective, single center study of pediatric patients who were supported with durable VADs, both intracorporeal continuous flow devices (CFD) and paracorporeal pulsatile flow devices (PFD), between 2004 to 2022. ResultsA total of 74 children, of which 43 were female, underwent VAD implantation (PFD = 61 and CFD = 14) at a median (IQR) age of 5.6 (0.8, 13.5) years and with a weight of 16.2 (7.5, 40.7) kg. From this cohort, we identified 9/75 (12%) children who underwent VAD explantation for MFR. Of those, 7/9 (77%) were under 2 years of age and 6/9 (67%) were supported for > 90 days. Five patients had dilated cardiomyopathy, three with anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery and one with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Six were listed for transplantation as a part of their HF management strategy following VAD implantation. After explant, 8/9 patients remained in HF remission with no symptoms and stable LV function. One patient had a recurrence of HF following explantation after demonstrating MFR while on VAD support. ConclusionsMFR resulting in VAD explantation is feasible in children with chronic HF especially for those < 2 years of age. Further work is needed to better identify the features that promote MFR and maintain it after explant.

Optimization of Microcapillary Flow Devices 3D Printed with Stereolithography Technology

Optimization of Microcapillary Flow Devices 3D Printed with Stereolithography Technology

COVID-19 testing and reporting behaviours in England across different sociodemographic groups: a population-based study using testing data and data from community prevalence surveillance surveys

Understanding underlying mechanisms of heterogeneity in test-seeking and reporting behaviour during an infectious disease outbreak can help to protect vulnerable populations and guide equity-driven interventions. The COVID-19 pandemic probably exerted different stresses on individuals in different sociodemographic groups and ensuring fair access to and usage of COVID-19 tests was a crucial element of England's testing programme. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 testing behaviours in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. We did a population-based study of COVID-19 testing behaviours with mass COVID-19 testing data for England and data from community prevalence surveillance surveys (REACT-1 and ONS-CIS) from Oct 1, 2020, to March 30, 2022. We used mass testing data for lateral flow device (LFD; data for approximately 290 million tests performed and reported) and PCR (data for approximately 107 million tests performed and returned from the laboratory) tests made available for the general public and provided by date and self-reported age and ethnicity at the lower tier local authority (LTLA) level. We also used publicly available data on mean population size estimates for individual LTLAs, and data on ethnic groups, age groups, and deprivation indices for LTLAs. We did not have access to REACT-1 or ONS-CIS prevalence data disaggregated by sex or gender. Using a mechanistic causal model to debias the PCR testing data, we obtained estimates of weekly SARS-CoV-2 prevalence by both self-reported ethnic groups and age groups for LTLAs in England. This approach to debiasing the PCR (or LFD) testing data also estimated a testing bias parameter defined as the odds of testing in infected versus not infected individuals, which would be close to zero if the likelihood of test seeking (or seeking and reporting) was the same regardless of infection status. With confirmatory PCR data, we estimated false positivity rates, sensitivity, specificity, and the rate of decline in detection probability subsequent to reporting a positive LFD for PCR tests by sociodemographic groups. We also estimated the daily incidence, allowing us to calculate the fraction of cases captured by the testing programme. From March, 2021 onwards, individuals in the most deprived regions reported approximately half as many LFD tests per capita as individuals in the least deprived areas (median ratio 0·50 [IQR 0·44-0·54]). During the period October, 2020, to June, 2021, PCR testing patterns showed the opposite trend, with individuals in the most deprived areas performing almost double the number of PCR tests per capita than those in the least deprived areas (1·8 [1·7-1·9]). Infection prevalences in Asian or Asian British individuals were considerably higher than those of other ethnic groups during the alpha (B.1.1.7) and omicron (B.1.1.529) BA.1 waves. Our estimates indicate that the England Pillar 2 COVID-19 testing programme detected 26-40% of all cases (including asymptomatic cases) over the study period with no consistent differences by deprivation levels or ethnic groups. Testing biases for PCR were generally higher than those for LFDs, in line with the general policy of symptomatic and asymptomatic use of these tests. Deprivation and age were associated with testing biases on average; however, the uncertainty intervals overlapped across deprivation levels, although the age-specific patterns were more distinct. We also found that ethnic minorities and older individuals were less likely to use confirmatory PCR tests through most of the pandemic and that delays in reporting a positive LFD test were possibly longer in populations self-reporting as "Black; African; Black British or Caribbean". Differences in testing behaviours across sociodemographic groups might be reflective of the higher costs of self-isolation to vulnerable populations, differences in test accessibility, differences in digital literacy, and differing perceptions about the utility of tests and risks posed by infection. This study shows how mass testing data can be used in conjunction with surveillance surveys to identify gaps in the uptake of public health interventions both at fine-scale levels and across sociodemographic groups. It provides a framework for monitoring local interventions and yields valuable lessons for policy makers in ensuring an equitable response to future pandemics. UK Health Security Agency.

A rapid and visual detection assay for Senecavirus A based on recombinase-aided amplification and lateral flow dipstick.

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a newly pathogenic virus correlated with the acute death of piglets and vesicular lesions in pigs. The further prevalence of SVA will cause considerable economic damage to the global pig farming industry. Therefore, rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for SVA are crucial for preventing and controlling the disease. We designed multiple primer pairs targeting the most conserved region of the SVA 3D gene and selected those with the highest specificity. Nfo-probes were subsequently developed based on the highest specificity primer pairs. Subsequently, the recombinase-assisted amplification (RAA) reaction was completed, and the reaction temperature and duration were optimized. The RAA amplicons were detected using a lateral flow device (LFD). Finally, a rapid and intuitive RAA-LFD assay was established against SVA. The SVA RAA-LFD assay can be performed under reaction conditions of 35°C within 17 minutes, with results observable to the naked eye. We then evaluated the performance of this method. It exhibited high specificity and no cross-reaction with the other common swine pathogens. The lowest detectable limits of this method for the plasmid of pMD18-SVA-3D, DNA amplification product, and viral were 3.86×101 copies/µL, 8.76×10-7 ng/µL, and 1×100.25 TCID50/mL, respectively. A total of 44 clinical samples were then tested using the RAA-LFD, PCR, and RT-qPCR methods. The results demonstrated a consistent detection rate between the RAA-LFD and RT-qPCR assays. The SVA RAA-LFD assay developed in our study exhibits excellent specificity, sensitivity, and time-saving attributes, making it ideally suited for utilization in lack-instrumented laboratory and field settings.

Structural optimization and performance investigation of power flow adaptive flow devices based on multi-body coupling

Through the multi-body coupling between the components in the numerical calculation, the self-adaptive yaw motion of the power flow turbine is realized. Specifically, the changes of launching dynamic performance in different yaw structure combinations (different rod length, different tail chord length, different tail limiting Angle and rotation axis position) are investigated. The results show that under the same operating conditions, the turbine efficiency of the optimized structure combination is increased by 1.05 % and the yaw speed is increased by 16.7 %. Then, the influences of different tip immersion depth and wave period on thrust coefficient and efficiency coefficient of turbine at free liquid surface are compared. The conclusion is that the turbine efficiency is increased by 0.8 % when the tip depth is 0.21D compared with that without free liquid surface. When the wave period is 1.3, the turbine efficiency is increased by 1.4 % compared with that without free liquid surface. The results show that the selection of appropriate structure combination and installation depth is of great help to turbine efficiency and yaw speed during the yaw process of turbine power flow unit.

Isolation and purification of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts based on a multi-channel magnetic flow device and rapid qualitative and quantitative detection

Rapid isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts during fermentation is of great significance for quality control and regulation of fermented foods. In this study, we prepared a multi-channel magnetic flow device for rapid separation and purification of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, and based on SERS spectrum, we made rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results showed that the synthesized Synthesized Fe3O4-Van antibiotic magnetic beads are paramagnetic; Fe3O4-Van antibiotic magnetic beads achieved capture efficiencies of more than 98.5 % for both L. plantarum and L. lactis at 102–104 CFU/mL, respectively. Separation and purification efficiency of single S. cerevisiae, L. plantarum and L. lactis by multi-channel magnetic flow device all reached more than 98 % with good isolation and purification results. The SERS spectra of the three microorganisms were classified and analyzed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and the accuracy of the established LDA model was 100 %, which completely differentiated the SERS spectra of the three microorganisms,and realized the qualitative identification of L. plantarum, L. lactis, and S. cerevisiae, and finally, quantitative model was established with the logarithmic values (lg C) of different concentrations of L. plantarum, L. lactis, and S. cerevisiae as the horizontal coordinates, and the Raman intensities at their strongest characteristic peaks of 512 cm−1, 1669 cm−1, and 1125 cm−1, respectively, were used as vertical coordinates to establish a quantitative model, with the lowest detection limit of 10 CFU/mL, and the digital quantification of lactic acid bacteria and yeast were achieved. It provided an effective means for real-time monitoring and tracking of the dynamics of lactic acid bacteria and yeast in the fermentation process and the quality control of fermented foods.

A self-regulated expiratory flow device for mechanical ventilation: a bench study

IntroductionUnregulated expiratory flow may contribute to ventilator-induced lung injury. The amount of energy dissipated into the lungs with tidal mechanical ventilation may be used to quantify potentially injurious ventilation. Previously reported devices for variable expiratory flow regulation (FLEX) require, either computer-controlled feedback, or an initial expiratory flow trigger. In this bench study we present a novel passive expiratory flow regulation device.MethodsThe device was tested using a commercially available mechanical ventilator with a range of settings (tidal volume 420 ml and 630 ml, max. inspiratory flow rate 30 L/min and 50 L/min, respiratory rate 10 min−1, positive end-expiratory pressure 5 cmH2O), and a test lung with six different combinations of compliance and resistance settings. The effectiveness of the device was evaluated for reduction in peak expiratory flow, expiratory time, mean airway pressure, and the reduction of tidal dissipated energy (measured as the area within the airway pressure–volume loop).ResultsMaximal and minimal reduction in peak expiratory flow was from 97.18 ± 0.41 L/min to 25.82 ± 0.07 L/min (p < 0.001), and from 44.11 ± 0.42 L/min to 26.30 ± 0.06 L/min, respectively. Maximal prolongation in expiratory time was recorded from 1.53 ± 0.06 s to 3.64 ± 0.21 s (p < 0.001). As a result of the extended expiration, the maximal decrease in I:E ratio was from 1:1.15 ± 0.03 to 1:2.45 ± 0.01 (p < 0.001). The greatest increase in mean airway pressure was from 10.04 ± 0.03 cmH2O to 17.33 ± 0.03 cmH2O. Dissipated energy was significantly reduced with the device under all test conditions (p < 0.001). The greatest reduction in dissipated energy was from 1.74 ± 0.00 J to 0.84 ± 0.00 J per breath. The least reduction in dissipated energy was from 0.30 ± 0.00 J to 0.16 ± 0.00 J per breath. The greatest and least percentage reduction in dissipated energy was 68% and 33%, respectively.ConclusionsThe device bench tested in this study demonstrated a significant reduction in peak expiratory flow rate and dissipated energy, compared to ventilation with unregulated expiratory flow. Application of the device warrants further experimental and clinical evaluation.

Continuous-flow degradation of Orange I using CoFe2O4-loaded activated carbon catalyst: Optimization of reaction parameters and toxicity prediction

Orange I (OI) azo dyes produce toxic aromatic compounds in water, making solutions an important issue. In this study, we employed the urea combustion method to load CoFe2O4 particles onto activated carbon (CFO-AC-500). Subsequently, the catalyst was incorporated into a column continuous flow device, testing the effects of multi water parameters and toxicity, and predicting the degradation process on the catalytic degradation of OI for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. In CFO-AC-500/PMS continuous reactor, it showed a satisfied OI removal of more than 82 % of the OI at a flow rate of 73.6 mL/min in 240 min. Also, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the operating conditions, with model fitting results demonstrating that the OI removal rate could reach 95.07 % under specific conditions. ESR analyses revealed that the degradation of OI was primarily governed by free radicals (SO4•-, HO• and O2•-) and non-radical pathways (1O2). The biological toxicity of degraded OI was significantly reduced. This innovative CFO-AC-500/PMS continuous flow system can provide an effective new method for the degradation of difficult-to-treat pollutants in practical applications.

Kinetics of Liquid Cooling of Bodies in Flow Devices without Phase Transition

Kinetics of Liquid Cooling of Bodies in Flow Devices without Phase Transition

Cryotherapy for Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Despite being well-studied and widely utilized, the efficacy of cryotherapy after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in enhancing early rehabilitation lacks consensus. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate (1) whether cryotherapy is able to promote the rehabilitation of patients undergoing TKA and (2) whether continuous cold flow device has superior results than cold pack in cryotherapy. A comprehensive trial searching was performed in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar electronic databases in May, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing cryotherapy with no cryotherapy or comparing continuous cold flow device with cold pack after TKA were included. The primary outcome was visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, and secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, blood loss (hemoglobin decrease and drainage), range of motion (ROM), swelling, length of stay (LOS), and adverse event. A total of 31 RCTs were included in this meta-analysis with 18 trials comparing cryotherapy with no cryotherapy and 13 trials comparing continuous cold flow device with cold pack. Pooled results showed cryotherapy group had significantly lower VAS scores than no cryotherapy group on postoperative day (POD) 1 (MD, -0.59 [95% CI, -1.14 to -0.04]; p = 0.04), POD 2 (MD, -0.84 [95% CI, -1.65 to -0.03]; p = 0.04), and POD 3 (MD, -0.86 [95% CI, -1.65 to -0.07]; p = 0.03). Cryotherapy group also showed reduced opioid consumption, reduced hemoglobin loss, decreased drainage, and improved ROM after TKA. Continuous cold flow device group had comparable VAS, opioid consumption, blood loss, ROM, knee swelling, and LOS with cold pack group. Cryotherapy can effectively alleviate postoperative pain, reduce blood loss, improve ROM, and thus promote the postoperative rehabilitation for TKA patients, but the continuous cold flow device did not show better efficacy than cold packs. These findings support the routine use of cryotherapy for the rapid rehabilitation of TKA patients, and the traditional cold pack is still recommended.

Use of a Novel Whole Blood Separation and Transport Device for Targeted and Untargeted Proteomics.

There is significant interest in developing alternatives to traditional blood transportation and separation methods, which often require centrifugation and cold storage to preserve specimen integrity. Here we provide new performance findings that characterize a novel device that separates whole blood via lateral flow then dries the isolated components for room temperature storage and transport. Untargeted proteomics was performed on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and normal healthy plasma applied to the device or prepared neat. Significantly, proteomic profiles from the storage device were more reproducible than from neat plasma. Proteins depleted or absent in the device preparation were shown to be absorbed onto the device membrane through largely hydrophilic interactions. Use of the device did not impact proteins relevant to an NSCLC clinical immune classifier. The device was also evaluated for use in targeted proteomics experiments using multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry. Intra-specimen detection intensity for protein targets between neat and device preparations showed a strong correlation, and device variation was comparable to the neat after normalization. Inter-specimen measurements between the device and neat preparations were also highly concordant. These studies demonstrate that the lateral flow device is a viable blood separation and transportation tool for untargeted and targeted proteomics applications.

Modeling and Control of Dielectric Elastomer Enabled Cuff Device for Enhancing Blood Flow at Lower Limbs

Modeling and Control of Dielectric Elastomer Enabled Cuff Device for Enhancing Blood Flow at Lower Limbs

Research on Control of Pump and Valve Testing Equipment

Abstract The complex flow state of the fluid makes it difficult for the pump valve to accurately control it. A study was conducted on the pressure flow control of a valve control device for gas-liquid two-phase flow, and experiments were conducted on the joint control of gas-liquid two-phase flow. The results showed that pressure has a significant impact on control, and it is necessary to ensure that pressure remains constant during the control process. The joint control of gas-liquid two-phase flow has consistency in changes, and precise control of gas-liquid two-phase flow can be achieved through studying consistency.

Modelling multiplex testing for outbreak control

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and lateral flow device (LFD) tests were frequently deployed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Many of these tests were singleplex, and only tested for the presence of a single pathogen. Multiplex tests can test for the presence of several pathogens using only a single swab, which can allow for: surveillance of more pathogens, targeting of antiviral interventions, a reduced burden of testing, and lower costs. Test sensitivity however, particularly in LFD tests, is highly conditional on the viral concentration dynamics of individuals. To inform the use of multiplex testing in outbreak detection it is therefore necessary to investigate the interactions between outbreak detection strategies and the differing viral concentration trajectories of key pathogens. Viral concentration trajectories are estimated for SARS-CoV-2, and Influenza A/B. Testing strategies for the first five symptomatic cases in an outbreak are then simulated and used to evaluate key performance indicators. Strategies that use a combination of multiplex LFD and PCR tests achieve; high levels of detection, detect outbreaks rapidly, and have the lowest burden of testing across multiple pathogens. Influenza B was estimated to have lower rates of detection due to its modelled viral concentration dynamics. Data availability statementThe SARS-CoV-2 viral load trajectory data may be accessed by contacting Killingley et. al. The influenza A/B viral load trajectory may be accessed at https://github.com/bcowling/pediatric-vaccine-trial/tree/master/data.

A method to calculate the two-phase distribution in a microchannel heat exchanger

Maldistribution seriously impacts the heat transfer performance of the microchannel heat exchanger (MCHX). Fully understanding the two-phase distribution in the heat exchanger is important for advancing academic research and engineering applications. This study introduces a novel method for quantifying two-phase distribution in a microchannel heat exchanger. An experimental setup was developed to measure the local vapor mass fraction in the heat exchanger header. Capacitance signals were measured under inlet vapor mass fractions from 0 to 1, and inlet flow rates of 10, 15, and 25 g s−1 corresponding to a mass flux of 17.47, 26.2, and 43.66 kg m−2s−1, respectively. The local vapor mass fraction in the header was estimated using the capacitance measurements. The mass flow rate in the header, the microchannel tube, and the vapor mass fraction in the tube were calculated using the proposed model. The calculation model was validated against literature data, and the results were analyzed. The analysis reveals the characteristics of vapor mass fraction and mass flow rate distribution in the MCHX and further elaborates on the effects of phase separation, entrainment ratio, and pressure drop balance on the distribution. The proposed method can evaluate distribution in the header and tubes of microchannel heat exchangers, and it is also applicable to other types of two-phase flow devices.

Experimental study on flow patterns and pressure gradient of decaying swirling gas-liquid flow in a horizontal pipe

The utilization of swirling flow in multiphase flow devices is prevalent for purposes such as mixing, separation, stabilization, and heat transfer enhancement, primarily owing to its characteristic of inducing low-pressure drop. In the nuclear industry, for example, two-phase swirling flow is applied in the nuclear gas generator to improve gas quality. In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted on the decaying swirling flow of gas-liquid in a horizontal pipe equipped with a vane-type swirler. The flow patterns were visually examined, and the pressure gradients along the test pipe and across the swirler were measured. The findings suggest the presence of four distinct swirling flow patterns at the swirler outlet (z/D = 0), namely chain flow, swirling gas column flow, swirling intermittent flow, and swirling annular flow. Because of swirl decay, these swirling flows recover their original pattern approximately 70D downstream from the swirler, with the exception of the swirling gas column flow. The flow regime maps at z/D = 10, 40, 70 and 100 are proposed and the pattern-based pressure gradient characteristics are analyzed. It is shown that the pressure gradient rises as both gas superficial velocity (jg) and liquid superficial velocity (jl) increase. The largest pressure gradient occurs within the swirler section, while the lowest is found upstream of the swirler. Near the swirler outlet (z/D = 0–33), the pressure gradient is approximately 1.5–2.3 times higher than at z/D = 33–67. Further downstream, at z/D = 67–100, it is 2.2–3.5 times greater, depending on the flow patterns.

Particle motion characteristics on the rotational flow pneumatic conveying of horizontal-vertical pipeline

In this study, a rotational flow device (rotational blade) is developed and installed in the upstream of the particle inlet with the aim of improving the efficiency and capacity of pneumatic conveying. Firstly, this study analyzed the energy-saving effect of rotational flow based on the pressure drop and power consumption. The results shown that the optimal velocity can be reduced by a maximum of 18.7 % and the power consumption coefficient can be reduced by a maximum of 9.8 %. Furthermore, the distributions of particle concentration, velocity and pulsation velocity are analyzed by using electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. It is found that the particle velocity and velocity pulsation intensity for rotational flow are higher, and they have the ability to enhance particle suspension. Then, the power spectrum of the particle pulsation velocity shown that the rotational flow exhibited higher peak value at lower frequencies, indicating the particles are not easily deposited at pipe bottom. Finally, the auto-correlation of particle pulsation velocity indicated that the particle motion is more stable and has a longer period at low particle concentrations. The skewness factor and probability density function of particle pulsation velocity indicated that the use of rotational blades makes the particle pulsation velocity to deviate from the Gaussian distribution.