From CT Scans to CFD Modelling – Fluid and Heat Transfer in a Realistic Human Nasal Cavity

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The air conditioning capability of the nose is dependent on the nasal mucosal temperature and the airflow dynamics caused by the airway geometry. A computational model of a human nasal cavity obtained through CT scans was produced and the process described. CFD techniques were applied to study the effects of morphological differences in the left and right nasal cavities on the airflow and heat transfer of inhaled air. A laminar steady flow of 15 L/min was applied and two inhalation conditions were investigated: normal air conditions, 25°C, 35% relative humidity and cold dry air conditions, 12°C, 13% relative humidity. It was found that the frontal regions of the nasal cavity exhibited greater secondary cross flows compared to the middle and back regions. The left cavity in the front region had a smaller cross-sectional area compared to the right which allowed greater heating as the heat source from the wall was closer to the bulk flow regions. Additionally it was found that the role of the turbinates to condition the air may not be solely reliant on the surface area contact but may in fact be influenced by the nature of the flow that the turbinates cause.

Simulation of sprayed particle deposition in a human nasal cavity including a nasal spray device

“…An existing computational model of the nasal cavity is used, and for brevity the details of its model construction and verification can be found in Inthavong, Wen, Tian, and Tu (2008) and Inthavong, Wen, Tu, and Tian (2009). In earlier studies by the authors (Inthavong, 2006) among others in the literature (Kleinstreuer & Zhang, 2003;Li, Kleinstreuer, & Zhang, 2007;Straatsma, Van Houwelingen, Steenbergen, & De Jong, 1999), the computational model of the nasal cavity was limited by the available computing power.…”

Detailed micro-particle deposition patterns in the human nasal cavity influenced by the breathing zone

“…Since then computational studies have investigated its anatomical form, airflow patterns, and fluid-particle interactions to gain a better understanding of: respiration function [7][8][9][10]; airconditioning [11,12]; and surgical implications [13][14][15][16][17]. When a secondary particle phase is introduced, inhaled particles coupled to the airflow field, allow studies of nasal drug delivery [18][19][20][21][22]; and inhalation toxicology [23][24][25] or general particle deposition studies [26,27].…”

Lagrangian particle modelling of spherical nanoparticle dispersion and deposition in confined flows

“…2), and 3.2 million cells, where the 1.2 million cells model was deemed mesh independent, after the testing. Full details of the scan protocol and its segmentation into a usable 3D geometry model can be found in Inthavong, Tu, and Ahmadi (2009) and Inthavong, Wen, Tu, and Tian (2009).…”