Transport and deposition of inertial aerosols in bifurcated tubes under oscillatory flow

Abstract

The transport and deposition of aerosol particles in a single bifurcation tube under oscillatory airflow condition are investigated via experiments and numerical simulations. In the experimental study, a novel stabilized laser-photodiode measurement technique is used to quantify the effects of frequency of oscillatory airflow and airflow rate on surface deposition of particles within the bifurcation tube. Surface deposition in the parent and daughter tubes is measured by orientating the laser-photodiode device parallel and perpendicular to the bifurcation plane and calculated using a transmission loss model. In the numerical simulation study, the same bifurcation tube is constructed using a two- and three-dimensional computer mesh in COMSOL® to model particle mobility and deposition characteristics, considering the simultaneous effects of inertial impaction, gravitational settling and interception. The effects of frequency of oscillatory airflow, airflow rate and particle size on the particle trajectory and spatial deposition pattern are examined. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.