Secondary Flow Effects as Physical Mechanism of Molecular Species Transport in Highly Oscillating Generic-Trachea Flows

Abstract

The high frequency oscillation artificial respiration technique is often the last hope for patients to survive highly damaged lung tissue. The mortality can significantly be reduced. In comparison to conventional artificial respiration the applied volume flow rate and pressure is significantly lowered in order to avoid further damaging of lung tissue and remaining intact alveolae. However, the physical mechanism of transport of oxygen to the aeriols under high frequency oscillation is not well understood. In the upper part of the lung convection is dominant, in contrast, the gas exchange in the lower parts of the lung is mainly driven by diffusion. It is not clear how associated gradients of concentrations of different molecular species are then achieved. Highly oscillating fluid flows has been a long research topic in fluid dynamics. It is known that oscillating pressure fluctuations are able to induce secondary flows, in particular, in curved ducts and pipes. The question is, whether the trachea enforces the generation of secondary flow by its kidney like cross section geometry. The influence of molecular species of different densities onto the formation of secondary flows and the convectional transport within the trachea is investigated. In order to clarify the physical mechanisms behind flow simulations have been conducted by using state of the art CFD techniques.