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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

A Microfluidic Model of Biomimetically Breathing Pulmonary Acinar Airways
Published on: May 9, 2016
Effects of asymmetric branch flow rates on aerosol deposition in bifurcating airways
Z Zhang1, C Kleinstreuer, C S Kim
1Center for Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Abstract:
Representative double bifurcation airway models with asymmetric branch flow rate ratios, caused by spatially different downstream impedances or a carinal tumour in one branch, have been considered. For steady laminar inhalation of a dilute micron-particle suspension, i.e. 500 < or = Re < or = 2000 and 0.02 < or = St < or = 0.12, air flow fields, aerosol distributions, and wall particle concentrations have been simulated with a user-enhanced finite-volume code and an off-line particle tracking routine. Particle deposition efficiencies are shown for both asymmetric branch flow rate cases, i.e. unobstructed and tumour-induced.
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