Journal article
Computational fluid dynamics investigation of human aspiration in low-velocity air: orientation effects on mouth-breathing simulations
The Annals of occupational hygiene, Vol.57(6), pp.740-757
07/2013
DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/mes108
PMCID: PMC3916737
PMID: 23316076
Abstract
Computational fluid dynamics was used to investigate particle aspiration efficiency in low-moving air typical of occupational settings (0.1-0.4 m s(-1)). Fluid flow surrounding an inhaling humanoid form and particle trajectories traveling into the mouth were simulated for seven discrete orientations relative to the oncoming wind (0°, 15°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 135° and 180°). Three continuous inhalation velocities (1.81, 4.33, and 12.11 m s(-1)), representing the mean inhalation velocity associated with sinusoidal at-rest, moderate, and heavy breathing (7.5, 20.8, and 50.3 l min(-1), respectively) were simulated. These simulations identified a decrease in aspiration efficiency below the inhalable particulate mass (IPM) criterion of 0.5 for large particles, with no aspiration of particles 100 µm and larger for at-rest breathing and no aspiration of particles 116 µm for moderate breathing, over all freestream velocities and orientations relative to the wind. For particles smaller than 100 µm, orientation-averaged aspiration efficiency exceeded the IPM criterion, with increased aspiration efficiency as freestream velocity decreased. Variability in aspiration efficiencies between velocities was low for small (<22 µm) particles, but increased with increasing particle size over the range of conditions studied. Orientation-averaged simulation estimates of aspiration efficiency agree with the linear form of the proposed linear low-velocity inhalable convention through 100 µm, based on laboratory studies using human mannequins.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Computational fluid dynamics investigation of human aspiration in low-velocity air: orientation effects on mouth-breathing simulations
- Creators
- T Renée Anthony - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, 105 River Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. renee-anthony@uiowa.eduKimberly R Anderson
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Annals of occupational hygiene, Vol.57(6), pp.740-757
- Publisher
- England
- DOI
- 10.1093/annhyg/mes108
- PMID
- 23316076
- PMCID
- PMC3916737
- ISSN
- 0003-4878
- eISSN
- 1475-3162
- Grant note
- R01 OH009290 / NIOSH CDC HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/2013
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983997306502771
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