No Cover Image

Journal article 1091 views 247 downloads

A novel modelling approach to energy transport in a respiratory system

Perumal Nithiarasu Orcid Logo, Igor Sazonov Orcid Logo

International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, Volume: 33, Issue: 10, Start page: e2854

Swansea University Authors: Perumal Nithiarasu Orcid Logo, Igor Sazonov Orcid Logo

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1002/cnm.2854

Abstract

In this paper, energy transport in a respiratory tract is modelled using the finite element method for the first time. The upper and lower respiratory tracts are approximated as a one-dimensional domain with varying cross sectional and surface areas and the radial heat conduction in the tissue is ap...

Full description

Published in: International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering
ISSN: 2040-7939
Published: Wiley 2017
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31211
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Abstract: In this paper, energy transport in a respiratory tract is modelled using the finite element method for the first time. The upper and lower respiratory tracts are approximated as a one-dimensional domain with varying cross sectional and surface areas and the radial heat conduction in the tissue is approximated using the one dimensional cylindrical coordinate system. The governing equations are solved using one-dimensional linear finite elements with convective and evaporative boundary conditions on the wall. The results obtained for the exhalation temperature of the respiratory system have been compared with the available animal experiments. The study of a full breathing cycle indicates that evaporation is the main mode of heat transfer and convection plays almost negligible role in the energy transport. This is inline with the results obtained from animal experiments.
Keywords: convection, evaporation, finite element method, heat transfer, respiratory system, stabilised method
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Issue: 10
Start Page: e2854