Research on the nasal airflow and heat and mass transfer

비강 내 공기유동과 열 및 물질전달에 관한 연구

The three main physiological functions of nose are air-conditioning, filtering and smelling. Knowledge of airflow characteristics in nasal cavities is essential to understand the physiological and pathological aspects of nasal breathing. Several studies have utilized physical models of the healthy nasal cavity to investigate the relationship between nasal anatomy and airflow. In our laboratory, there have been a series of experimental investigations on the nasal airflow in normal and deformed nasal cavity models by PIV under both constant and periodic flow conditions. In this time, airflow inside normal nasal cavity is investigated numerically by the FVM general purpose code. The comparisons with PIV measurement are appreciated. Heat and humidity transfer is dealt numerically. Dense CT data and careful treatment of model surface under the ENT doctor’s advice provide more sophisticated cavity models for both PIV experiment and numerical grid system. Average and RMS velocity distributions have been obtained for inspirational and expirational nasal. Temperature distribution, heat and humidity transfer through the mucosa are obtained.