• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.431-437
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• 2002

Low hemolysis is one of the key factors in the production of successful rotary blood pumps. It is, however, difficult to identify the areas where hemolysis occurs. Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) analysis enables the engineer to predict hemolysis on a computer Fluid dynamics in five different axial flow pumps was analyzed 3-dimensionally using CFD software. The impeller was rotated at a speed which supplied a flow of 5L/min at a pressure difference of 100mmHg. Changes in the turbulent kinetic energy along streamlines through the pumps were computed. Reynolds' shear stress( (equation omitted) ) was calculated using the turbulent kinetic energy. Hemolysis was evaluated based on Reynolds'shear stress and its exposure time(t) : dHb/Hb=3.62$\times$10$^{-5}$ $t^{0.785}$$\tau$$^{2.416}$ . Hemolysis of the pumps was measured in vitro using fresh bovine blood to which citrate phosphate dextrose was added to prevent clotting. A pump flow of 5L/min was maintained at a pressure difference of 100mmHg for 3h. The normalized index of hemolysis(NIH) as measured. Reynolds' shear stress was high behind the impellers. The measured NIH and the calculated hemolysis(dHb/Hb) shoed a good correlation; NIH=0.0003(dHb/Hb) (r=0.90, n=6) in the range of NIH between 0.003 and 1.1. CFD analysis can predict the in vitro results of hemolysis as well as the areas where hemolysis occurs.ysis occurs.