Large eddy and detached eddy simulations of fluid flow and particle deposition in a human mouth-throat

Fluid flow was simulated in a human mouth-throat model under normal breathing conditions (301/min) alternatively employing RANS k-omega (without near-wall corrections), DES and LES methods. To test the validity of the fluid phase simulations, PIV measurements were carried out in a central sagittal plane of an identical model cast. Velocity and kinetic-energy profiles showed good quantitative agreement of experiments with LES/DES, and less so with RANS k-omega. Mouth-throat deposition was simulated for particle diameters 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mu m. By comparison with existing experimental data, LES/DES showed considerable improvement over the RANS k-omega model in predicting deposition for particle sizes below 5 pm. For the bigger particles, RANS k-omega and LES/DES methods produced similarly good predictions. It is concluded that for the simulation of medication aerosols inhaled at a steady flow rate of 301/min, LES and DES provide more accurate results than the RANS k-omega model tested. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.