Large eddy simulation of aerosol deposition in an idealized mouth with a small inlet

The deposition of monodisperse particles in an idealized mouth geometry with a small inlet diameter (Din = 3.0 mm) has been studied numerically. The continuous phase flow is solved using a standard LES (Large Eddy Simulation, Smagorinsky subgrid scale model with a Van-Driest wall damping function) at a steady inhalation flow rate of Q = 32.2 L/min. The particulate phase is simulated using a Lagrangian approach. Hundreds of individual particles with dp = 2.5 μm diameter and density of ρf = 912 kg/m3 are released in the computational flow domain and particle deposition is determined. Once adequate temporal and spatial resolutions are applied, the total particle deposition results in an idealized mouth are in good agreement when compared with measured data obtained in separate experiments (DeHaan and Finlay), showing considerable improvement over the standard RANS/EIM (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes/Eddy Interaction Model) approach. (author)