Numerical Investigation of Flow Field around a Mannequin Model with Airway System in an Air Conditioned Room

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 mechanical engineering department,faculty of engineering,Islamic Azad University,Shiraz branch,Shiraz,Iran

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering Shiraz Branch IAU Iran

Abstract

In this study, air flow around a mannequin equipped with a respiratory system at the center of ventilated room was studied numerically. In the first mode the air conditioner dampers were installed on the front wall and in the second modes they were installed on the right side wall. The inhalation rates of 15, 20 and 30 lit/min were simulated from the nostril inlet to the end of trachea. Flow field including the region around mannequin and airway, integrally, was evaluated by solving  the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations in steady state condition by means of k-ω-SST transition turbulence model in the Ansys-Fluent software. Pressure distribution, turbulence intensity, shear stress and streamlines were evaluated inside the airway passage. Furthermore, the velocity distribution and streamlines near the mannequin face for two ventilation modes were analyzed. According to the results for the turbulence intensity distribution the turbulent flow was observed inside the respiratory system for all of the breathing rates and location of the air condition dampers did not affect the turbulence intensity distribution inside the respiratory system. In addition, in the second mode, the lower air velocity was obtained around the mannequin face and better comfort condition inside the room was maintained.

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