Predicting Membrane Oxygenator Pressure Drop Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

: Three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of membrane oxygenators should allow prediction of spatially dependent variables and subsequent shape optimization. Fiber bed complexity and current computational limitations require the use of approximate models to predict fiber drag...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Artificial organs 2002-07, Vol.26 (7), p.600-607
Main Authors: Gage, Kenneth L., Gartner, Mark J., Burgreen, Greg W., Wagner, William R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artificial lung
Artificial Organs
Computational Biology
Computational fluid dynamics
Equipment Design
Lung
Membrane oxygenator
Membranes, Artificial
Optimization
Oxygenators, Membrane
Pressure
Pressure drop
Rheology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:: Three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of membrane oxygenators should allow prediction of spatially dependent variables and subsequent shape optimization. Fiber bed complexity and current computational limitations require the use of approximate models to predict fiber drag effects in complete device simulations. A membrane oxygenator was modified to allow pressure measurement along the fiber bundle in all cardinal axes. Experimental pressure drop information with water perfusion was used to calculate the permeability of the fiber bundle. A three‐dimensional CFD model of a commercial membrane oxygenator was developed to predict pressure drops throughout the device. Darcy's Law was used to account for the viscous drag of the fibers and was incorporated as a momentum loss term in the conservation equations. Close agreement was shown between experimental and simulated pressure drops at lower flow rates, but the simulated pressure drops were lower than experimental results at higher flows. Alternate models of fiber drag effects and flow field visualization are suggested as means to potentially improve the accuracy of the flow simulation. Computational techniques coupled with experimental verification offer insight into model validity and show promise for the development of accurate three‐dimensional simulations of membrane oxygenators.
ISSN:0160-564X
1525-1594
DOI:10.1046/j.1525-1594.2002.07082.x