Flow analysis for optimal configuration of hemoperfusion device.
The objective of this experiment was to determine the flow characteristics of a hemoperfusion device. The standard device consists of a cylindrical container which is tapered towards the outlet end. Flow enters the column through a small inlet tube into the wide frontal area of the column. Having passed through the column containing collodian coated activated charcoal spheres, it leaves by the tapered outlet. In order to achieve our aim, we designed and built a two-dimensional plexiglass model consisting of a vertical cross section of the actual hemoperfusion device. Glass beads were used to simulate the artificial carbon cells and a colored solution was used to enable us to visualize the flow. In the normal configuration, it was determined that stagnation and channelling were present. The model was then analysed in the inverse configuration. This way, flow inlet is through the tapered end and flow outlet is towards the wider cylindrical end. This inverse flow configuration improved the flow characteristics and eliminated most of the channelling and stagnation.
D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D006464:Hemoperfusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012212:Rheology