Effect of flow baffles on the dialysate flow distribution of hollow-fiber hemodialyzers: a nonintrusive experimental study using MRI.
We used an innovative, nonintrusive MRI technique called the two-dimensional (2D) Phase-Contrast (2DPC) velocity-imaging technique to investigate the effect of flow baffles on the dialysate-side flow distribution in two different hollow-fiber hemodialyzers (A and B); each with flow rates between 200 and 1000 mL/min (3.33 x 10(-6) and 1.67 x 10(-5) m3/s). Our experimental results show that (1) the dialysate-side flow distribution was nonuniform with channeling flow occurred at the peripheral cross section of these hollow-fiber hemodialyzers, and (2) the existing designs of flow baffles failed to promote uniform dialysate-side flow distribution for all flow rates studies.
Poh
Churn K
CK
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Hardy
Peter A
PA
Liao
Zhijie
Z
Huang
Zhongping
Z
Clark
William R
WR
Gao
Dayong
D
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000379:methods*; D007688:Kidneys, Artificial; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
D008567:Membranes, Artificial