A numerical simulation of intranasal air temperature during inspiration.
OBJECTIVE
In vivo measurements of the intranasal air temperature are feasible. The present study was designed to reproduce temperature distributions within the human nasal cavity by means of numerical simulation.


METHODS
Numerical simulation.


METHODS
Based on computed tomography (CT), a steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was performed displaying the temperature distribution throughout the human nasal cavity during inspiration. The results of the numerical simulation were compared with in vivo temperature measurements.


RESULTS
The numerical simulation demonstrated that the major increase of the inspiratory air temperature can be found in the anterior nasal segment, especially within the nasal valve area, which is comparable to in vivo measurements. Intranasal areas of high temperature were characterized by turbulent airflow with vortices of low velocity. The results of numerical simulation showed an excellent comparability to the results of previous in vivo measurements in the entire nasal cavity.


CONCLUSIONS
The anterior nasal segment is the most effective part of the nose in heating of the ambient air. The findings demonstrated the complexity of the relationship between airflow patterns and heating of inspired air. A numerical simulation of the temperature distribution using CFD is practicable.
Lindemann
Joerg
J
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. joerg.lindemann@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Keck
Tilman
T
Wiesmiller
Kerstin
K
Sander
Bjoern
B
Brambs
Hans-Juergen
HJ
Rettinger
Gerhard
G
Pless
Daniela
D
D000388:Air; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed