Study on Flow Behavior of Parallel Lumped-Model under Constant Flow for Bronchial Tree

Abstract

Redistribution of flow in the bronchial tree is an important factor that enhances gas exchange in the lungs, especially, in diseased lungs. The bifurcated bronchial tree is like an electric network in series and parallel. A lumped-model of parallel system for constant flow rate is solved analytically to demonstrate the intrinsic characteristics and the dynamic behavior of the system. Inertial and capacitive time constants are calculated for 19th generation airways of human lung to control the solution. The investigation revealed that (i) higher inertial force takes more time to maximize the inertial flow to steady state  and more time to minimize the resistive flow to steady state  and (ii) the compliant effect is negligible for a relatively higher inertial time constant,  on the same experimental conditions.