A Numerical Investigation for Nano-Particles Deposition in Realistic Geometry of Deviant Human Nasal Airways

3-D models of both sides of human nasal passages were developed to investigate the effect of septal deviation on the flow patterns and nano particles deposition in the realistic human nasal airways. 3-D computational domain was constructed by a series of coronal CT scan image before and after septoplasty from a live 25-year old nonsmoking male with septal deviation in his right side nasal passage. For several breathing rates corresponding to low or moderate activities, the steady state flow in the nasal passages was simulated numerically. Eulerian approach was employed to find the nano particles concentrations in the nasal channels. The flow field and particles depositions depend on the passage geometry. The abnormal passage has more particles deposition comparing with the normal side and post-operative passages for nano particles because of rapid change in geometry. However, regional depositions have the same behavior for the nano particles in the three different studied passages. Despite the anatomical differences of the human subjects used in the experiments and computer model, the simulation results are in qualitative agreement with the experimental data.