Lintermann, A.FZJ* ; Meinke, M.RWTH* ; Schröder, W.RWTH*

2011

Abstract: Complaints like impaired respiration capabilities or a reduced sense of smell and taste are common for pathologically shaped nasal cavities. The Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM), which is particularly suited to simulate flows in intricate geometries, is used to analyze the influence of the geometry of the nasal cavity on the pressure loss in a non-invasive pre-surgical step to support surgical decision processes. Another important function of the nasal cavity is the moisturization and heating of the inhaled air. To analyze complaints caused by a diminished heating function a passive scalar convection-diffusion equation for the temperature is solved by a Thermal Lattice-Boltzmann Method. After a successful validation of the method for the flow over a heated isothermal flat plate, a comparison of the functionalities of a modified nasal cavity after rhino-anaplasty and a cavity with swollen turbinates is performed to understand the influence of the geometry on the breathing capability and the ability to heat up the inhaled air.

1. 511 - Computational Science and Mathematical Methods (POF3-511) (POF3-511)