DEM-CFD analysis of micromechanics for dry powder inhalers

Yang, Jiecheng (2015). DEM-CFD analysis of micromechanics for dry powder inhalers. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are widely used for the therapy of respiratory and pulmonary diseases. In this study, a coupled discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) is employed to investigate the micromechanics of carrier-based DPIs. The effects of van der Waals forces and electrostatic forces on the mixing process, and the influences of air flow and particle-wall impact on the dispersion process are examined.
For the mixing of carrier and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) particles in a vibrating container, it is found that vibration conditions affect the mixing performance. While there is an optimal mixing condition to maximise the number of API particles attaching to the carrier (i.e. contact number) for van der Waals cases, the contact number decreases with increasing vibration velocity amplitude and frequency for electrostatic force cases. It is also revealed that van der Waals forces (short range) and electrostatic forces (long range) result in different mixing behaviours.
For the air flow induced and impact induced dispersion, it is found that the dispersion performance improves with increasing air velocity, impact velocity and impact angle, and reduces with increasing work of adhesion. The dispersion performance can be approximated using the cumulative Weibull distribution function governed by the ratio of air drag force to adhesive force or the ratio of impact energy to adhesion energy.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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