Numerical modeling of a membrane humidifier for mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Dry gas inhalation can harm the mucous layer of the respiratory tract. For mechanically ventilated patients the inhalation gas must get humidified before inspiration due to the preservation matter of thickness and wetness of the mucus layer. In this study, an air-to-air planar membrane humidifier is replaced instead the bubble humidifier for ventilators. Comprehensive numerically investigation is performed for a mechanical ventilation system for 8 ml/kg tidal volume. Studies are performed to specify the effects of the respiratory rate, wet gas inlet temperature, flow rate and humidity and cell numbers of membrane humidifier. Results show that increasing the body weight and the respiratory rate decreases the humidifier performance due to the addition of tidal volume. More wet gas flow rate and humidity achieve more performance and wet gas temperature in the most effective variable on the delivery air parameters. By increasing the humidifier cell number at the fixed tidal volume and wet gas flow rate performance increases. A multicell membrane humidifier exhibits lower pressure drop and wider rang coverage of tidal volumes. Studied membrane humidifier can provide up to 1900 ml/inspiration with an 8-cell membrane humidifier for tracheal intubation. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd