Deposition of non-spherical microparticles in the human upper respiratory tract

Abstract We investigated the deposition pattern of microparticles with different particle diameters, shape factors, and initial flow conditions in a realistic human upper respiratory tract model. We identified a close relationship between the deposition fraction and the particle shape factor. The deposition fraction of the particles decreased sharply with increasing particle shape factor because of the decreasing drag force. We also found that the deposition varied at different positions in the upper respiratory tract. At low shape factors, the highest fraction of particles deposited at the mouth and pharynx. However, with increasing shape factor, the deposition fraction in the trachea and lungs increased. Moreover, for a given shape factor, larger particles deposited at the mouth and pharynx, which indicates that the deposition fraction of microparticles in the human upper respiratory tract is affected first and foremost by particle inertia as well as by the drag force.