Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis

Breath-actuated nebulizers used in aerosol therapy are vital to children and patients with disabilities and stand out for their ability to accurat ely deliver medication while minimizing waste. Their performance can be measured according to the mass output and droplet size. This study aimed to analy...

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Main Authors: Hung-Chieh Wu, Fu-Lun Chen, Yuan-Ching Chiang, Yi-June Lo, Chun-Li Lin, Wei-Jen Chang, Haw-Ming Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Bioengineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/7/680
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author Hung-Chieh Wu
Fu-Lun Chen
Yuan-Ching Chiang
Yi-June Lo
Chun-Li Lin
Wei-Jen Chang
Haw-Ming Huang
author_facet Hung-Chieh Wu
Fu-Lun Chen
Yuan-Ching Chiang
Yi-June Lo
Chun-Li Lin
Wei-Jen Chang
Haw-Ming Huang
author_sort Hung-Chieh Wu
collection DOAJ
description Breath-actuated nebulizers used in aerosol therapy are vital to children and patients with disabilities and stand out for their ability to accurat ely deliver medication while minimizing waste. Their performance can be measured according to the mass output and droplet size. This study aimed to analyze how the baffle impact surface geometries affect the pressure and flow streamlines inside the nebulizer using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Computer-aided design models of conical symmetric, conical asymmetric, and arc-shaped baffle designs were analyzed using CFD simulations, with the optimal spray output validated through the differences in mass. Conical baffles exhibited superior pressure distribution and output streamlines at 0.25 cm protrusion, suggesting that the nebulizer spray performance can be enhanced by using such a conical baffle impact surface. This result serves as a valuable reference for future research.
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issn 2306-5354
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Bioengineering
spelling doaj-art-e4b78f4d88224e01b1e343bb7891f5de2025-08-20T03:58:26ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-06-0112768010.3390/bioengineering12070680Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics AnalysisHung-Chieh Wu0Fu-Lun Chen1Yuan-Ching Chiang2Yi-June Lo3Chun-Li Lin4Wei-Jen Chang5Haw-Ming Huang6School of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, TaiwanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 11114, TaiwanDivision of Periodontics, Department of Dentistry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, TaiwanDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Medical Device Innovation and Translation Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, TaiwanSchool of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanSchool of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanBreath-actuated nebulizers used in aerosol therapy are vital to children and patients with disabilities and stand out for their ability to accurat ely deliver medication while minimizing waste. Their performance can be measured according to the mass output and droplet size. This study aimed to analyze how the baffle impact surface geometries affect the pressure and flow streamlines inside the nebulizer using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Computer-aided design models of conical symmetric, conical asymmetric, and arc-shaped baffle designs were analyzed using CFD simulations, with the optimal spray output validated through the differences in mass. Conical baffles exhibited superior pressure distribution and output streamlines at 0.25 cm protrusion, suggesting that the nebulizer spray performance can be enhanced by using such a conical baffle impact surface. This result serves as a valuable reference for future research.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/7/680breath-actuated nebulizerCFDbaffle
spellingShingle Hung-Chieh Wu
Fu-Lun Chen
Yuan-Ching Chiang
Yi-June Lo
Chun-Li Lin
Wei-Jen Chang
Haw-Ming Huang
Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
Bioengineering
breath-actuated nebulizer
CFD
baffle
title Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
title_full Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
title_fullStr Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
title_short Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
title_sort increasing nebulizer spray efficiency using a baffle with a conical surface a computational fluid dynamics analysis
topic breath-actuated nebulizer
CFD
baffle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/7/680
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