Modeling Blood Using Shear-thinning Fluids for the Optimization of Blood Oxygenators

摘要

Blood oxygenator optimization has been performed using Newtonian fluids, such as water and water/glycerol solutions, instead of blood. Previous investigations have developed mass transfer and friction factor correlations for blood oxygenators based on Newtonian fluids. However, the rheology of blood differs from these ideal solutions in that it is non-Newtonian. The goal of this project is to develop non-Newtonian fluids that can better model the rheological behavior of blood. Xanthan gum/water and xanthan gum/glycerol solutions have been shown in the laboratory to demonstrate shear-thinning properties similar to blood. Thus, xanthan gum/water and xanthan gum/glycerol solutions of varying concentrations will be tested in hollow fiber blood oxygenators. The important experimental parameters to be studied are mass transfer coefficients, overall pressure drops, friction factors and the modeling of oxygen transfer. The experimental oxygen transfer data will be used to develop correlations such as the Sherwood Number, the Graetz Number and the Reynolds Number in order to characterize and model the experimental fluid in blood oxygenators. In this way, an optimal experimental fluid will be developed to model the performance of blood in blood oxygenators.