Constructal flow structure of the lung and transport of submicrometer particles in periodic airflows

Abstract

This study is focused on the structure of the respiratory tree, and on the characteristics of the gas and particles transport within the respiratory tree. Basead on the Constructal Law we show that the structure that best performs with respect to oxygen transport from the trachea inlet to the alveolar surface and to carbon dioxide removal from the alveolar surface to the trachea outlet must be a flow tree with 23 branching levels.