Table 3.
Key flow-based factors expected to influence deagglomeration.
| Inhaler number and flow ratea | Q (m3/s) | ΔPb (Pa) | Power (W) | τs (N/m2) | MMDc (μm) | FPF1μm/ED (%)d | FPF5μm/ED (%)e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 at 45 LPM | 7.5×10−4 | 921.8 | 0.691 | 0.707 | 1.35 (0.02)f | 18.8 (0.5)f | 89.5 (3.2)f |
| 2 at 45 LPM | 7.5×10−4 | 667.7 | 0.501 | 1.10 | 1.21 (0.1) | 26.8 (3.8) | 95.8 (0.05) |
| 3 at 45 LPM | 7.5×10−4 | 1421.6 | 1.07 | 1.23 | 1.36 (0.07) | 19.2 (4.7) | 94.5 (2.6) |
| 4 at 60 LPM | 1.0×10−3 | 934.0 | 0.934 | 5.16 | 1.27 (0.07) | 23.6 (3.4) | 91.2 (2.1) |
| 4 at 75 LPM | 1.25×10−3 | 2004.5 | 2.51 | 11.0 | 1.27 (0.14) | 26.9 (6.0) | 95.9 (0.7) |
| 5 at 45 LPM | 7.5×10−4 | 758.6 | 0.569 | 1.16 | 1.31 (0.03) | 20.4 (2.7) | 95.5 (1.1) |
| 6 at 45 LPM | 7.5×10−4 | 1902.0 | 1.43 | 2.17 | 0.98 (0.04) | 38.8 (6.3) | 97.3 (0.3) |
| 6 at 60 LPM | 1.0×10−3 | 3063.9 | 3.06 | 2.85 | 1.03 (0.05) | 35.2 (1.3) | 97.3 (0.4) |
| 7 at 45 LPM | 7.5×10−4 | 950.4 | 0.713 | 1.21 | 1.28 (0.03) | 23.0 (1.7) | 97.4 (0.3) |
| 8 at 45 LPM | 7.5×10−4 | 775.5 | 0.582 | 1.23 | 1.18 (0.06) | 28.1 (2.6) | 94.6 (0.8) |
a
Denotes inhaler number and flow rate (LPM)
b
Pressure drop over the internal flow passage starting at the exit of the capsule chamber
c
Estimated based on measured MMAD and the skeletal density of the primary particles (ρp = 1.325 g/cm3)
d
Fine particle fraction (% < 1 μm) of the emitted dose (ED)
e
Fine particle fraction (% < 5 μm) of the emitted dose (ED)
f
Standard deviations (SD) of experimental results based on n ≥ 3 trials