Flow

is the mass of a substance (gas/fluid etc), that passes a certain point in one second.
The units are Litres per second.
LAMINAR - This is a flow pattern where all the particles in the fluid follow
the same line of flow (each other). Can be visualised as sheets known as streamlines.
In a tube, these streamlines are a set of concentric tubes, the velocity of which increases the
closer to the centre one measures. This can be seen when a unit of blood is run after a
crystalloid solution. Hold the giving set vertically and observe the initial arrow-head front of
blood that flows down the tube.
i.e.) In cross-section - the fluid at the middle of the cross section is the fastest flowing
TURBULENT - In contrast to laminar flow, the particles in this case are moving in different
directions to each other. Like 'smoke rising from a cigarette' - if there isnt a breeze you can
observe the straight plume of smoke rising in a laminar way until it breaks into fluffy turbulent
flow some way up. Laminar flow requires lower pressures for the same flow
rate compared with turbulent flow. This means lower
energy to get the same work done and if applied to
respiration for example, lower work of breathing.
Which explains in part why acute asthmatics have such
difficulty breathing.

Flow is directly proportional to the pressure difference & 4th power of the radius.
If pressure goes up the flow increases - pressure bag
The flow increases markedly as the radius increases - big cannulas
Flow is inversely proportional to viscosity and length - (think honey v water)
Where Q = Flow in Litres/second
Viscosity only affects laminar flow, so the density of
n = Viscosity in Pa.s Pi = Pi
fluid affects turbulent flow by making it less likely to
P = Pressure in Pascals
be turbulent - think of helium in bronchospasm - thus
r = Radius of the tube in meters
easing work of breathing.
l = Length of the tube in question in meters

Reynolds number attempts to describe the

point at which flow changes from laminar to
turbulent, and the spectrum in-between.

P + 1/2.p v + pgh = constant

P = Pressure
The Bernoulli principle gives rise to the Venturi effect because of the PRESSURE DROP. g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s2)
h = Height of the tube
For a non-compressible, non-viscous fluid undergoing laminar flow, the sum of
p = Density of liquid
the pressure, kinetic and potential energies per unit volume remains a constant at v = Velocity of fluid
all points along the line of flow
It's all about conservation of energy.
It's a 'perfect system analogy' --> all the energy is conserved as either pressure energy, potential (or stored) energy, and the
energy existing as flow. No loss of energy through heat caused by friction within the fluid or caused by drag on the tubes
walls is assumed.
This means that if we alter the energy of one portion of the system, it has an effect on the rest of the system. So if the
kinetic energy rises, the potential energy and pressure must fall. If you narrow a portion of a tube with an extra tube
connected to the narrowing - the volume at the start and end of the tube must be the same- and so the flow in the narrower
bit must be faster and can cause the VENTURI effect, because the PRESSURE drops prior to the narrowing.
When we apply the Bernoulli principle in our practice we can ignore the portion due to gravity.
If we confine our thoughts to a horizontal system, the potential energy is the same, so will cancel out mathematically.
The pressure drop induced by the increase in velocity of a fluid passing
through a narrow orifice can be used to entrain air or a nebuliser solution.

100% oxygen flows into the wider point via a narrow

orifice. Because of the narrowing the oxygen speeds up
and the pressure drop at that point is below atmospheric
pressure and room air is drawn to this low pressure point,
hence diluting the 100% oxygen to the calibrated value
set by the coloured nozzle.

The drop in pressure seen here - draws air in.

Any fluid coming into contact with a curved surface will cling to this surface and alter its direction of flow.
You can see this in the spoon diagram - it does so because the solid stationary surface of the spoon slows the layer in
immediate contact. This has a drag effect on the other layers, in effect pulling them into the line of the curved surface.
The Coanda effect is said to explain the maldistribution of air in the pulmonary tree after a constricted portion of
bronchiole, as the flow will stream along one fork of the division, leading to unequal distribution of gas flow.

Elsevier/Mosby Image - Venturi

http://www.frca.co.uk/article.aspx?articleid=100482
Journal of Applied Physiology - Coanda Effect on flow in lungs