Design and evaluation of turbine spirometer: A new approach

Abstract

Respiratory disorders are increasing day to day due to air pollution. Early detection of the disease is very important from diagnostic point of view. Spirometry is the technique to assess the lung disorder, asthma. Exhaled air flow rate and volume is measured by exhalation through the spirometric pipe using sensor. This paper presents a development of the turbine type of spirometer and its testing. Out of many sensors, turbine type of sensor is one of the cost-effective and accurate methods of air flow measurement, which is addressed in this paper. Turbine blades are designed using simulation software for maximum Cp (efficiency), i.e., for wind power conversion. After a number of iterations, blade angle, number of blades, and pitch angle are optimized for this application. Turbine is manufactured by rapid prototyping for the given designed parameters. Turbine efficiency obtained is good for wind power conversion. Electrical power is measured by connecting generator to the turbine and converted appropriately to the spirometric parameter. Effectiveness of the turbine spirometer is tested by carrying out measurement using Labview software with human begins with different BMI and gender. Values such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) are measured and compared with standard spirometer. Results are encouraging. Further designing will have development of cost-effective spirometer with a new approach.