The duomodule. Part 1: Hydrodynamic investigations

On-line plasma detoxification requires two circulation: the separation of t he plasma from the patients blood, in a first circulation, and a plasma fra ctionation, in a second circulation, before the detoxified plasma returns b ack to the patient. These processes can be realised in one single step by u se of a duofilter. The duofilter is a modular construction integrating two different hollow fibre filters in one common module housing. In this paper the liquid flow and the pressure distribution in the duofilter module syste m is calculated based, on the one hand, on the laws of hydrodynamics, and o n the other hand, on the finite volume method, where each part in the duofi lter is scrutinized separately and supplemented with a computational simula tion program for liquid flow. The data from such calculations are compared with experimental investigations. The results of both, calculation methods and the experimental technique, demonstrate correspondence. On this basis t he module equipment can be optimized with respect to its performance. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.