TRANSPARENT TWO-PHASE BLOOD MODEL FLUID FOR UPSCALED MODELS

The objective of this work is the development of a two-phase blood model fluid for the use in upscaled flow models. In large scaled models of different flow geometries, frequently used water-glycerol mixtures are not sufficient because in critical regions with small gaps, e.g. between the rotor and the wall in cardiac support systems, the two-phases of blood have a great influence on the flow. Therefore, it is necessary that the model fluid represents both phases of blood: the plasma and the cells. Transparent alginate beads were used as a model of red blood cells. A water-glycerol mixture was used as a model fluid for plasma. The alginate beads made up about 40 % of the volume to model the proper hematocrit. Furthermore, the beads have a slightly higher density than the surrounding medium and keep floating once in motion. This was achieved by embedding hollow glass particles in the spheres that have a density