Aerosol Research Lab of Alberta

The Respiratory Deposition Calculator has been developed at the Aerosol Research Laboratory of Alberta (ARLA) at the University of Alberta in order to facilitate easy calculation of aerosol deposition in human airways and related aerosol parameters.

Users are encouraged to refer to the following papers to learn more about the mathematical models used by the calculator, and to assess the suitability of these models to specific applications.

By using the Respiratory Deposition Calculator, you agree to the license. Those presenting or publishing data obtained using the Respiratory Deposition Calculator must give appropriate citation to the references listed above as well as this website. Please note full predictions are not currently available for some parameters; these options are greyed out.

Particle Properties

Enter the particle density in g/cm³:

Select a particle distribution:

Single particle size
1. Enter the particle diameter in micrometers:
Log-normal mass distribution
1. Enter the distribution Mass Median Diameter in micrometers:
2. Enter the distribution Geometric Standard Deviation:

Gas Properties

Enter the gas density in g/cm³ (default for air at standard conditions):

Enter the gas viscosity in g cm^-1 s^-1 (default for air at standard conditions):

Age

Select an age group:

Adult
Child
Infant

Delivery Route

Select a delivery route:

Oral
Nasal

Breathing Conditions

Select a breathing condition:

tidal breathing
single inhalation with breath hold (sets total deposition fraction (tdf) to 1)
single inhalation through mouthpiece (sets tdf to 1)

Enter the inhalation flow rate in ml/sec (default for typical adult male tidal breathing):

Enter the tidal volume in ml (default for typical adult male):

Respiratory tract geometry

Enter the functional residual capacity in ml (default for typical adult male):

Enter the centerline length of the mouth-throat in cm (default for average adult):

Enter the volume of the mouth-throat in cm³ (default for average adult):

Enter the diameter of the mouthpiece in cm:

Enter the distance from the mouthpiece exit to the oral cavity wall in cm (default for typical oral geometry):

Enter the turbulence intensity (u'/u) exiting the mouthpiece as a percentage of the average flow velocity:

Gravity

Enter the gravitational acceleration in m/s²:

Delivery Method

Select a delivery method:

Oral
Nasal

Breathing Conditions

Enter the inhalation flow rate in ml/sec (default for typical infant tidal breathing):

Respiratory Tract Geometry

Select a calculation method:

Airway volume and surface area specified.
Average airway cross-section specified.

Enter the airway volume in ml (default averaged from a group of 3 to 18 month olds):

Enter the airway surface area in cm² (default averaged from a group of 3 to 18 month olds):

Enter the average airway cross section in cm² (default averaged from a group of 3 to 18 month olds):

Delivery Method

Select a delivery method:

Oral
Nasal

Breathing Conditions

Select a breathing condition:

tidal breathing
single inhalation

Enter the inhalation flow rate in ml/sec (default for typical child tidal breathing):

Respiratory Tract Geometry

Select a calculation method:

Airway volume and surface area specified.
Average airway cross-section specified.
Surface area and respiratory tract length specified.

Enter the airway volume in ml (default averaged from a group of 4 to 14 year olds):

Enter the airway surface area in cm² (default averaged from a group of 4 to 14 year olds):

Enter the average airway cross section in cm² (default averaged from a group of 4 to 14 year olds):

Enter the airway surface area in cm² (default averaged from a group of 4 to 14 year olds):

Enter the airway length in cm (default averaged from a group of 4 to 14 year olds):

Please select a calculation method

ARLA

the Aerosol Research Lab of Alberta

ARLA Respiratory Deposition Calculator