Abstract
This study investigated, using validated computational fluid dynamics techniques, the actual performance of portable air purifiers for reducing the infection risks of airborne respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, by properly installing air purifiers in complicated large public spaces of primary concern, such as restaurants and ballrooms. The research results reveal that portable air purifiers with HEPA filtration provide an effective solution to help mitigate virus-carrying particles/droplets in large spaces where the central air conditioning system with HEPA filtration may not provide adequate dilution and/or effective ventilation. Deploying portable air purifier changes the local flow directions, and thus, reduces the cross-table airflows that may enhance the possibility of cross-infection. A field experiment was further conducted in a restaurant and a ballroom to verify the on-site performance. This study indicates that each space is unique in furniture, occupant and system layouts and capacities, and thus, requires individualized investigation of appropriate purifier number, capacities, and locations. Flexible solutions such as portable air purifiers are important and low-cost supplements to more elaborate solutions installed in central air systems.
Highlights
In less than two years since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged, the pandemic has changed how we live, work, study, and interact as social distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual world, both personally and professionally
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S has continued to update guidance on airborne transmission, with the most recent update occurring on December 8th, 2020, which stated “Portable HEPA filtration units that combine a HEPA filter with a powered fan system are a great option for auxiliary air cleaning.”
This study explores the placement of two types of air purifiers (i.e., floor-standing air purifier (FAP) and table air purifier (TAP)) in two typical large public places via both computational simulation and a field experiment to evaluate the performance of purifiers in mitigating the dispersion of particles/droplets released from the human mouth while breathing, talking or coughing
Summary
In less than two years since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged, the pandemic has changed how we live, work, study, and interact as social distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual world, both personally and professionally. This became a more severe concern when scientific data supported the possibility that the COVID-19 virus may be transmitted by aerosols (so-called airborne transmission) [1]. The CDC concluded that “Adding the portable HEPA unit increased the effective ventilation rate and improved room air mixing This resulted in over a 75% reduction in time for the room to be cleared of potentially-infectious airborne particles.” [4]. This study explores the placement of two types of air purifiers (i.e., floor-standing air purifier (FAP) and table air purifier (TAP)) in two typical large public places (i.e., restaurant and ballroom) via both computational simulation and a field experiment to evaluate the performance of purifiers in mitigating the dispersion of particles/droplets released from the human mouth while breathing, talking or coughing
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