Control of fine particulate pollution inside entrance booths

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the fine particulate pollution and propose an effective control strategy to mitigate the fine particulate pollution inside entrance booths. The air exchange rate and indoor/outdoor ratios of fine particles (particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm: PM2.5) of an entrance booth mockup were measured, the required clean air delivery rate of an air purifier to clean the indoor environment of the entrance booth was estimated, and an operating strategy was proposed. Furthermore, the overall cost of controlling fine particulate pollution in the entrance booth was estimated. We found that the airtightness of the entrance booth was poor. The air exchange rate in the window-closed status was 3.60 ± 0.72 h−1, which led to a measured indoor/outdoor ratio of 0.81 ± 0.01 for fine particles. When the window was open, the air exchange rate was 21.00 ± 2.76 h−1, resulted in an indoor/outdoor ratio of PM2.5 of 1. An air purifier with the clean air delivery rate of 84 m3/h was accordingly selected to remove the indoor PM2.5 for the studied entrance booth. We built a model to simulate yearly operation under the proposed on/off control strategy, and the result showed that annual mean PM2.5 concentration was cut off by 47% with a yearly investment of 52.27 RMB. Such a control strategy for indoor fine particulate pollution reduction is expected to be applied for entrance booths in atmospheric environments with high PM2.5 concentrations, such as in building areas or beside highways.