Abstract
Cross-contamination between occupants in an indoor space may occur due to transfer of infectious aerosols. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides detailed insight into particle transport in indoor spaces. However, such simulations are site-specific. This study couples CFD with statistical moments and establishes a framework that transitions site-specific results to generating guidelines for designing “healthy” indoor spaces. Eighteen cases were simulated, and three parameters were assessed: inlet/outlet location, air changes per hour, and the presence/absence of desks. Aerosol release due to a simulated “sneeze” in a two-dimensional ventilated space was applied as a test case. Mean, standard deviation, and skewness of the velocity profiles and particle locations gave an overall picture of the spread and movement of the air flow in the domain. A parameter or configuration did not dominate the values, confirming the significance of considering the combined influence of multiple parameters for determining localized air-flow characteristics. Particle clustering occurred more when the inlet was positioned above the outlet. The particle dispersion pattern could be classified into two time zones: “near time”, <60 s, and “far time”, >120 s. Based on dosage, the 18 cases were classified into three groups ranging from worst case scenario to best case scenario.
Highlights
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used as a powerful simulation platform for air flow, thermal distribution, and contaminant and particle transport in the indoor environment for the past 20 years and more
Wp, the design plan was executed as hour (ACH), and presence and absence of desks, the inlet and outlet were located at opposite walls with the inlet positioned higher than the outlet, follows:(1) when the inlet and outlet of the domain were located at the top, the ratio hI/ho = 1; when the inlet and outlet were located at opposite walls with the inlet positioned higher than the outlet, follows:(1)
Air flow pattern and on the Analysis approach: Spatial and temporal data on velocity and particles were extracted from all cases
Summary
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used as a powerful simulation platform for air flow, thermal distribution, and contaminant and particle transport in the indoor environment for the past 20 years and more. The simulations gave detailed insight into the influence of building parameters and indoor air quality (IAQ). The knowledge gained from CFD simulations is yet to benefit or influence decision-making or guideline development regarding exposure and infections for occupants of an interior space. The literature published on CFD and indoor air, from 1994 to 2018, dropped from ~1400 to less than 150 and 20 when refined by the words “exposure” and “infection”. Spenglar and Chen [7] in 2000 in the Annual Review of Energy and Environment showcased the potential of CFD to become the design tool for the future, especially to meet the requirement of healthy indoor environments. IAQ must ensure the “health” and “well-being” of the residents as declared by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000 [8]
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