Enhancing Thermal Comfort and Air Quality in a Classroom Using Air Filtration Boxes

Abstract

Abstract This study presents a numerical simulation of a classroom’s indoor environment using Fluent Ansys to investigate the effectiveness of air filtration boxes in maintaining good indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort while reducing the spread of airborne particles. The simulation examines the distribution of aerosol particles released by occupants, the airflow patterns, and the concentration of pollutants in a typical classroom with a ventilation system consisting of supply and return air diffusers and air filtration boxes. The results demonstrate that the placement and location of the air filtration boxes significantly impact IAQ and thermal comfort, and the proposed template can guide researchers in optimizing ventilation strategies. More specifically, our results show that more filtration boxes are not always better or desirable. As few as two filtration boxes placed strategically in the classroom can be as effective as using more boxes. The study highlights the importance of maintaining good IAQ and thermal comfort in classrooms, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of air filtration boxes is a cost-effective and easy-to-install solution that can help filter out pollutants and reduce the spread of airborne virus particles. The findings of this study can contribute to creating safer and healthier indoor environments in classrooms and have implications for the health and productivity of occupants.