Ventilation strategies and air quality management in passenger aircraft cabins: A review of experimental approaches and numerical simulations

Abstract

The cabins of passenger aircraft experience one of the most complex indoor environments among all other means of mass public transportation. Given the large number of passengers that use these aircraft each day worldwide, suitable ventilation strategies for air quality management must be employed to control the spread of airborne contaminants while ensuring passenger comfort. In the current review article, the different ventilation strategies (existing and proposed) used aboard commercial aircraft, and the common airborne contaminants encountered in cabins are discussed through a critical survey of key studies performed mainly in the last two decades. The research methodologies adopted by these studies, which vary from experimental measurements to numerical simulations, are also analyzed in a systematic manner. Based on the available literature, best practices for aircraft ventilation and air quality research are identified for each research methodology. Current research gaps are also discussed and future research topics are suggested for various research methodologies.