Displacement ventilation to avoid COVID-19 transmission through offices

Abstract

Respiratory infections such as COVID-19 can be spread by respiratory droplets with a diameter larger than 5–10 or by droplet nuclei with a diameter smaller than 5 . Besides wearing masks, fresh air should be supplied frequently in closed rooms to avoid infections. Constructing and operating new isolation rooms require time, money, and maintenance cost, which are scarce in the current pandemic and in many communities. Displacement ventilation may be a feasible and secure option in temporary hospitals and other buildings to control the disease. This paper investigates using CFD simulations how displacement ventilation systems can deliver high air quality, and thermal comfort and minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection in enclosed spaces.

Design and Evaluation of Face Mask Filtration: Mechanisms, Formulas, and Fluid Dynamics Simulations

“…In contrast, the k-ω model captures the effects of turbulent flow conditions and is used for flows with low Reynolds numbers, performing better under adverse pressure gradients. The advantage of using the k-ω model over the k-ε model lies in its greater accuracy in estimating the rate at which flows spread [43,44], although it requires longer computational time to produce a solution. In summary, the k-ε model is more suitable for simulations in indoor environments with low ventilation, while the k-ω model is more reliable for simulating turbulent flow conditions, such as coughing or sneezing [45] in both ventilated indoor and outdoor environments [46].…”