Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact Lavatory
The lavatory is a fertile area for the transmission of infectious disease through bioaerosols between its users. In this study, we built a generic compact lavatory model with a vacuum toilet, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to evaluate the effects of ventilation and user behaviors on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/11/11/526 |
| _version_ | 1827677076326449152 |
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| author | Jingyuan Wan Jianjian Wei Yingtien Lin Tengfei (Tim) Zhang |
| author_facet | Jingyuan Wan Jianjian Wei Yingtien Lin Tengfei (Tim) Zhang |
| author_sort | Jingyuan Wan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The lavatory is a fertile area for the transmission of infectious disease through bioaerosols between its users. In this study, we built a generic compact lavatory model with a vacuum toilet, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to evaluate the effects of ventilation and user behaviors on the airflow patterns, and the resulting fates of bioaerosols. Fecal aerosols are readily released into the lavatory during toilet flush. Their concentration rapidly decays in the first 20 s after flushing by deposition or dilution. It takes about 315 s to 348 s for fine bioaerosols (<10 µm in diameter) to decrease to 5% of the initial concentration, while it takes 50 and 100 µm bioaerosols approximately 11 and <1 s, respectively, to completely deposit. The most contaminated surfaces by aerosol deposition include the toilet seat, the bowl, and the nearby walls. The 10 µm aerosols tend to deposit on horizontal surfaces, while the 50 and 100 µm bioaerosols almost always deposit on the bowl. In the presence of a standing thermal manikin, the rising thermal plume alters the flow field and more bioaerosols are carried out from the toilet; a large fraction of aerosols deposit on the manikin’s legs. The respiratory droplets generated by a seated coughing manikin tend to deposit on the floor, legs, and feet of the manikin. In summary, this study reveals the bioaerosol dilution time and the easily contaminated surfaces in a compact lavatory, which will aid the development of control measures against infectious diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:39:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29b36363c9fd47c785f097ef0a3d3ed6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:39:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-29b36363c9fd47c785f097ef0a3d3ed62023-11-22T22:39:47ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092021-11-01111152610.3390/buildings11110526Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact LavatoryJingyuan Wan0Jianjian Wei1Yingtien Lin2Tengfei (Tim) Zhang3Ocean College, Zhoushan Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, ChinaKey Laboratory of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, ChinaOcean College, Zhoushan Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaThe lavatory is a fertile area for the transmission of infectious disease through bioaerosols between its users. In this study, we built a generic compact lavatory model with a vacuum toilet, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to evaluate the effects of ventilation and user behaviors on the airflow patterns, and the resulting fates of bioaerosols. Fecal aerosols are readily released into the lavatory during toilet flush. Their concentration rapidly decays in the first 20 s after flushing by deposition or dilution. It takes about 315 s to 348 s for fine bioaerosols (<10 µm in diameter) to decrease to 5% of the initial concentration, while it takes 50 and 100 µm bioaerosols approximately 11 and <1 s, respectively, to completely deposit. The most contaminated surfaces by aerosol deposition include the toilet seat, the bowl, and the nearby walls. The 10 µm aerosols tend to deposit on horizontal surfaces, while the 50 and 100 µm bioaerosols almost always deposit on the bowl. In the presence of a standing thermal manikin, the rising thermal plume alters the flow field and more bioaerosols are carried out from the toilet; a large fraction of aerosols deposit on the manikin’s legs. The respiratory droplets generated by a seated coughing manikin tend to deposit on the floor, legs, and feet of the manikin. In summary, this study reveals the bioaerosol dilution time and the easily contaminated surfaces in a compact lavatory, which will aid the development of control measures against infectious diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/11/11/526compact lavatoryfecal aerosolrespiratory dropletventilationthermal plumeparticle deposition |
| spellingShingle | Jingyuan Wan Jianjian Wei Yingtien Lin Tengfei (Tim) Zhang Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact Lavatory Buildings compact lavatory fecal aerosol respiratory droplet ventilation thermal plume particle deposition |
| title | Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact Lavatory |
| title_full | Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact Lavatory |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact Lavatory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact Lavatory |
| title_short | Numerical Investigation of Bioaerosol Transport in a Compact Lavatory |
| title_sort | numerical investigation of bioaerosol transport in a compact lavatory |
| topic | compact lavatory fecal aerosol respiratory droplet ventilation thermal plume particle deposition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/11/11/526 |
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