Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway Carriage
Droplet transmission is a critical pathway for the spread of respiratory infectious viruses. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms of droplet dispersion within subway carriages is crucial to curb the widespread transmission of the virus. This study utilizes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/590 |
| _version_ | 1797340141827653632 |
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| author | Fan Wu Chao Yu Renze Xu Hengkui Li |
| author_facet | Fan Wu Chao Yu Renze Xu Hengkui Li |
| author_sort | Fan Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Droplet transmission is a critical pathway for the spread of respiratory infectious viruses. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms of droplet dispersion within subway carriages is crucial to curb the widespread transmission of the virus. This study utilizes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to establish a full-scale numerical model of a subway carriage. The numerical model and droplet evaporation behavior are validated using experimental data and literature. The impact of primary parameters such as the initial droplet size, release velocity, release position, relative humidity, and passenger density on the droplet diffusion and probability of infection for passengers is investigated. The results indicate that large droplets (100 μm) are deposited on the carriage floor before complete evaporation, while tiny droplets (10 μm) evaporate rapidly, leading to a longer suspension time in the air within the carriage. The infected passenger’s position influences the ventilation system’s efficiency in removing the droplets; removal takes significantly longer when the infected passenger is closer to the carriage end. Additionally, a low relative humidity (35%) and high passenger density (4 p/m<sup>2</sup>) result in more droplets being trapped by passengers’ bodies. The infection probability for passengers depends on the initial size and quantity of droplets trapped by their bodies. Maintaining higher relative humidity levels and limiting the passenger numbers within the subway carriage can reduce the number of droplets captured by passengers’ bodies, thus helping to reduce the infection probability of fellow passengers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:58:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d58746f024f47f393b633d280809939 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:58:42Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d58746f024f47f393b633d2808099392024-01-29T13:42:57ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-01-0114259010.3390/app14020590Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway CarriageFan Wu0Chao Yu1Renze Xu2Hengkui Li3School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, ChinaSchool of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, ChinaSchool of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, ChinaSchool of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, ChinaDroplet transmission is a critical pathway for the spread of respiratory infectious viruses. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms of droplet dispersion within subway carriages is crucial to curb the widespread transmission of the virus. This study utilizes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to establish a full-scale numerical model of a subway carriage. The numerical model and droplet evaporation behavior are validated using experimental data and literature. The impact of primary parameters such as the initial droplet size, release velocity, release position, relative humidity, and passenger density on the droplet diffusion and probability of infection for passengers is investigated. The results indicate that large droplets (100 μm) are deposited on the carriage floor before complete evaporation, while tiny droplets (10 μm) evaporate rapidly, leading to a longer suspension time in the air within the carriage. The infected passenger’s position influences the ventilation system’s efficiency in removing the droplets; removal takes significantly longer when the infected passenger is closer to the carriage end. Additionally, a low relative humidity (35%) and high passenger density (4 p/m<sup>2</sup>) result in more droplets being trapped by passengers’ bodies. The infection probability for passengers depends on the initial size and quantity of droplets trapped by their bodies. Maintaining higher relative humidity levels and limiting the passenger numbers within the subway carriage can reduce the number of droplets captured by passengers’ bodies, thus helping to reduce the infection probability of fellow passengers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/590subway carriageventilation duct systemairborne transmissioncomputational fluid dynamicsinfection risk assessmentdroplet dispersion |
| spellingShingle | Fan Wu Chao Yu Renze Xu Hengkui Li Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway Carriage Applied Sciences subway carriage ventilation duct system airborne transmission computational fluid dynamics infection risk assessment droplet dispersion |
| title | Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway Carriage |
| title_full | Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway Carriage |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway Carriage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway Carriage |
| title_short | Numerical Simulation of Droplet Dispersion and Passenger Infection Risk Assessment in a Subway Carriage |
| title_sort | numerical simulation of droplet dispersion and passenger infection risk assessment in a subway carriage |
| topic | subway carriage ventilation duct system airborne transmission computational fluid dynamics infection risk assessment droplet dispersion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/590 |
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