Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation

The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of airborne spread of exhaled droplet nuclei between two occupants in a space conditioned by a horizontal air distribution method, known as stratum ventilation. Experiments were conducted in a full-scale climate chamber. Two breathing...

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Main Authors: Huang Tao, Ai Zhengtao, Melikov Arsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2019-01-01
Series:E3S Web of Conferences
Online Access:https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2019/37/e3sconf_clima2019_02019.pdf
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author Huang Tao
Ai Zhengtao
Melikov Arsen
author_facet Huang Tao
Ai Zhengtao
Melikov Arsen
author_sort Huang Tao
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of airborne spread of exhaled droplet nuclei between two occupants in a space conditioned by a horizontal air distribution method, known as stratum ventilation. Experiments were conducted in a full-scale climate chamber. Two breathing thermal manikins were used to simulate a standing infected person and a standing exposed person, respectively. Tracer gas (N2O) was added into the air exhaled by the infected manikin. The tracer gas concentrations in the air inhaled by the exposed manikin and at the ventilation exhaust were continuously monitored. ACH was kept at 2 h-1. The variables in the experiments include the positioning of the manikins, the distance between manikins, and the room air temperature. The horizontal supply airflow to the breathing zone strongly intensifies the mixing between the flow of exhalation and the room air, which reduces the exposure risk of occupants at close proximity and flattens the risk-distance curves. The homogenization of concentration weakens considerably the importance of the relative positioning and location of the infected and exposed persons. All those characteristics of airborne transmission may not be maintained, however, if the horizontal supply jet does not interact directly with the occupants. The findings from this study are intended to contribute for better understanding of airborne transmission indoors.
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spelling doaj.art-6187cfa3f3b246eabd3759c0a37d0fc92022-12-21T23:01:36ZengEDP SciencesE3S Web of Conferences2267-12422019-01-011110201910.1051/e3sconf/201911102019e3sconf_clima2019_02019Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilationHuang TaoAi ZhengtaoMelikov ArsenThe objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of airborne spread of exhaled droplet nuclei between two occupants in a space conditioned by a horizontal air distribution method, known as stratum ventilation. Experiments were conducted in a full-scale climate chamber. Two breathing thermal manikins were used to simulate a standing infected person and a standing exposed person, respectively. Tracer gas (N2O) was added into the air exhaled by the infected manikin. The tracer gas concentrations in the air inhaled by the exposed manikin and at the ventilation exhaust were continuously monitored. ACH was kept at 2 h-1. The variables in the experiments include the positioning of the manikins, the distance between manikins, and the room air temperature. The horizontal supply airflow to the breathing zone strongly intensifies the mixing between the flow of exhalation and the room air, which reduces the exposure risk of occupants at close proximity and flattens the risk-distance curves. The homogenization of concentration weakens considerably the importance of the relative positioning and location of the infected and exposed persons. All those characteristics of airborne transmission may not be maintained, however, if the horizontal supply jet does not interact directly with the occupants. The findings from this study are intended to contribute for better understanding of airborne transmission indoors.https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2019/37/e3sconf_clima2019_02019.pdf
spellingShingle Huang Tao
Ai Zhengtao
Melikov Arsen
Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation
E3S Web of Conferences
title Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation
title_full Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation
title_fullStr Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation
title_short Characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation
title_sort characteristics of airborne transmission under stratum ventilation
url https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2019/37/e3sconf_clima2019_02019.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT huangtao characteristicsofairbornetransmissionunderstratumventilation
AT aizhengtao characteristicsofairbornetransmissionunderstratumventilation
AT melikovarsen characteristicsofairbornetransmissionunderstratumventilation