Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During Breathing

The study presents the results of a numerical analysis of the effectiveness of the use of personal protective equipment of various designs on the spread of pollutants marked with CO2 emitted during human breathing. In the study of 3D geometry the upper part of the human torso and head was developed....

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Main Authors: Bulińska Anna, Kocik Stanisław, Buliński Zbigniew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2023-03-01
Series:Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2023-0009
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author Bulińska Anna
Kocik Stanisław
Buliński Zbigniew
author_facet Bulińska Anna
Kocik Stanisław
Buliński Zbigniew
author_sort Bulińska Anna
collection DOAJ
description The study presents the results of a numerical analysis of the effectiveness of the use of personal protective equipment of various designs on the spread of pollutants marked with CO2 emitted during human breathing. In the study of 3D geometry the upper part of the human torso and head was developed. The simulated person was supplied with different personal protective equipment covering the human face (PPE). Two types of face shields worn at a different distance from the face and one fabric face mask was analysed. The reference geometry with no personal protective equipment was also analysed. Transient calculation with full breathing model including breath-in and breath-out and species transport were simulated. The results showed that different PPE generates different airflow patterns in the vicinity of the human face. The most efficient in reducing infection risk is by wearing a face mask or face shields at a small distance from the face, as they most effectively reduce CO2 concentration in the surrounding air. However, they also increase the re-inhalation risk of high CO2 concentration which affects human well-being.
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spelling doaj.art-f8ef0f1a12284f5f9fe2b7e60eec0c812023-05-06T15:50:45ZengSciendoArchitecture, Civil Engineering, Environment2720-69472023-03-0116111313010.2478/acee-2023-0009Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During BreathingBulińska Anna0Kocik Stanisław1Buliński Zbigniew2aPhD; Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 20, 44-100Gliwice, PolandaMSc, Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 20, 44-100Gliwice, PolandcDSc; Department of Thermal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22, 44-100Gliwice, PolandThe study presents the results of a numerical analysis of the effectiveness of the use of personal protective equipment of various designs on the spread of pollutants marked with CO2 emitted during human breathing. In the study of 3D geometry the upper part of the human torso and head was developed. The simulated person was supplied with different personal protective equipment covering the human face (PPE). Two types of face shields worn at a different distance from the face and one fabric face mask was analysed. The reference geometry with no personal protective equipment was also analysed. Transient calculation with full breathing model including breath-in and breath-out and species transport were simulated. The results showed that different PPE generates different airflow patterns in the vicinity of the human face. The most efficient in reducing infection risk is by wearing a face mask or face shields at a small distance from the face, as they most effectively reduce CO2 concentration in the surrounding air. However, they also increase the re-inhalation risk of high CO2 concentration which affects human well-being.https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2023-0009cfdhuman breathingsars-cov-2 pandemicinfection riskpersonal protective equipment
spellingShingle Bulińska Anna
Kocik Stanisław
Buliński Zbigniew
Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During Breathing
Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment
cfd
human breathing
sars-cov-2 pandemic
infection risk
personal protective equipment
title Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During Breathing
title_full Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During Breathing
title_fullStr Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During Breathing
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During Breathing
title_short Numerical Analysis of the Impact of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on the Face in the Process of Pollutants Spreading Emitted During Breathing
title_sort numerical analysis of the impact of the use of personal protective equipment on the face in the process of pollutants spreading emitted during breathing
topic cfd
human breathing
sars-cov-2 pandemic
infection risk
personal protective equipment
url https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2023-0009
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AT kocikstanisław numericalanalysisoftheimpactoftheuseofpersonalprotectiveequipmentonthefaceintheprocessofpollutantsspreadingemittedduringbreathing
AT bulinskizbigniew numericalanalysisoftheimpactoftheuseofpersonalprotectiveequipmentonthefaceintheprocessofpollutantsspreadingemittedduringbreathing