Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughing
Abstract In this work, we focus on the dispersion of COVID-19-laden droplets using the transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation of the coughing process of virus carriers in an enclosure room, aiming to set up the basic prototype of popular precautionary strategies, i.e.,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26837-0 |
| _version_ | 1828083377896423424 |
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| author | Zhenguo Nie Yunzhi Chen Meifeng Deng |
| author_facet | Zhenguo Nie Yunzhi Chen Meifeng Deng |
| author_sort | Zhenguo Nie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this work, we focus on the dispersion of COVID-19-laden droplets using the transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation of the coughing process of virus carriers in an enclosure room, aiming to set up the basic prototype of popular precautionary strategies, i.e., face mask, upward ventilation, protective screen, or any combination thereof, against the indoor transmission of COVID-19 and other highly contagious diseases in the future. A multi-component Eulerian–Lagrangian CFD particle-tracking model with user-defined functions is utilized under 8 cases to examine the characteristics of droplet dispersion concerning the mass and heat transfer, droplet evaporation, air buoyancy, air convection, air-droplet friction, and turbulent dispersion. The result shows that implementing upward ventilation is the most effective measure, followed by wearing face masks. Protective screens can restrict the movement of the coughing droplets (though it will not reduce viral load). However, applying protective screens arranged with lean can be counterproductive in preventing the spread of COVID-19 when it is inappropriately placed with ventilation. The soundest solution is the combination of the face mask and upward ventilation, which can reduce the indoor infectious concentration by nearly 99.95% compared with the baseline without any precautionary strategies. With the resumption of school and work in the post-epidemic era, this study would provide intelligence-enhancing advice for the masses and rule-makers to curb the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:08:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd6a293c93924758b4fe12eb75928b0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:08:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd6a293c93924758b4fe12eb75928b0e2023-01-01T12:18:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-12-0112112210.1038/s41598-022-26837-0Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughingZhenguo Nie0Yunzhi Chen1Meifeng Deng2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityState Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract In this work, we focus on the dispersion of COVID-19-laden droplets using the transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation of the coughing process of virus carriers in an enclosure room, aiming to set up the basic prototype of popular precautionary strategies, i.e., face mask, upward ventilation, protective screen, or any combination thereof, against the indoor transmission of COVID-19 and other highly contagious diseases in the future. A multi-component Eulerian–Lagrangian CFD particle-tracking model with user-defined functions is utilized under 8 cases to examine the characteristics of droplet dispersion concerning the mass and heat transfer, droplet evaporation, air buoyancy, air convection, air-droplet friction, and turbulent dispersion. The result shows that implementing upward ventilation is the most effective measure, followed by wearing face masks. Protective screens can restrict the movement of the coughing droplets (though it will not reduce viral load). However, applying protective screens arranged with lean can be counterproductive in preventing the spread of COVID-19 when it is inappropriately placed with ventilation. The soundest solution is the combination of the face mask and upward ventilation, which can reduce the indoor infectious concentration by nearly 99.95% compared with the baseline without any precautionary strategies. With the resumption of school and work in the post-epidemic era, this study would provide intelligence-enhancing advice for the masses and rule-makers to curb the pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26837-0 |
| spellingShingle | Zhenguo Nie Yunzhi Chen Meifeng Deng Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughing Scientific Reports |
| title | Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughing |
| title_full | Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughing |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughing |
| title_short | Quantitative evaluation of precautions against the COVID-19 indoor transmission through human coughing |
| title_sort | quantitative evaluation of precautions against the covid 19 indoor transmission through human coughing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26837-0 |
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