Numerical Analysis on the Applicability of Air Purifier for Removal of Indoor Viral Contaminants
Numerical Analysis on the Applicability of Air Purifier for Removal of Indoor Viral Contaminants
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发表时间：
2022
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通讯作者：
Yunchen Bu;PhD Ryozo Ooka;PhD Hideki Kikumoto;PhD Wonseok Oh
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作者：
Yunchen Bu;PhD Ryozo Ooka;PhD Hideki Kikumoto;PhD Wonseok Oh
最近的许多研究报道，新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)可以通过空气传播途径传播。虽然一般采用通风方式通过空气传播来控制病毒感染，但通风率高会增加空调的能耗。在这种情况下，便携式高效空气净化器可能是一种有效的辅助措施。然而，过去关于它在降低室内感染风险方面的有效性的讨论有限。因此，本研究旨在通过计算流体动力学(CFD)模拟对空气净化器的适用性进行系统的研究。考虑了空气换气率均为0.51/h的两种情况。在方案a中，采用了一个大小为4米×5米×2.5米(13.1英尺×16.4英尺×8.2英尺)的普通房间。将病毒污染物设置为均匀排放。在方案b中，采用了一间面积为2.7米×3.6米×2.5米(8.9英尺×11.8英尺×8.2英尺)的6垫卧室。假设病毒污染物是由躺着的感染者以每小时27量子的速度持续产生的。净化器以90m(3)/h(3178 ft(3)/h)的流速运行。结果表明，普通家用高效过滤器空气净化器对室内病毒污染物和感染风险具有较高的去除效果。在情景b中，要达到0.2的感染概率，易感人群在不使用净化器的情况下只需大约10分钟的暴露时间，但使用净化器的情况下，接触时间长达50分钟。更大的流量有助于更高的净化效率和更彻底的室内空气混合。此外，净化器进出口相对位置、送排风方式、病毒源和室内障碍物等因素对净化效果、污染物浓度分布和感染概率均有影响。
Many recent studies have been reported that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can spread through an airborne transmission route. Although ventilation is generally adopted to control viral infection through airborne transmission, a high ventilation rate will increase the energy consumption of air conditioning. Under such condition, the portable HEPA-filter air purifier might be an effective supplementary measure. However, past discussions on its efficacy in reducing indoor infection risks are limited. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic investigation on the applicability of air purifier using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. Two scenarios both with an air change rate of 0.5 1/h were considered. In Scenario a, a general room with size being 4 m x 5 m x 2.5 m (13.1 ft x 16.4 ft x 8.2 ft) was adopted. Viral contaminants were set as homogeneous emission. In Scenario b, a 6-mat bedroom with size being 2.7 m x 3.6 m x 2.5 m (8.9 ft x 11.8 ft x 8.2 ft) was adopted. Viral contaminants were assumed to be generated from a lying infector at 27 quanta/h constantly. The purifier was operated at a flow rate of 90 m(3)/h (3178 ft(3)/h). The results showed that a general household HEPA-filter air purifier has high effectiveness in removing indoor viral contaminants and infection risks. In Scenario b, to reach an infection probability of 0.2, it took a susceptible person only about 10 min of exposure time without purifier, but up to 50 min with a purifier. A larger flow rate can contribute to higher purifying effectiveness and a more thorough air mixing indoor. Moreover, the purifying effectiveness, distribution of contaminant concentration and infection probability were found to be influenced by the relative positions of the purifier inlet and outlet, ventilation air supply and exhaust, virus generation source, and indoor obstacles.