Flexible air curtain optimization for isolating tobacco odor in large-scale space

An air curtain machine is used in the entrances and exits of public places where air conditioners are used. The high-speed centrifugal or axial fan blows out the air, creating an airflow barrier to prevent air convection inside and outside, reducing air conditioning losses, and maintaining the indoor air quality by preventing dust, insects, and harmful gases from entering the room. Observation of the airflow behavior was conducted using CFD simulation, to explore whether it has a blocking effect, and the air curtain principle was applied to the air purification equipment. It is mainly composed of several rows of arrayed hole air outlets to form a multi-composite air wall. The airflow on the two sides, or below, can be blocked by the composite air wall and integrated into the main airflow, so that the air walls will not affect each other, and form a barrier effect to prevent infection. This research includes the measurement of impedance characteristics for three layers of filters made of different materials. These filters are used as the input characteristic parameters in the simulation analysis. Four scenarios are discussed, including the consultation room, hospital ward, quarantine station, and conference room. From the simulation results, it is known that when there are many people, the equipment can be set to high speed to increase the volume of air, forming a wind wall to effectively block airflow from the people in the chairs, reducing the risk of infection. Note that the rotation speed should not be too high. The air outlet equipment is susceptible to turbulent flow, which will make the airflow deviate from the expected direction and increase the possibility of mutual infection between adjacent people. Partitions can be used to block airflow to reduce the risk of infection.

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A Study on Flow Field Characteristics and Air Purifier with Barrier Effects

A desktop-type air curtain system (DACS) capable of being installed on a desk to protect healthcare workers from infectious diseases was developed. Pseudo-exhaled air containing aerosol particles emitted from a mannequin was blown toward the air curtain generated by the DACS. The aerosol blocking effect of the DACS was investigated using particle image velocimetry measurements. A scenario in which the arm of a patient in the blood collection room is placed on the gate of the DACS was also investigated. Air curtain flow was maintained inside the gate of the DACS. The aerosol particles approaching the DACS were observed to bend abruptly toward the suction port without passing through the gate, signifying that the aerosol particles were blocked by the air curtain flow. When the arm of the patient was placed on the gate of the DACS during blood collection, the airflow above the arm was disrupted. However, the aerosol blocking performance remained unaffected. We envisage that this system will be useful as an indirect barrier not only in the medical field but also in situations where sufficient physical distance cannot be maintained, such as at the reception counter.

Blocking effect of desktop air curtain on aerosols in exhaled breath

Use of recirculated air curtains inside ventilated rooms for the isolation of transient contaminant

The objective of this study is to evaluate a prototype local ventilation system (LVS) intended to reduce retail store workers' exposures to aerosols. The evaluation was carried out in a large aerosol test chamber where relatively uniform concentrations of polydisperse sodium chloride and glass-sphere particles were generated to test the system with nano- and micro-size particles. In addition, a cough simulator was constructed to mimic aerosols released by mouth breathing and coughing. Particle reduction efficiencies of the LVS were determined in four different experimental conditions using direct reading instruments and inhalable samplers. The particle reduction efficiency (%) depended on the position beneath the LVS, but the percentage was consistently high at the LVS center as follows: 1) > 98% particle reduction relative to background aerosols, 2) > 97% in the manikin's breathing zone relative to background aerosols, 3) > 97% during mouth breathing and coughing simulation, and 4) > 97% with a plexiglass barrier installation. Lower particle reduction (<70%) was observed when the LVS airflow was disturbed by background ventilation airflow. The lowest particle reduction (<20%) was observed when the manikin was closest to the simulator during coughing.

Yanling Zhang

Papers

Effectiveness of personalized air curtain in reducing exposure to airborne cough droplets