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Liquid-curtain-based strategy to restrain plume during flushing.
Su-Chen Wu, Meng-Yue Guo1, Ji-Xiang Wang2
1Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China.
Physics of Fluids (Woodbury, N.Y. : 1994)
|December 28, 2020
Summary
A redesigned toilet uses a liquid curtain to prevent flushing-induced plumes, significantly reducing airborne virus particles and improving their removal into the sewage system without altering user habits.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
- Public Health
Background:
- Flushing toilets can generate plumes containing virus particles, posing a potential public health risk.
- Existing methods to mitigate plume spread often require changes in user behavior or complex ventilation systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel toilet design that prevents the aerosolization of virus particles during flushing.
- To assess the efficacy of a liquid-curtain-based strategy in controlling flushing-induced plumes.
Main Methods:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to model the fluid dynamics within a redesigned toilet.
- The study analyzed the impact of a liquid curtain on the trajectory and dispersion of virus particles.
Main Results:
- The liquid curtain effectively suppressed the upward movement of virus particles, with only 1% being lifted out of the toilet.
- The modified flow distribution facilitated efficient delivery of virus particles into the sewage system.
Conclusions:
- A liquid-curtain-based toilet redesign offers a practical solution to minimize virus particle aerosolization during flushing.
- This innovative approach enhances restroom hygiene and public health safety without necessitating changes in daily user habits.
