Computational fluid dynamics-based disease transmission modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Intensive Care Unit

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Aerosol Science

Background:

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) poses a severe global health threat, characterized by respiratory transmission.
• Hospital environments, particularly Intensive Care Units (ICUs), are critical settings for studying disease spread.
• Understanding aerosol particle transmission is vital for infection control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 aerosol particles within an ICU setting.
• To evaluate the combined and individual impacts of air conditioning (AC) and ceiling fans on particle flow.
• To explore the potential of aerosol particle flow for room sanitization applications.

Main Methods:

• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to simulate airflow and particle dispersion.
• Analysis of aerosol particle movement under various ventilation scenarios (AC only, fan only, combined).
• Visualization of particle trajectories and concentration zones within the ICU environment.

Main Results:

• Air conditioning and ceiling fans significantly influence the dispersion patterns of COVID-19 aerosol particles.
• Specific airflow configurations were identified that either enhance or mitigate particle spread.
• The study demonstrated that controlled aerosol particle flow has potential applications in disinfecting ICU rooms.

Conclusions:

• HVAC systems and fans play a crucial role in managing airborne pathogen transmission in healthcare settings.
• Optimizing airflow in ICUs can be a key strategy to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks.
• Aerosol particle flow dynamics offer a novel approach for developing effective room sanitization technologies.