Displacement ventilation to avoid COVID-19 transmission through offices

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Building Science
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Respiratory infections like COVID-19 spread via droplets and nuclei.
• Masks and frequent ventilation are crucial for infection control.
• Building new isolation rooms is costly and time-consuming, especially during pandemics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of displacement ventilation systems in controlling airborne disease transmission.
• To assess the potential of displacement ventilation for maintaining high air quality and thermal comfort.
• To evaluate displacement ventilation as a feasible solution for infection control in enclosed spaces, including temporary hospitals.

Main Methods:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed.
• The study modeled airflow patterns and contaminant transport within enclosed spaces.
• Performance was evaluated based on air quality, thermal comfort, and infection risk reduction.

Main Results:

• Displacement ventilation systems demonstrated the ability to deliver superior air quality compared to traditional systems.
• Effective control of airborne contaminants was observed, reducing infection transmission risk.
• Positive thermal comfort levels were maintained throughout the simulated environments.

Conclusions:

• Displacement ventilation is a viable and efficient strategy for enhancing indoor air quality and mitigating the spread of respiratory infections.
• This system offers a practical and cost-effective approach to infection control in various settings, particularly temporary healthcare facilities.
• The findings support the implementation of displacement ventilation to improve public health and safety in enclosed environments.