computational fluid dynamics (cfd) modelling of ventilation air mixed with aerosol sanitizer flow: case study of a health care facility

Indoor viruses are transmitted by inhalation with droplet nuclei produced by an infected person during coughing, sneezing, and speaking. in addition, the risk of airborne droplet nuclei in indoor environments, especially in health care facilities is significant. in this study, the feasibility of eliminating the indoor viruses with mixing the ventilation system air with an aerosol sanitizer flow in a surgical room (sr) was investigated using cfd analysis. indoor thermal comfort and energy utilization coefficient (euc) were also investigated. four cases with different inlet configurations and related air distribution patterns were analyzed. the simulation results showed that the sr with an inlet system in the side wall has a significant ability to mix aerosol sanitizer flow with the inlet air (case 4). it was shown that in case 4 design, the aerosol sanitizer could reach any point in the room and has the potential to eliminate the indoor viruses, thus would protect the patient and surgical staff from the risk of infection. it was also revealed that case 4 is capable of establishing acceptable indoor thermal comfort conditions and also highest euc value belongs to case 4.