Selecting the Safe Area and Finding Proper Ventilation in the Spread of the COVID-19 Virus

Coughing and sneezing are the main ways of spreading coronavirus-2019 (SARS-CoV-2). People sometimes need to work together at close distances. This study presents the results of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the dispersion and transport of respiratory droplets emitted by an infected person who coughs in an indoor space with an air ventilation system. The resulting information is expected to help in risk assessment and development of mitigation measures to prevent the infection spread. The turbulent flow of air in the indoor space is simulated using the k-epsilon model. The particle equation of motion included the drag, the Saffman lift, the Brownian force and gravity/buoyancy forces. The innovation of this study includes A: Using the Eulerian-Lagrangian CFD model for the simulation of the cough droplet dispersion. B: Assessing the infection risk by the Wells-Riley equation. C: A safer design for the ventilation system (changing the ventilation supplies and exhausts in the indoor space and choosing the right location for air ventilation). The droplet distribution in the indoor space is strongly influenced by the air ventilation layout. The air-curtain flow pattern significantly reduces the dispersion and spreading of virus-infected cough droplets. When the ventilation air flow occurs along the room length, it takes about 115 s for the cough droplets to leave the space. However, when the ventilation air flow is across the width of the indoor space and there are air curtain-type air flow patterns in the room, it takes about 75 s for the cough droplets to leave the space.

Automated summary

This study used computational fluid dynamics to simulate the dispersion and transport of respiratory droplets emitted by an infected person coughing in an indoor space with an air ventilation system. The results can help in assessing the risk of infection and developing mitigation measures. The study innovatively used an Eulerian-Lagrangian CFD model for cough droplet dispersion simulation, assessed infection risk using the Wells-Riley equation, and proposed a safer ventilation system design.