indoor air quality

This paper deals with a 3D numerical study to assess the effectiveness of a displacement ventilation system to remove particulate pollutants, generated in the occupied zone of a room.

This work concerns turbulence levels in a practical operating theatre of a 1200 beds Egyptian modern teaching hospital. The turbulence characteristics were represented by a modified k - epsilon model. Then a series of experimental investigations were preformed in the operating room to investigate the flow and temperature patterns and to assess the validity of the numerical model to be used.

This paper deals with experiments made to test the performance of a personalised ventilation system (PVS). 30 human subjects have participated to the experiment in an office with 6 work stations equipped with a PVS supplying outdoor air.The perception of air quality and the thermal sensation for each participant has been reportedduring their exposure to combinations of 3 levels of personalized air temperature, 4 airflow rates and 3 levels of room air temperature.

30 human subjects participated in a 3 h 45 min. experiment, that took place in an office with mixing ventilation and personalised ventilation systems (PVS).Each person could choose the position of the personal air terminal device, the direction of the air supplied and the flow rate (up to 15 l/s.person).The subjects were exposed to 4 following experimental conditions : PVS supplying outdoor air at 20C, then 23C ; PVS supplying re-circulated room air ; mixing ventilation, without PVS.Results allow to know how the PVS were used by participants (choice of position and flow rate).

At first, this paper deals with the history of indoor environment and ventilation , with the evidence that a good IAQ is essential for public health. An inadequate ventilation plays a major role on the global burden of allergies, airways infections. The more complex the HVAC system is, the more liable it is to fail (if improper maintenance) sothe non-industrial indoor environment is the most important environment from a human health perspective.

This paper deals with the development of 2 approaches for the modelling of the transport of gaseous pollutant with CFD code Fluent. The pollutant is either considered as a scalar and modelled with a transport equation, or it is described through species transported modelling. The 2 methods are presented and the results compared to those obtained from an experiment made in a test cell with tracer gas SF6.

Advances in infection control practices include improved operating room environment (airflow velocity, turbulence level, temperature, and relative humidity). Operating theatres are complex spaces. CFD modelling is a powerful tool to enhance the knowledge of the air characteristics. The 3DHVAC program was used to predict the performance of HVAC system design in operating theatres of a 1200-beds Egyptian modern teaching hospital.

This paper deals with the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) method used for the analysis of the micro-climate surrounding the human body. The airflow characteristics of inhalation and exhalation are analysed under both steady and unsteady breathing conditions. The various examples given in this report make clear that CFD is a very effective and powerful tool for analysis and design of healthy indoor environments.

The study in 5 European countries has shown that indoor air quality was noted depending on the country first and on the perceived thermal comfort. Moderate humidity is perceived better while temperature in comfort zone less influence indoor air quality. When it is too hot or too humid, indoor air quality is badly perceived. CO2 levels have few relationship with perceived indoor air quality.

This paper discusses architectural design of buildings for a good indoor air quality, material selection, building design process, relationships between indoor and outdoor air quality. It shows that the roles of architects and engineers are complementary to obtain a good indoor air quality.