Numerical Simulations For Particle Penetration Through Buildings Cracks

This study is in the frame of indoor air quality from the particle pollution point of view and its goal is to determine the particle penetration factor for different common types of leaks which deteriorate the filter capacity of building envelope. The most important parameters for the particle penetration are: the crack geometry, the pressure difference and the particles diameter. CFD numerical simulations have been done for rectangular cracks with 0.2mm and 1mm height for 40mm and 94mm length, also changing the pressure difference between 4Pa and 10Pa. The penetration coefficient showed to be bigger than 90% for particle diameters less than 3m for cracks with 1mm height regardless their length or pressure difference. For the diameter span from 3m to 8m the penetration factor varies from 90% to 15% depending on the pressure difference and only the particles bigger than 8m are completely filtrated by the studied cracks. We have found good agreement between the numerical simulations and bibliography.