MODELING A NOVEL METHOD TO DIMINISH AIRBORNE COVID-19 TRANSMISSION IN A HOSPITAL ROOM

Reid Prichard, Wayne Strasser, Scott Leonard, Brian Walsh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

In this paper, we used a computational fluid dynamics model to evaluate the effects of a novel medical apparatus (“Felix-1”) on the spread of contagion in a hospital room. We found that Felix-1, consisting of nasal cannula and an oxygen mask, captured 96% of the mass of exhaled particles ranging from 0.1µm to 100µm. This is more effective than a surgical mask. It was less effective at capturing small particles, but their mass is insubstantial. The caregivers inhaled only 24 parts per billion of particle mass exhaled by the patients. Our model included a full hospital room with two patients and four caregivers, each represented using medical imagery and realistic nonuniform breathing rate curves. Room ventilation was also modeled, and we allowed over a minute of flow time for the room to reach quasi-steady-state, which we evaluated using flow statistics and particle tracking results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication5th-6th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, TFEC 2021
PublisherBegell House Inc.
Pages617-625
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781567005172
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes
Event5th-6th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, TFEC 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: May 26 2021May 28 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Thermal and Fluids Engineering Summer Conference
Volume2021-May
ISSN (Electronic)2379-1748

Conference

Conference5th-6th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, TFEC 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period5/26/215/28/21

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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