Combination of Mechanical Ventilation and Ceiling Fin to Reduce Airborne Infection Risk

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of various combinations of ventilation system and ceiling fin implementations for the prevention of airborne infections. The computational fluid dynamics program, STAR-CCM+, was used to analyze the airborne infection risk. The results indicate that implementation of ceiling fins with conventional mechanical ventilation and with exhaust diffuser at the center of the room reduced airborne infection risk. However, other cases with implementation of ceiling fins showed an increased risk at the breathing level (1.0 m height from the bottom). It is concluded that the application of ceiling fins can be both advantageous and disadvantageous depending on the types of combinations and all aspects should be carefully considered before implementation.