The distribution of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), temperature, and velocity of humid air inside the greenhouse solar dryer (GHSD) was numerically investigated using 3D CFD ANSYS FLUENT code. The effect of solar radiation was coupled with the energy equations using the discrete ordinate model. Numerical simulations were based on two geometric models: Real model and model with reduced height, the solution was in good agreement with experimental data of temperature. The results of the real model showed that the TKE is ranged between 1.27 m2/s2 and 6 m2/s2 with an average of about 1.6 m2/s2 for the entire greenhouse dryer (GHD) volume. The greatest TKE magnitude is in the paths of the diffusers, which caused a temperature drop of about 2 K in the areas near the walls. Consequently, almost homogeneous temperature distribution was obtained in the entire volume of the GHD, although the average temperature was 315 K, and a gradient with respect to ambient temperature was of 14 K, that is, suitable for drying. Also, the average air velocity at 1 m height was 0.71 m/s, which is a value near the lowest limit (0.6 m/s) of forced convection drying. The improvement in the GHD by 36.5% volume reduction allowed an increase in the average TKE of 3.8 m2/s2 (2.4 times more than the previous one) located in the middle of the greenhouse; the average temperature reached 316.5 K with a gradient of 15.5 K, which represents an increase of 1.5 K (11%) compared to the real geometric model. The air velocity at 1 m height increased to 0.9 m/s in the improved geometric model (a growth of 35.7% compared with the previous geometry). More than 95% of the improved GHD volume has a uniform temperature, which is very suitable for a good quality drying process with higher speed.

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The use of mask and face shield has been established as one of the main preventive measures for the control of COVID 19 spread. In Mexico, as well as in other regions of the world, 3D printing has been employed for the design and production of masks and face shields as personal protective equipment (PPE). These models have been fabricated mainly by the makers, industries, and university communities; therefore, it is necessary to analyze the feasibility of the 3D printed PPE to understand its advantages and limitations. In this work, some characteristics of masks and face shields fabricated by additive manufacturing were studied to explore their viability as protection against flow fluids similar to human sneeze. In the present paper, the PPE was designed, and 3D printed utilizing three types of polylactic acid (PLA) as base material. The morphology and the surface elemental analyses of sectioned samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Showing spacing between printed layers, porous areas, and dispersed copper particles. On the other hand, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was carried out, the results demonstrated the importance of using PPE for protection of a possible exposure to a “contaminated” aerosol and human sneeze. Based on the abovementioned results, it is possible to consider the commercial PLA as suitable material for the manufacturing of PPE due to its capability to be disinfected employing isopropanol, ethanol, or commercial disinfectants.