Predicting airflow distribution and contaminant transport in aircraft cabins with a simplified gasper model

Lin

Wei³

et al. 2019

Indoor Air

Self Cite

Ventilation systems for commercial airliner cabins are important in reducing contaminant transport and maintaining thermal comfort. To evaluate the performance of a personalized displacement ventilation system, a conventional displacement ventilation system, and a mixing ventilation system, this study first used the Wells-Riley equation integrated with CFD to obtain the SARS quanta value based on a specific SARS outbreak on a flight. This investigation then compared the three ventilation systems in a seven-row section of a fully occupied, economy-class cabin in Boeing 737 and Boeing 767 airplanes. The SARS quanta generation rate obtained for the index patient could be used in future studies. For all the assumed source locations, the passengers' infection risk by air in the two planes was the highest with the mixing ventilation system, while the conventional displacement ventilation system produced the lowest risk. The personalized ventilation system performed the best in maintaining cabin thermal comfort and can also reduce the infection risk. This system is recommended for airplane cabins. K E Y W O R D S computational fluid dynamics (CFD), displacement ventilation, infectious disease transmission, mixing ventilation, personalized ventilation, thermal comfort | 841 YOU et al.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the commercial airliner cabin environment with different air distribution systems

Lin

Wei³

et al. 2019

Indoor Air

Self Cite

“…This study used the simplified gasper model proposed by You et al [7] in the CFD simulation. Three grid resolutions, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.65 million, were tested in You et al [7] for CFD grid independence. The resolution of 0.3 million was sufficiently fine to obtain grid independent results.…”

Section: Mock-up Of An Aircraft Cabin With Gasper Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In commercial airplanes, personalized ventilation is typically provided by a system of gaspers, the small, circular, and adjustable vents above the seats passengers. When passengers turn on the gaspers, the air distribution in the cabin is altered [6,7]. Consequently, the transport of airborne infectious contaminants is affected [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Note that both of these studies used a detailed geometry with a large grid number to represent the actual gasper in the CFD simulations, which led to an unacceptably high computing cost. To overcome this problem, You et al [7] developed a simplified gasper model to reduce the grid number for the gaspers without compromising the accuracy of the results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Investigating the impact of gaspers on cabin air quality in commercial airliners with a hybrid turbulence model

Building and Environment

Lin

Wei³

et al. 2017

Self Cite

a b s t r a c tIt is not clear whether turning on the gaspers in the cabins of commercial airliners actually improves the air quality. To answer this question, this study first developed a hybrid turbulence model which was suitable for predicting the air distribution in an aircraft cabin with gaspers turned on. Next, the investigation validated the model using two sets of experimental data from a cabin mockup and an actual airplane. This study then used the validated model to systematically investigate the impact of gaspers on cabin air quality in a seven-row section of the fully-occupied, economy-class cabin of Boeing 767 and 737 airplanes. The CFD calculations formed a database consisting of 9660 data points that provide information about SARS infection risk. It was found that the distribution of opened gaspers can influence the infection risk for passengers. Even though the gasper supplies clean air, it is possible for it to have a negative impact on the passengers' health. Statistically speaking, the overall effect of turning on the gaspers on the mean infection risk for the general population was neutral.

“…They found that the CO 2 concentration with the mixing air distribution was fairly uniform, and the mixing air distribution system could spread infectious diseases. You et al [10,11] developed a consolidated turbulence model and a simplified gasper geometry model in a CFD program for predicting the airflow and contaminant transport in a cabin with gaspers. The CFD program was then used to investigate the impact of the gaspers on contaminant transport in the economy-class cabins of Boeing 767 and 737 airliner.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An innovative personalized displacement ventilation system for airliner cabins

Building and Environment

Zhang

Zhao

et al. 2018

Self Cite

A B S T R A C TIn airliner cabins, mixing ventilation systems with gaspers are not efficient in controlling contaminant transport. To improve the cabin environment, this investigation proposed an innovative ventilation system that would reduce contaminant transport and maintain thermal comfort. We manufactured and installed the proposed ventilation system in an occupied seven-row, single-aisle aircraft cabin mockup. Air velocity, air temperature, and contaminant distribution in the cabin mockup were obtained by experimental measurements. The investigation used the experimental data to validate the results of CFD simulation. The validated CFD program was then used to study the impact of the locations and number of exhausts on contaminant removal and thermal comfort in a one-row section of a fully occupied Boeing-737 cabin. Although the diffusers in the proposed system were close to the passengers' legs, the air velocity magnitude was acceptable in the lower part of the cabin and the leg area. The proposed system provided an acceptable thermal environment in the cabin, although passengers could feel cold when placing their legs directly in front of the diffusers. The four-exhaust configuration of the new ventilation system was the best, and it decreased the average exposure in the cabin by 57% and 53%, respectively, when compared with the mixing and displacement ventilation systems.