Designing HVAC systems to combat pandemics

Distribution and flow of air in HVAC systems The distribution of conditioned air in any building plays an important role in maintaining good indoor air quality and in the case of controlling pathogens, this distribution is critical. [...]the virus does not travel through the air by itself. Since it...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inConsulting - Specifying Engineer Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 12 - 18
Main Authors Mar, Fred L, Gleba, James P
Format Trade Publication Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Denver CFE Media 01.01.2022
Subjects
Air conditioners
Air quality
Cooling
Cooling coils
Cooling loads
Cooling rate
Coronaviruses
COVID-19 vaccines
Design
Disease transmission
Droplets
HVAC
HVAC equipment
Indoor air pollution
Indoor air quality
Light
Mold
Mold growths
Nuclei
Occupancy
Outdoor air quality
Pandemics
Pathogens
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Ventilation
Viruses
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Summary:Distribution and flow of air in HVAC systems The distribution of conditioned air in any building plays an important role in maintaining good indoor air quality and in the case of controlling pathogens, this distribution is critical. [...]the virus does not travel through the air by itself. Since it is human generated, the virus is trapped in respiratory droplets and droplet nuclei (dried respiratory droplets) that are predominantly 1.0 pm in size and larger" Respiratory droplets and droplet nuclei 1.0 pm in size and larger typically do not travel large distances and by weight fall out the air in short distances and are more easily trapped by filter media. Typically, an array of UVGI lights shine UV-C light continuously on cooling coils to irradiate and disinfect the coil surface over time, and has been used to control mold growth but not to disinfect the air. The use of variable air volume strategies allows the HVAC system to react to the required heating or cooling loads, ventilation rates or building occupancy.
ISSN:0892-5046
1558-2876