LAPSE:2023.36915
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.36915
Numerical Evaluation of the Effect of Buoyancy-Driven Flow on the Migration of Respiratory Droplets
Nan Li, Xiaohong Yan
November 30, 2023
The understanding of the impact of buoyancy-driven flow on the migration of respiratory droplets remains limited. To investigate this phenomenon, the Lagrangian−Eulerian approach (k-ε turbulent model and discrete phase model) was employed to analyze the interaction between buoyancy-driven flow and coughing activity. The simulation approach was validated by simulating a jet problem in water. Although this problem describes the jet penetration in water, the governing equations for this problem are the same as those for coughing activity in the air. The results demonstrated that an umbrella-shaped airflow was generated above a person and a temperature stratification existed in the room. The buoyancy-driven flow significantly altered the dispersion pattern of the droplets. Notably, for large droplets with an initial diameter of 100 μm, the flow in the boundary layer led to an increased deposition time by about five times. Conversely, for small droplets with an initial diameter of 20 μm, the umbrella-shaped airflow resulted in a more rapid dispersion of droplets and subsequently facilitated their quicker removal by the room walls. After a duration of 300 s, the suspended droplet number of the case with buoyancy-driven flow was 33.4% smaller than that of the case without buoyancy-driven flow. Two or three persons being in the room resulted in a faster droplet removal.
Keywords
buoyancy, dispersion, indoor, respiratory droplet, Simulation
Suggested Citation
Li N, Yan X. Numerical Evaluation of the Effect of Buoyancy-Driven Flow on the Migration of Respiratory Droplets. (2023). LAPSE:2023.36915
Author Affiliations
Li N: Department of Nursing, Xi’an Jiaotong University City College, Xi’an 710018, China
Yan X: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Energy Chemical Process Intensification, Department of Chemical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
11
Issue
9
First Page
2596
Year
2023
Publication Date
2023-08-30
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
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Original Submission
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PII: pr11092596, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.36915
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doi:10.3390/pr11092596
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Nov 30, 2023
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CC BY 4.0
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[v1] (Original Submission)
Nov 30, 2023
 
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Nov 30, 2023
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Original Submitter
Calvin Tsay
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