Test aerosol

In short:

Currently it is not yet completely known to what extent air cleaners are capable to separate virus particles and aerosols from the air and thus to reduce the COVID-19 infection risk in rooms. The objective of the research project is to determine the influencing parameters related to the effectiveness of the devices in order to develop an appropriate test method.

In detail:

Currently it is not yet completely known to what extent air cleaners are capable to separate virus particles and aerosols from the air and thus to reduce the infection risk in rooms. The objective of the research project is to determine the influencing parameters related to the effectiveness of the devices in order to develop an appropriate test method.

In this context, IGTE conducts measurements and accompanying simulations with air cleaners to investigate the effectiveness of these devices under different rooms conditions. As to the measurements, an appropriate measurement concept for the room air flow laboratory (test chamber) is created at IGTE.

Within the scope of the measurements, test aerosols are introduced in the air via particle generators. These test aerosols simulate the real infectious COVID-19 aerosols. Different rooms and space utilizations shall be investigated. Potential installations, heat sources, the location of the air cleaners as well as the air change and the occupancies of rooms are varied. These influencing parameters are investigated regarding the effectiveness of the air cleaner.

In addition, air distribution and room air flow are visualized via cold fog in order to evaluate, amongst others, the comfort of individuals while the air cleaners are operated. Accompanying CFD simulations are conducted in order to investigate the air flow within the room in more detail. Several typical cases of application for air cleaners in realistic scenarios (e.g. two-person office, open plan office, classroom) are considered and their effects on the indoor climate are shown.

Particular attention is given to the modeling of viral aerosols, which follow the air flow in the room, including their different particle size distribution. IGTE cooperates with the Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics (MVM, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), with the Institute for Flow in Additively Manufactured Porous Media (ISAPS, Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences), and with the Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases (Eberhard Karls University Tübingen).

12/2020 - 11/2021

Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of the State of Baden-Württemberg