Inhaled Mass and Particle Removal Dynamics in Commercial Buildings and Aircraft Cabins

Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) models of an aircraft cabin and an indoor commercial space (ICS) wereused to characterize the spread of aerosols generated by a coughing orbreathing person suffering from a respiratory illness. Occupant exposure tothese aerosols was then compared between the ICS and the aircraft cabin. Thelifetime of the aerosols, system designs and airflow patterns that reduce theirconcentration over time were also examined. Differences between steady stateand well-mixed conditions were identified and comparisons made between themodel environments. The CFD analysis results were also compared to empiricaldata from a U.S. Transportation Command study that tracked particles introducedby simulated infectious individuals in an airplane cabin environment.