Jung-Hun Noh1,2, Jungsuk Lee1, Kwang-Chul Noh3, Young-Won Kim4, Se-Jin Yook 1 1 School of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
2 R&D Center for Research & Business Cooperation Mechatronics Team, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin 17180, Korea
3 Air Lab, Gwangju 61478, Korea
4 Applied Optics and Energy Research Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Gwangju 61012, Korea
Received:
November 8, 2017
Revised:
July 27, 2018
Accepted:
July 27, 2018
Download Citation:
||https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2017.11.0469
Cite this article:
Noh, J.H., Lee, J., Noh, K.C., Kim, Y.W. and Yook, S.J. (2018). Effects of Hospital Ward Curtains on Ventilation in a Four-bed Hospital Ward.
Aerosol Air Qual. Res.
18: 2643-2653. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2017.11.0469
HIGHLIGHTS
ABSTRACT
Various highly infective pathogens that are present in hospital wards can spread through the air and infect patients. To remove pathogens effectively in order to reduce infections, the efficient ventilation of hospital wards is critical. This study used age of air data to analyze the ventilation efficiency within hospital wards. The validity of the numerical analysis method was verified by comparison with the age of air data obtained from an experimental test on a four-bed hospital ward. The verified numerical analysis method was used to establish the airflow within a hospital ward in relation to the use of ventilation systems, air cleaners, and individual patient curtains. The efficiency of ventilation according to each factor was compared using age of air data. Considerable differences in the age of the air were identified, depending on the location of the patient with respect to both the air cleaner and the inlet/outlet duct of the ventilation system. Furthermore, individual curtains were found to interfere with air circulation, reducing ventilation efficiency and increasing the age of the air at the location of each patient.
Keywords:
Age of air; Ventilation system; Air cleaner; Hospital ward; Patient curtain.
