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Airborne infection in a fully air-conditioned hospital: III. Transport of gaseous and airborne particulate material along ventilated passageways

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

O. M. Lidwell
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
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Summary

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A mathematical model is described for the transport of gaseous or airborne particulate material between rooms along ventilated passageways.

Experimental observations in three hospitals lead to a value of about 0.06m.2/sec. for the effective diffusion constant in air without any systematic directional flow. The ‘constant’ appears to increase if there is any directional flow along the passage, reaching about 0.12 m.2/sec. at a flow velocity of 0.04 m./sec.

Together with previously published methods the present formulae make it possible to calculate the expected average amounts of gaseous or particulate material that will be transported from room to room in ventilated buildings in which the ventilation and exchange airflows can be calculated.

The actual amounts transported in occupied buildings, however, vary greatly from time to time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

References

REFERENCES

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