Track: COVID-19 Competition

Abstract

This paper presents simulations to model the performance of two negative pressure, airborne infectious isolation rooms (AIIRs). AIIRs are a requirement for the medical management of COVID and other infectious diseases mobilization of functional AIIRs have therefore become a health infrastructure priority over the last year. A standard negative pressure room with a single fan for extraction, ceiling level supply air and extraction diffusers is compared to a dual extraction fan system with variable air control linked to pressure sensors via an IoT controller. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate the ventilation performance of both configurations. These results are then compared to results from experimental studies on live isolation rooms monitored and controlled via IoT devices. The results indicate that the dual extraction configuration with IoT control is more energy efficient and effective at maintaining the required negative pressure parameters.