Impacts of Respiratory Activities on Infection Risk of COVID-19 in a Passenger Elevator

Contaminant transport and flow distribution are very important during an elevator ride, as the reduced social distancing may increase infection rate of airborne diseases such COVID-19. This investigation used a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model based on RNG k–ϵ turbulence to predict airflow particle in elevator-lobby area with moving passengers. The CFD results showed complex pattern due downwash air supply from ceiling upward thermal plumes generated by studied different respiratory activities index patient, i.e., breathing, coughing without mask, speaking. quantitatively compare risk among activities. During was generally low because short duration. However, if patient talked elevator, would be relatively high, two passengers closest proximity distance infected.