Prediction of Particle Transport in Enclosed Environment

Prediction of particle transport in enclosed environment is crucial to the welfare of its occupants. The prediction requires not only a reliable particle model but also an accurate flow model. This paper introduces two categories of flow models – Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equation modeling (RANS modeling) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES); as well as two popular particle models – Lagrangian and Eulerian methods. The computed distributions of air velocity, air temperature, and tracer-gas concentration in a ventilated room by the RANS modeling and LES agree reasonably with the experimental data from the literature. The two flow models gave similar prediction accuracy. Both the Lagrangian and Eulerian methods were applied to predict particle transport in a room. Again, the computed results were in reasonable agreement with the experimental data obtained in an environmental chamber. The performance of the two methods was nearly identical. Finally the flow and particle models were applied to study particle dispersion in a Boeing 767 cabin and in a small building with six rooms. The computed results look plausible.