Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling and Investigation of Horizontal Airflow Ventilation System in Surgical Site in Hospital

The present paper deals with the numerical study of horizontal laminar flow ventilation system for surgical site in hospital. When the orientation of supplies openings and exhausts are altered, the performance of ventilation system in terms of effectiveness of removal of contaminated particles is also affected. In this investigation, the performance of new horizontal Single Sided Supply and Exhaust (SSSE) ventilation system have been evaluated and compared withconventional Vertical Unidirectional (Laminar) ventilation system using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. It has beenobserved that contaminant control is found more effective in the case of SSSE horizontal ventilating system over the Vertical Unidirectional ventilation system. It is so happened because the airflow pattern over the critical area of surgery is not affected by the overhead obstacle i.e., surgical lamp. Investigation also reveals that the thermal plume induced by the surgical wound and the surgical lamp, is not counteracted by the supply airflow pattern, which plays an important roll in positive way.