title: Predicting transient particle transport in enclosed environments with the combined computational fluid dynamics and Markov chain method.
abstract: To quickly obtain information about airborne infectious disease transmission in enclosed environments is critical in reducing the infection risk to the occupants. This study developed a combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Markov chain method for quickly predicting transient particle transport in enclosed environments. The method first calculated a transition probability matrix using CFD simulations. Next, the Markov chain technique was applied to calculate the transient particle concentration distributions. This investigation used three cases, particle transport in an isothermal clean room, an office with an underfloor air distribution system, and the first-class cabin of an MD-82 airliner, to validate the combined CFD and Markov chain method. The general trends of the particle concentrations vs. time predicted by the Markov chain method agreed with the CFD simulations for these cases. The proposed Markov chain method can provide faster-than-real-time information about particle transport in enclosed environments. Furthermore, for a fixed airflow field, when the source location is changed, the Markov chain method can be used to avoid recalculation of the particle transport equation and thus reduce computing costs.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008390:Markov Chains; D052638:Particulate Matter
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Aircraft cabin; Clean room; Computational fluid dynamics; Infectious diseases transmission; Lagrangian model; Office; Transition probability matrix