Computational analysis of a new biomimetic active ventilation paradigm for indoor spaces

Purpose: Ventilation of indoor spaces is required for the delivery of fresh air rich in oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide, pollutants and other hazardous substances. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the topic of ventilating crowded indoors to the front line of health concerns. This study developed a new biologically inspired concept of biomimetic active ventilation (BAV) for interior environments that mimics the mechanism of human lung ventilation, where internal air is continuously refreshed with the external environment. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed proof-of-concept of the new BAV paradigm using computational models. Design/methodology/approach: This study developed computational fluid dynamic models of unoccupied rooms with two window openings on one wall and two BAV modules that periodically translate perpendicular to or rotate about the window openings. This study also developed a time-evolving spatial ventilation efficiency metric for exploring the accumulated refreshment of the interior space. The authors conducted two-dimensional (2D) simulations of various BAV configurations to determine the trends in how the working parameters affect the ventilation and to generate initial estimates for the more comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) model. Findings: Simulations of 2D and 3D models of BAV for modules of different shapes and working parameters demonstrated air movements in most of the room with good air exchange between the indoor and outdoor air. This new BAV concept seems to be very efficient and should be further developed. Originality/value: The concept of ventilating interior spaces with periodically moving rigid modules with respect to the window openings is a new BAV paradigm that mimics human respiration. The computational results demonstrated that this new paradigm for interior ventilation is efficient while air velocities are within comfortable limits. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Recommendations for the transformation of patient rooms into isolated patient rooms in the process of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and improve the treatment process, interest in hospital design and in-hospital transformation has increased worldwide. Since Covid-19 is not believed to be the last infectious health threat for communities around the world, it is of great importance to study existing hospital adaptations and work on obtaining more planning and design strategies for treatment and wellbeing areas. In this study it is aimed to make constructive recommendations on the basis of in-space planning and mechanical ventilation, which can be applied in hospital transformations for pandemic processes. Published guidelines and literature studies for hospitals to prevent the spread of infection have been examined, structured and unstructured interviews were conducted with architects and engineers specialized in hospital design. Also, a survey was conducted with 35 hospital workers and 4 people from the hospital management to analyze the changes made in the hospital during the Covid-19 process. Afterwards, the design plans of one of the two private hospitals studied in Turkey and the steps that can be applied in the transformation of patient rooms were explained in this article with the case study. Interdisciplinary work was carried in order to ensure infection control in hospital transformations, since it is required to make in-hospital space planning (separation/transformation of spaces, interior zoning) and ventilation (filtration, zoning of mechanical ventilation) in harmony. Suggestions were developed that could play a role in ensuring the consistency of mechanical and architectural planning in order to successfully complete hospital transformation practices to prevent the spread of infections in pandemic processes. As the transformation scenarios in this study were performed through an exemplary private hospital room in accordance with the criteria of the Turkish Ministry of Health, ventilation plans on the standard room project were detailed and shown in the conclusion section, where the transformation steps can also be adapted to other hospitals. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] Covid-19 salgınının yayılmasını önlemek, tedavi sürecini iyileştirmek için hastane içi dönüşümlere olan ilgi dünya çapında artmıştır. Covid-19'un son bulaşıcı sağlık tehdidi olduğu düşünülmediğinden mevcut hastane uyarlamalarını incelemek, tedavi ve dinlenme alanları için gereksinime dayalı çeşitli planlama ve tasarım stratejileri geliştirme üzerine çalışmak büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmada, pandemi süreçlerinde hastane içi dönüşümlerde uygulanabilecek mekân içi planlama ve takiben mekanik havalandırma özelinde yapıcı önerilerde bulunabilmek amaçlanmıştır. Enfeksiyonun yayılmasını önlemek için hastane kılavuz şartnameleri ve literatürdeki çalışmalar incelenmiş, hastane tasarımı üzerine uzmanlaşmış kişilerle çeşitli görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Covid-19 sürecinde hastanelerde yapılan değişikliklerin analiz edilebilmesi içinse 35 hastane çalışanı ve 4 hastane yönetim personeliyle anket çalışması yapılmıştır. Veriler ışığında, Türkiye'de üzerinde çalışılmış iki özel-hastaneden birinin tasarım planları ile hasta odalarının dönüşümünde uygulanabilecek adımlar alan çalışmasıyla aktarılmıştır. Hastane içi dönüşümlerde enfeksiyon kontrolünün sağlanabilmesi adına mekân planlaması (alanların ayrıştırılması/dönüştürülmesi, mekân içi zonlama) ve havalandırmanın (filtrasyon, mekanik havalandırma için zonlama) uyum içinde olması gerektiğinden, dönüşümlerin planlanması aşamasında disiplinlerarası çalışma yapılmıştır. Pandemi süreçlerinde enfeksiyonun yayılmasının önlenebilmesi için hastane dönüşüm uygulamalarının mekanik ve mimari planlamalarında tutarlılığın sağlanabilmesi adına öneriler geliştirilmiştir. Dönüşüm senaryoları Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Sağlık Bakanlığı kriterlerine uygun örnek bir özel-hastane odası üzerinden gerçekleştirildiği için diğer hastanelere de uyarlanabileceği sonuç bölümünde tip proje üzerinde havalandırma planları detaylandırılarak gösterilmiştir. (Turkish) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture of Gazi University is the property of Gazi University, Faculty of Engineering & Architecture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The Changing Language of Interior smart Space Design in the Post-Epidemic Era

The spread of the COVID-19 epidemic has triggered realistic thinking about the renewal of traditional interior spaces. How to enhance the ability of future residents to cope with major emergencies through spatial resilience is an important concern for interior smart space design in the post-epidemic era. This paper discusses how to make effective use of interior layout, divide interior space more rationally and create a green and healthy interior space design, with three aspects of spatial emergency protection, spatial resilience and spatial affinity, and gives specific consideration to the transformation of interior smart space. © 2021 IEEE.

Using Agent-Based Modelling to Understand Advantageous Behaviours Against COVID-19 Transmission in the Built Environment

The global Covid-19 pandemic has raised many questions about how we occupy and move in the built environment. Interior environments have been increasingly discussed in numerous studies highlighting how interior spaces play a key role in the spread of pandemics. One societal challenge is to find short-term strategies to reopen indoor venues. Most current approaches focus on an individual’s behavior (maintaining social distance, wearing face masks, and washing their hands) and government policies (confinement, curfew, quarantine, etc.). However, few studies have been conducted to understand a building’s interior where most transmission takes place. How will the utilization of existing interior spaces be improved above and beyond universally applied criteria, while minimizing the risk of disease transmission? This article presents an agent-based model that examines disease transmission risks in various “interior types” in combination with user behaviors and their mobility, as well as three types of transmission vectors (direct, airborne and via surfaces). The model also integrates numerous policy interventions, including wearing masks, hand washing, and the possibility of easily modifying the organization of spaces. Different studies at various scales were conducted both on the University of Guadalajara (UdeG) campus as well as at the MIT Media Lab to illustrate the application of this model. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.