by A recent study published in the journal Physics of Fluids has shed light on the optimal airflow needed to curb the spread of viruses on cruise ships. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, scientists have been studying the mechanisms of infection and the ability of the virus to mutate rapidly. Computational frameworks have been developed to help predict the evolution of pandemics.
While previous studies have examined the spread of droplets released by infected individuals and proposed mitigation guidelines, there has been limited research on ventilation and aerosol transmission specifically in cruise ship cabins.
The study simulated the spread of a virus inside a cruise ship cabin and focused on how ventilation affects airborne viral transmission. The researchers considered a fluid mixture with liquid water and multicomponent gas for their simulations. They looked at the effects of different ventilation flow rates (60 m3/h, 120 m3/h, 240 m3/h, and 600 m3/h) and the positioning of a coughing person inside the cabin.
The findings revealed that the overall airflow velocity was low, except during a coughing event, when it briefly increased. The distance traveled by saliva droplets was dependent on the flow rate, with higher rates reducing the penetration distance initially but reversing at later stages. The flow rate also affected droplet evaporation, with higher rates accelerating evaporation. However, even at the highest flow rate, a fraction of the saliva droplets did not evaporate.
The study also compared two different scenarios: placing the coughing individual at the center of the cabin and positioning them near the cabin’s door. In both cases, a flow rate of 120 m3/h was found to be optimal for minimizing droplet penetration and scattering. At this flow rate, a significant volume of the cabin’s air was refreshed within three minutes.
The researchers concluded that higher ventilation flow rates may not necessarily prevent the transmission of airborne diseases. While proper ventilation can help accelerate droplet desiccation, rapid evaporation does not guarantee instant pathogen inactivation. They recommend maintaining a medium flow rate of 120 m3/h during occupancy to minimize droplet spread while ensuring adequate ventilation, energy consumption, and comfort. After the room is vacated, the flow rate could be increased to 600 m3/h for 12 minutes to completely renew the air in the cabin for the next occupants.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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