Validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics Models for Evaluating Loose-Fitting Powered Air-Purifying Respirators

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Proc 20th Congr Int Ergon Assoc IEA 2018 I Healthc Ergon (2018)
• Personal Author:
  Bergman, Michael ; Lei, Zhipeng ; Xu, Susan ; Strickland, Kevin ; Zhuang, Ziqing
• Description:
  Loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) are used in healthcare settings to reduce exposure to high-risk respiratory pathogens. Innovative computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were developed for evaluating loose-fitting PAPR performance. However, the computational results of the CFD models have not been validated using actual experimental data. Experimental testing to evaluate particle facepiece leakage was performed in a test laboratory using two models of loose-fitting PAPRs. Each model was mounted on a static (non-moving) advanced headform placed in a sodium chloride (NaCl) aerosol test chamber. The headform performed cyclic breathing via connection to a breathing machine. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered air was supplied directly to the PAPR facepiece using laboratory compressed supplied-air regulated with a mass-flow controller. One model was evaluated with six supplied-air flowrates from 50-215 L/min (Lpm) and the other model with six flowrates from 50-205 Lpm. Three different workrates (minute volumes) were evaluated: low (25 Lpm), moderate 46 (Lpm), and high 88 (Lpm). Manikin penetration factor (mPF) was calculated as the ratio of chamber particle concentration to the in-facepiece concentration. Overall, data analyses indicated that the mPF results from the simulations were well correlated with the experimental laboratory data for all data combined (r = 0.88). For data at the three different workrates (high, moderate, low) for both models combined, the r-values were 0.96, 0.97, and 0.77, respectively. The CFD models of the two PAPR models were validated and may be utilized for further research.
• Keywords:
  CFD Manikin Penetration Factor PAPR Powered Air-purifying Respirators
• Source:
  Proc 20th Congr Int Ergon Assoc IEA 2018 I Healthc Ergon (2018). 819:176-185
• Pubmed ID:
  37987021
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC10658266
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  819
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:1fcb306461a83ee4cbb8162575728a149485c0f024b94352f09b073f509bf331
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/135759/cdc_135759_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 958.77 KB ]