Assessing the Filtration Effectiveness of a Portable Ultraviolet Air Cleaner on Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Laden Droplets in a Patient Room: A Numerical Study

It has been confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 can infect humans via airborne transmission from person to person. Accordingly, there are two concerns about the exhaled aerosol emitted coughs or sneezes of COVID-19 patients: (1) might healthcare providers in same confined patient rooms; (2) enter main ventilation system and transmit other room as a health threat. Therefore, portable ultraviolet (UV) air cleaner is designed mitigate exposure risks laden droplets room. Using experimentally validated computational fluid-particle dynamics (CFPD) model, this study simulated transmission, deposition, clearance virus-laden virtual with realistic conditions various operating UV cleaner. Parameter analysis was performed investigate how operation sanitizer influence effectiveness filtration, which quantified by reduction concentration suspended escaped into system. Results indicate effective if placed appropriate locations. In addition, maximizing flow rate will provide best mitigation effect, highest filtration efficiency.