On the transport of heavy particles through an upward displacement-ventilated space
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Publication Date
2015-06Journal Title
Journal of Fluid Mechanics
ISSN
0022-1120
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Volume
772
Pages
478-507
Language
English
Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Mingotti, N., & Woods, A. (2015). On the transport of heavy particles through an upward displacement-ventilated space. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 772 478-507. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2015.204
Abstract
<jats:p>We explore the transport of heavy particles through an upward displacement-ventilated space. The space incorporates a localised source of buoyancy which generates a turbulent buoyant plume. The plume fluid is contaminated with a small concentration of particles, which are subject to gravitational settling. A constant flow of uncontaminated fluid is supplied at a low level into the space, while an equal amount of fluid is vented from the space at a high level. At steady state, a two-layer density stratification develops associated with the source of buoyancy. New laboratory experiments are conducted to explore how particles are transported by this flow. The experiments identify that the upper layer may either become well-mixed in particles or it may develop a vertical stratification in particle concentration, with the particle concentration decreasing with height. We develop a quantitative model which identifies that such stratification develops for larger particle setting speeds, or smaller ventilation rates. In accord with our experiments, the model predicts that the number of particles extracted from the space through the high-level vent is controlled by the magnitude of the particle stratification in the upper layer, and this in turn depends on the particle settling speed relative to the ventilation speed and also the cross-sectional area and height of the space. We compare the predictions of the model with measurements of the flux of particles vented from the space for a range of operating conditions. We explore the relevance of the model for the removal of airborne contaminants by displacement ventilation in hospital rooms, and we discuss how contamination is propagated in the room as a result of lateral mixing of pathogens in the upper layer.</jats:p>
Keywords
plumes, convection in cavities, suspensions
Sponsorship
This work has been funded through the BP Institute, EPSRC and Hughes Hall, Cambridge. We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of A. Pluck, and the constructive comments of Professor C. Noakes, Dr. C. P. Caulfield and of two anonymous
referees.
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2015.204
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/247941
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