A simplified building airflow model for agent concentration prediction

J Occup Environ Hyg. 2010 Nov;7(11):640-50. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2010.514570.

Abstract

A simplified building airflow model is presented that can be used to predict the spread of a contaminant agent from a chemical or biological attack. If the dominant means of agent transport throughout the building is an air-handling system operating at steady-state, a linear time-invariant (LTI) model can be constructed to predict the concentration in any room of the building as a result of either an internal or external release. While the model does not capture weather-driven and other temperature-driven effects, it is suitable for concentration predictions under average daily conditions. The model is easily constructed using information that should be accessible to a building manager, supplemented with assumptions based on building codes and standard air-handling system design practices. The results of the model are compared with a popular multi-zone model for a simple building and are demonstrated for building examples containing one or more air-handling systems. The model can be used for rapid concentration prediction to support low-cost placement strategies for chemical and biological detection sensors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air Movements*
  • Air Pollution, Indoor*
  • Biohazard Release
  • Chemical Hazard Release
  • Computer Simulation
  • Forecasting / methods*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Ventilation*