Measuring the Deflection of an Exhalation Jet by an Air Curtain Using PIV

Abstract

Understanding (particle) transport processes through the planar turbulent air curtain jet, a ventilation concept designed to reduce the spread of airborne particles and thus possible airborne infections, is important prior to its implementation in a passenger cabin of the future. In this work, two-dimensional PIV measurements are used to investigate the deflection of a respiratory jet through the air curtain as well as the deflection of the air curtain centerline as an indicator of a possible breakthrough of the respiratory jet. This was investigated for momentum flux ratios of both jets for gamma = 0.17 - 11.61. Strong deflections of the respiratory jet were observed for gamma = 3.47 and gamma = 11.61, while little deflection and a (temporal) breakthrough of the air curtain was investigated for gamma = 0.17 and 0.65.