Critical Review of Aerosol Particle Transport Models for Building HVAC Ducts

Abstract

Literature on aerosol behavior in conventional heating ventilating and air conditioning duct systems that is directly applicable to modeling and simulation of deposition and resuspension of particulate matter is reviewed. Open literature discussing particle resuspension from duct surfaces is rare and most studies investigating particle deposition consider only clean duct surfaces. There is a similar lack of studies on particle deposition and resuspension in mechanical components found in air distribution systems (e.g., heat exchangers, fans, dampers, etc.) and in duct flows where the turbulent velocity profile is not fully developed. An example calculation of penetration through a simple duct system illustrates the characteristics of results produced by the identified modeling methods.