Investigation of Propagation of Viruses and Risk of Infection in Automobile Cabins

Abstract

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">The author has developed UV based photocatalytic air purification system (Mathur, <span class="xref">2021</span>, 2122, 2023) that can eliminate all pathogens from the cabin air including COVID-19. In this study, the focus is to determine the risk of infection due to pathogens/germs in the cabin of an automobile. Author has determined the risk of infection by using Wells-Riley model and conducted CFD analysis to determine propagation of virus in cabin as a function of:<ol class="list nostyle"><li class="list-item"><span class="li-label">1</span><div class="htmlview paragraph">Cabin Volume & Number of Occupants (Wells-Riley Model in OSA mode): (i) Cabin volume from: Small Sedan, Large Sedan and a SUV; with 4 occupants (males & females); Number of infector 1; Air flowrate (m³/min); (ii) A 15-seater minibus – with 10 occupants (males); Number of infectors 1 & 2; Air flowrate (m³/min)</div></li><li class="list-item"><span class="li-label">2</span><div class="htmlview paragraph">CFD to simulate 4 occupants and 1 infector in an automotive cabin – Current investigation is for talking, coughing and sneezing with blower off in Recirc mode wit (i) Infector in the front seat; (ii) Infector in the rear seat.</div></li></ol></div><div class="htmlview paragraph">Based on this investigation, following is a brief summary of the important variables affecting risk of infection: (i) Cabin volume, Cabin air flowrate, Lung capacity – males and females/Number of breath/min, Number of occupants, Number of infectors, Number of quanta; (ii) CFD Analysis: This investigation consists of simulating the propagation of virus laced saliva particles (droplets) coming out from an occupant’s mouth while sitting in the front & rear of the cabin. Occupants (infectors) were simulated by talking, coughing and sneezing through CFD. This was done in recirculation mode with blower on and off. The following are the important finding from this study: Cabin % relative humidity, Cabin internal volume, Seat geometry, Location (front or rear) of the infector (occupant) talking, coughing and sneezing, Occupant (Infector) height.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">Detailed analysis has been presented in this paper that will be helpful in developing mitigating strategies to control the spread of virus in an automobile cabin.</div></div>