Displacement ventilation in hospital environments

Abstract

Experts suggest that displacement ventilation can play a key role in providing better ventilation facilities in hospital environments. Designers need to consider that hospitals differ from conventional buildings in terms of ventilation needs. Exhaled infectious droplets or droplet nuclei of an infected patient need to be removed in general wards, waiting areas and isolation rooms to minimize transmission to health-care workers, other patients and visitors. The supply air is provided via a floor level opening at a low velocity in displacement ventilation The only way for air and pollutants to transport from the lower to upper zone is via the plumes that penetrate the interface. Displacement ventilation creates a flow pattern that makes it difficult for a pollutant released in the upper zone to spread to the lower one. The stable thermal stratification zone plays a dual role for displacement ventilation.