Energy Analysis of Control Measures for Reducing Aerosol Transmission of COVID-19 in the Tourism Sector of the “Costa Daurada” Spain

Dereje S. Ayou, Juan Prieto, Fahreza Ramadhan, Genaro González, Juan Antonio Duro and Alberto Coronas
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Dereje S. Ayou: CREVER-Group of Applied Thermal Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Paisos Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Juan Prieto: CREVER-Group of Applied Thermal Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Paisos Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Fahreza Ramadhan: CREVER-Group of Applied Thermal Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Paisos Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Genaro González: Departament d’Enginyeria Mecànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Paisos Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Juan Antonio Duro: Departament d’Economia and ECO-SOS, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Universitat 1, 43204 Reus, Spain
Alberto Coronas: CREVER-Group of Applied Thermal Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Paisos Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: In this paper, the use of HVAC systems and non-HVAC control measures to reduce virus-laden bioaerosol exposure in a highly occupied indoor space is investigated. A simulation tool was used to model the fate and transport of bioaerosols in an indoor space in the hotel industry (bar or pub) with three types of HVAC system (central air handling system (CAHS), dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), and wall unit system (WUS)). Non-HVAC control measures such as portable air cleaners (PAC) and local exhaust fans were considered. Occupant exposure was evaluated for 1 μm bioaerosols, which transport SARS-CoV-2, for 3 h/day of continuous source and exposure. The combined effects of ventilation (400 l/s of outdoor air), recirculated air filtration (90% efficacy), and a PAC with a capacity up to 900 m 3 /h mitigated the (normalized) integrated exposure of the occupant by 0.66 to 0.51 (CAHS) and 0.43 to 0.36 (DOAS). In the case of WUS, the normalized integrated exposure was reduced by up to 0.2 when the PAC with a capacity of up to 900 m 3 /h was used. The corresponding electricity consumed increased by 297.4 kWh/year (CAHS) and 482.7 kWh/year (DOAS), while for the WUS it increased by 197.1 kWh/year.

Keywords: aerosol exposure; air filters; COVID-19; HVAC systems; modelling; ventilation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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