Experimental Investigation of Aerosol and CO 2 Dispersion for Evaluation of COVID-19 Infection Risk in a Concert Hall

Wolfgang Schade, Vladislav Reimer, Martin Seipenbusch and Ulrike Willer
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Wolfgang Schade: Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, 38640 Goslar, Germany
Vladislav Reimer: Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, 38640 Goslar, Germany
Martin Seipenbusch: ParteQ GmbH, 76316 Malsch, Germany
Ulrike Willer: IEPT, Clausthal University of Technology, 38678 Clausthal, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: The dispersion of small aerosols in a concert hall is experimentally studied for estimating the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 during a concert. A mannequin was modified to emit an air stream containing aerosols and CO 2 . The aerosols have a size distribution with a peak diameter ( δ ) close to 0.3 µm and a horizontal initial particle velocity ( v p , x ) of 2.4 m/s. The CO 2 -concentration (c) emitted simultaneously is 7500 ppm. It is investigated, if the spatial dissipation of aerosols and CO 2 can be correlated. This would allow the use of technically easier CO 2 measurements to monitor compliance with aerosol concentration limits. Both aerosol and CO 2 concentrations are mapped by different sensors placed around the mannequin. As a result, no significant enrichment of aerosols and CO 2 was obtained outside a radius of 1.5 m when the fresh air ventilation in the concert hall has a steady vertical flow with a velocity of v g , z = 0.05 m / s and the installed ventilation system was operating at an air change rate per hour (ACH) of 3, corresponding to an air exchange rate of 51,000 m 3 /h. A Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.77 was obtained for CO 2 and aerosol concentrations measured simultaneously at different positions within the concert hall.

Keywords: COVID-19; infection risk; SARS CoV-2 virus; airborne transmission; aerosols; CO 2 dispersion; concert hall environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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