Aerosol infection prevention system using a fan filter unit, fan filter unit, and method for removing the filter.

Abstract

To effectively take a countermeasure to an infective aerosol.SOLUTION: An aerosol infection prevention system 10 comprises: a fan filter unit 20 having a box body 21 embedded into an indoor-R ceiling 4, a fan 40 for sucking indoor-R air, and an exchangeable filter 30 arranged at an indoor side rather than the fan 40, and capturing an infective aerosol contained in air; a suction part 50 arranged at the ceiling 4, and allowing the passage of the indoor-R air which is withdrawn into the fan filter unit 20; and a discharge part 60 for discharging air which has passed the filter 30 from the fan filter unit 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol infection prevention system using a fan filter unit, a fan filter unit, and a method for removing a filter.

Background Art

[0002] Measures against infectious diseases in rooms such as examination rooms and hospital wards are desired. As a measure against infectious diseases in a room, there is a method of capturing particles floating in the room with a filter. For example, a fan filter unit is used that includes a fan that sucks in indoor air, a filter that captures particles contained in the air sucked in by the fan, and an exhaust unit that exhausts the air that has passed through the filter, all provided in a housing. Such fan filter units are mainly floor-standing types. However, since floor-standing fan filter units occupy a part of the indoor floor, they hinder the effective use of indoor space. Also, naturally, they cannot be installed in places that interfere with furniture etc. installed in the room, so the installation location is limited, and effective air flow control cannot be performed.

[0003] On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration including a housing attached to a partition that separates the indoor and outdoor areas, a filter provided inside the housing, an air intake provided on the indoor side of the housing, an exhaust member provided on the outdoor side of the housing, and a fan that sucks in indoor air from the air intake and discharges part or all of the sucked indoor air to the outdoor through the exhaust member. However, even in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the installation location is limited to the partition wall that separates the indoor and outdoor areas, so contaminated air cannot be effectively exhausted.

[0004] The fan filter units described above are best installed in areas with a high concentration of infectious virus-containing particles (hereinafter referred to as infectious aerosols). However, fan filter units installed on floors or partition walls have limited installation locations, as described above, and therefore cannot always be installed in locations where infectious aerosols are thought to be abundant and where they can be efficiently captured. In particular, infectious aerosols are abundant in the exhaled breath of infected individuals and rise towards the ceiling in a room, carried by updrafts caused by body fever, etc. In contrast, fan filter units placed on the floor or partition walls have difficulty efficiently collecting infectious aerosols and passing them through the filter. There is a need to efficiently implement measures against infectious aerosols. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-164147 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol infection prevention system using a fan filter unit, a method for removing the filter, and a fan filter unit that can efficiently take measures against infectious aerosols. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means. In other words, the aerosol infection prevention system using the fan filter unit of the present invention comprises a fan filter unit comprising a housing embedded in the ceiling of a room, a fan provided inside the housing for drawing in the air of the room, and a replaceable filter provided inside the housing on the room side of the fan for capturing infectious aerosols contained in the air; an intake section provided in the ceiling through which the air of the room taken into the fan filter unit passes; and an exhaust section for discharging the air that has passed through the filter from the fan filter unit, wherein the airflow in the room is controlled using the fan filter unit. In this configuration, the fan's operation draws indoor air from the intake into the fan filter unit, where it passes through a filter located on the indoor side of the fan. The filter captures infectious aerosols contained in the indoor air. The air that has passed through the filter is then discharged from the fan filter unit through the exhaust unit. In this type of aerosol infection prevention system, the fan filter unit is embedded in the ceiling, so it does not interfere with furniture or other items installed in the room during installation. Therefore, the degree of installation flexibility is increased, and the possibility of efficiently capturing infectious aerosols by installing it near areas where infectious aerosols are thought to be abundant increases. In particular, infectious aerosols are abundant in the exhaled breath of infected individuals and rise towards the ceiling in a room, carried by the updrafts generated by body fever, etc. As described above, since the fan filter unit is embedded in the ceiling and its intake is also located in the ceiling, infectious aerosols that have risen towards the ceiling can be efficiently drawn into the fan filter unit. Furthermore, since the fan filter unit is installed on the ceiling, as already explained, its installation location is not significantly limited. Therefore, the fan filter unit can be installed in a location that can effectively capture infectious aerosols, such as directly above an infected person. In this way, it becomes possible to efficiently take measures against infectious aerosols.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the discharge unit comprises an exhaust duct for discharging the air discharged from the fan filter unit to the outdoors, a circulation duct for circulating the air discharged from the fan filter unit into the room, and a damper for adjusting the amount of air supplied to the exhaust duct and the circulation duct. With this configuration, by adjusting the amount of air sent to the exhaust duct and circulation duct using dampers, it becomes possible to either discharge the entire amount of filtered air outdoors through the exhaust duct, or discharge a portion of the filtered air outdoors while circulating the remaining purified air indoors.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, a blowing unit is provided on the ceiling for blowing the air circulated through the circulation duct into the room, and the blowing unit blows the air from above downward in an air curtain shape so as to divide the room into a first side and a second side. With this configuration, filtered air is blown downwards in an air curtain-like manner from outlets installed on the ceiling, thereby gently dividing the room into a first and second side by air. By placing such outlets in appropriate locations within the room, and positioning the infected person on one side and those associated with the infected person on the other, it is possible to suppress the direct reach of infectious aerosols from the infected person to those associated with the infected person.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fan filter unit includes a locking member having a restraining part that secures the filter to be supported inside the housing by locking the filter from below, and a restraint release operation part that releases the locking of the filter by the restraining part. With this configuration, the filter can be secured from below by the restraining part of the locking member, thereby restraining the filter in a state of being supported inside the housing. Furthermore, by operating the restraint release operation part, the restraining part can release the lower lock on the filter, allowing the filter to be removed from inside the housing. Therefore, filter replacement can be performed easily and efficiently. In this way, the filter can be replaced with simple operations, reducing the opportunity for workers to come into contact with the filter during replacement. This reduces the risk of workers becoming infected by infectious aerosols adhering to the filter, and as a result, it becomes possible to take measures against infectious aerosols more efficiently.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking member comprises a base end fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the housing, an extension extending inward from the base end to the housing, and an elastic piece extending downward from the tip of the extension and elastically deformable in the inward and outward directions of the housing, wherein the restraining portion is formed on the elastic piece so as to protrude inward from the housing, and the restraint release operation portion is formed on the elastic piece below the restraining portion, and the restraint release operation portion is released from the filter by pressing the restraint release operation portion outward from the housing and elastically deforming the elastic piece outward. With this configuration, pressing the release mechanism outwards from the housing causes the elastic piece to elastically deform outwards, thereby releasing the locking mechanism from the filter. As a result, the filter is released from its fixed position and can be removed from inside the housing. In this way, the filter can be removed from inside the housing with simple operation, reducing the opportunity for workers to come into contact with the filter during replacement. This reduces the risk of workers becoming infected by infectious aerosols adhering to the filter, and as a result, it becomes possible to take measures against infectious aerosols more efficiently.

[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, a partition is provided that is joined to the inner circumferential surface of the housing so as to close the space between the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the outer circumferential portion of the filter, and that partitions the space within the housing that separates the space on the suction side of the filter from the space on the discharge side of the filter, the partition being provided at a height below the filter. With this configuration, the partition seals the space between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the filter, dividing the space on the intake side of the filter and the space on the discharge side of the filter within the housing. Since this partition is located at the height below the filter, the area in the fan filter unit that is contaminated by infectious aerosols is limited to a small area below the bottom of the filter, and the contaminated air does not enter the inside of the housing.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the filter comprises a filter medium through which the air in the room passes and captures infectious aerosols contained in the air, and a frame material formed to surround the outer periphery of the filter medium, wherein a groove-like portion is formed on the outer periphery of the frame material, opening upward and continuous around the entire circumference of the frame material, a sealing member is provided inside the groove-like portion, an opening for housing the filter is formed in the partition, and ribs are formed on the periphery of the opening, projecting downward around the entire circumference of the opening, and the ribs are in close contact with the sealing member, thereby partitioning the suction side space and the discharge side space. With this configuration, the ribs of the compartmentalized section, provided on the inner surface of the housing, along the entire circumference of the outside of the filter, adhere tightly to the sealing member provided on the outer circumference of the filter frame, thereby sealing the space between the compartmentalized section and the filter frame. This prevents infectious aerosols from entering the discharge-side space of the filter through the gap between the compartmentalized section and the frame, and prevents the discharge-side space from being contaminated by infectious aerosols.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the filter and the fan are arranged in different positions in a plan view, and an intermediate flow path is formed between the filter and the fan to send the air that has passed through the filter to the fan. With this configuration, the filter and fan are positioned at different locations in a plan view, which suppresses the direct transmission of fan noise into the room. Furthermore, by forming an intermediate flow path between the filter and the fan, the path between the fan and the intake is lengthened, making it more difficult for fan noise to be reflected and diffracted in the intermediate flow path and transmitted to the intake. These factors work together to suppress the transmission of fan noise into the room.

[0015] Furthermore, the method for removing the filter of the present invention is a method for removing the filter in an aerosol infection prevention system using the fan filter unit described above, and includes: opening the cover that covers the intake section from the indoor side to expose the filter; attaching a covering material that covers the lower side of the filter to the filter from the indoor side; and removing the filter, whose lower side is covered by the covering material, from the housing. With this configuration, the underside of the filter exposed to the indoor side is covered with a covering material, which prevents workers from inadvertently touching the filter when replacing it. In this way, the risk of infection to workers during filter removal is reduced, and as a result, measures against infectious aerosols can be taken more efficiently.

[0016] Furthermore, the fan filter unit of the present invention is a fan filter unit for infectious aerosol countermeasures comprising a housing embedded in the ceiling of a room, a fan provided inside the housing for drawing in the air of the room, and a replaceable filter provided inside the housing on the room side of the fan for capturing infectious aerosols contained in the air, and comprises a locking member having a restraining part that restrains the filter in a state supported inside the housing by locking the filter from below, and a restraint release operation part that releases the locking of the filter by the restraining part. According to such a configuration, by locking the filter from below by the restraining portion of the locking member, the filter can be restrained in a state of being supported inside the housing. Further, by operating the unlocking operation portion to release the locking of the filter from below by the restraining portion, the filter can be removed from inside the housing. Therefore, the replacement work of the filter can be performed easily and efficiently. In this manner, since the replacement work of the filter can be performed by a simple operation, the contact opportunity of the operator with the filter can be reduced during replacement. As a result, the infection of the operator by the infectious aerosol attached to the filter is reduced, and as a result, measures against the infectious aerosol can be taken efficiently.

Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to efficiently take measures against infectious aerosol.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an aerosol infection prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view showing a fan filter unit of the aerosol infection prevention system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a side view of the fan filter unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a plan view of the fan filter unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a lower portion of the fan filter unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an attachment structure of the filter of FIG. 5. [Figure 7A] It is a diagram showing a procedure of a method for removing a filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a cover is opened. [Figure 7B] It is a bottom view of the filter visible from below in a state where the cover is opened as shown in FIG. 7A. [Figure 8A] This is a cross-sectional view showing the filter with adhesive tape attached to its underside. [Figure 8B] This is a bottom view of the filter in the state shown in Figure 8A. [Figure 9A] This is a cross-sectional view showing the bottom surface of the filter covered with a covering material. [Figure 9B] This is a bottom view of the filter in the state shown in Figure 9A. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view showing the filter removed. [Figure 11] This diagram shows the removed filter stored in a plastic bag. [Figure 12] This is a cross-sectional view showing the contamination range in the fan filter unit. [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a fan filter unit of an aerosol infection prevention system according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 13 is a plan view of the fan filter unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, an embodiment for implementing an aerosol infection prevention system using the fan filter unit according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an aerosol infection prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the fan filter unit of the aerosol infection prevention system of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view of the fan filter unit of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top view of the fan filter unit of Figure 2. Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the lower part of the fan filter unit of Figure 2. As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol infection prevention system 10 comprises a fan filter unit 20, an intake section 50, an exhaust section 60, and an outlet section 70. The aerosol infection prevention system 10 is applied, for example, to an examination room in a medical facility that examines patients with infectious diseases, and uses the fan filter unit 20 to control the airflow in the room. As will be described later as other modifications, the aerosol infection prevention system 10 is not limited to medical facilities, but may also be installed in stores, facilities, etc., where users who may be infected with infectious diseases enter. For example, the aerosol infection prevention system 10 may be installed on the ceiling above a counter, table, etc. in a lobby where customers of a store or facility face each other, and as will be described later, it may form an air curtain-like airflow that separates the staff and the customers. The fan filter unit 20 is installed embedded in the ceiling 4 of the examination room. More specifically, the ceiling 4 comprises a ceiling slab 4s and a ceiling panel 4p suspended below it by suspension bolts (not shown), and the fan filter unit 20 is installed in the space between the ceiling slab 4s and the ceiling panel 4p and suspended from the ceiling slab 4s by suspension bolts 4b. The fan filter unit 20 mainly consists of a housing 21, a filter 30, and a fan 40.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the housing 21 is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped. The housing 21 comprises side walls 21s surrounding it on all four sides, and a top plate 21t provided on the four side walls 21s. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, at the lower end of the housing 21, an intake port 51 is formed on the inside of the four side walls 21s, opening downwards. At the lower end of the housing 21, a lower flange 21f is formed, projecting outwards from the four side walls 21s. The inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21 is provided with a panel-shaped sound-absorbing material 22 having a predetermined thickness. By providing the sound-absorbing material 22 along the side walls 21s and top plate 21t that form the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21, noise generated by airflow within the housing 21 and the operating noise of the fan 40 are reduced. The housing 21 is inserted from below into the ceiling opening 4h formed in the ceiling panel 4p, and is positioned so that its lower flange 21f abuts against the peripheral edge of the ceiling opening 4h from below.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, a partition plate 24 is provided inside the housing 21, extending horizontally within the housing 21 and dividing the housing 21 vertically. The central part of the partition plate 24 is open. The fan 40 is positioned inside the housing 21, above the partition plate 24, and is fixed by a fixing plate (not shown). The fan 40 is operated by a motor (not shown) built into the housing 21, and generates an airflow that flows from below the partition plate 24 upward through a cylindrical bell mouth 27 located on its lower side. As a result, air from the room R is drawn into the housing 21 through the intake port 51. The lower part of the bell mouth 27 is designed to be larger in diameter than the upper part. Similar to the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21, sound-absorbing material 22 is also provided on the surface of the partition plate 24. A sound-absorbing plate 23 with an open center is provided between the partition plate 24 and the filter 30, which will be described next.

[0022] The filter 30 is located inside the housing 21, below the partition plate 24. The filter 30 is located on the room side R of the fan 40, and in this embodiment, it is located below the fan 40. As shown in Figure 5, the filter 30 comprises a filter medium 31 and a frame material 32 formed to surround the outer periphery of the filter medium 31. The filter media 31 allows the air from the room R to pass through and captures infectious aerosols contained in the air from the room R. In this embodiment, a HEPA filter is used as the filter media 31. The filter media 31 is rectangular when viewed from above and has a predetermined thickness in the vertical direction.

[0023] Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the mounting structure of the filter in Figure 5. The frame material 32 is made of, for example, a metal or resin plate-like material. The frame material 32 is formed of four plate sections 32g so as to cover the four sides of the filter media 31. As shown in Figure 6, a filter flange 32f that protrudes outward is integrally formed at the lower end of the plate section 32g. A pair of wall sections 32v and 32w that protrude upward are formed on the filter flange 32f. The pair of wall sections 32v and 32w are provided parallel to the plate section 32g. One wall section 32v is provided inward, i.e., on the plate section 32g side, compared to the other wall section 32w. The pair of wall sections 32v and 32w are formed continuously around the entire circumference of the frame material 32. As a result, a groove-like section 32m is formed on the outer circumference of the frame material 32, opening upward and continuing around the entire circumference of the frame material 32. A sealing member 33 is placed within the groove-shaped portion 32m, which is formed by filling it with a flexible and elastic jelly-like gel made of urethane, silicone, or the like. The sealing member 33 may be made of materials other than those mentioned above.

[0024] The housing 21 is provided with a partition 28. The partition 28 is joined to the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21. The partition 28 is plate-shaped and has a rectangular opening 28h formed therein, in which the filter 30 is housed, when viewed from below. As a result, when viewed in cross-section as shown in Figure 5, the partition 28 is provided above the filter flange 32f, protruding from the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21 inward towards the filter 30. The filter 30 is housed inside the opening 28h. When viewed from below, the partition 28 is provided so as to close the space between the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21 and the outer periphery of the frame material 32 of the filter 30. The partition 28 is provided at a height below the filter 30, more specifically below the midpoint of the vertical height of the filter 30, and close to the filter flange 32f. The partition section 28 separates the space S1 on the suction side (lower side) of the filter 30 and the space S2 on the discharge side (upper side) of the filter 30 within the housing 21. The partition section 28 is provided such that, when viewed from above, the partition section 28 and the filter flange 32f overlap. A rib 28r projecting downward is formed on the periphery of the opening 28h of the partitioned section 28. The rib 28r is formed continuously around the entire circumference of the periphery of the opening 28h. The filter 30 is supported by the locking member 29, which will be described next, with the frame material 32 inserted from below into the inside of the opening 28h, and the sealing member 33 provided on the filter flange 32f abutting against the peripheral edge of the opening 28h of the compartment 28 from below. At this time, the rib 28r of the compartment 28 bites into the sealing member 33 or fits into a slit formed in the sealing member 33, so that the compartment 28 and the filter 30 are in close contact. As a result, the space on the suction side S1 and the space on the discharge side S2 are partitioned, and the sealing performance between these spaces S1 and S2 is enhanced.

[0025] Below the compartment 28, a locking member 29 is positioned to restrain the filter 30 in the opening 28h of the compartment 28. Multiple locking members 29 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the opening 28h. In this embodiment, a total of two locking members 29 are provided on each of the two opposing sides of the opening 28h. Each locking member 29 is formed from a metal plate or the like and integrally has a base end portion 29b fixed to the inner circumferential surface 21g of the side wall 21s of the housing 21, an extension portion 29c extending inward from the base end portion 29b into the housing 21, and an elastic piece 29d extending downward from the tip of the extension portion 29c and elastically deformable in the direction connecting the inside and outside of the housing 21 (left and right direction in Figures 5 and 6). The upper part of the elastic piece 29d is positioned opposite the outer wall portion 32w located at the outer edge of the filter flange 32f and is provided to abut along the wall portion 32w. The elastic piece 29d integrally includes a restraining portion 29t formed to protrude inward from the housing 21, and a restraint release operation portion 29s formed below the restraining portion 29t, extending downward from the restraining portion 29t. The restraint release operation portion 29s is formed to extend diagonally outward from the suction port 51 as it extends downward.

[0026] Such a locking member 29 acts as a so-called leaf spring. More specifically, the locking member 29 prevents the filter 30, which is located inside the opening 28h of the compartment 28, from falling downward by having its restraining portion 29t engage with the filter flange 32f from below. In this way, the locking member 29 supports the filter 30 inside the housing 21. To remove the filter 30, each of the restraint release operation parts 29s of the locking member 29 is pressed outward. This causes the elastic piece 29d to elastically deform outward, releasing the restraint part 29t from locking the filter 30. Once released, it is no longer supported from below. This makes it possible to remove the filter 30 downward through the opening 28h of the compartment 28. When installing the filter 30, the filter 30 is inserted from below into the elastic pieces 29d of the multiple locking members 29. Since the elastic pieces 29d of each locking member 29 extend diagonally outward toward the bottom, the filter 30 can be easily inserted into the elastic pieces 29d of the multiple locking members 29. When the filter 30 is pushed further upward, the outer wall portion 32w of the filter flange 32f abuts against the restraining portion 29t from below, causing the elastic pieces 29d to elastically deform so that they are pushed outward. When the filter 30 is pushed up to a position where its lower surface is above the restraining portion 29t, the restoring force of the elastic pieces 29d, which were elastically deformed to be pushed outward, causes the restraining portion 29t to move toward the filter 30, and the restraining portion 29t is positioned below the filter flange 32f. As a result, the restraining portion 29t locks the filter flange 32f from below, and the filter 30 is supported. In this way, the filter 30 is detachably supported within the housing 21 by the locking member 29.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, the intake section 50 is installed in the ceiling 4 and draws in indoor air R into the fan filter unit 20. The indoor air R that is drawn into the fan filter unit 20 passes through the intake section 50. The intake section 50 comprises an intake port 51 formed in the housing 21 and a cover 52. The cover 52 is provided to cover the intake port 51 and the ceiling opening 4h from below. The cover 52 is a rectangular plate when viewed from below, and has numerous perforated holes (not shown) that penetrate vertically. The cover 52 comprises a cover base 52a connected to the lower flange 21f and a cover opening / closing part 52b that is rotatably connected to the cover base 52a. The cover base 52a extends along one side of the ceiling opening 4h and is provided to follow the lower surface of the ceiling 4. The cover opening / closing part 52b is rotatably connected to the cover base 52a via a hinge (not shown). The cover opening / closing part 52b is configured to open and close in a single direction toward the interior R downwards, centered on the cover base 52a side. The cover opening / closing part 52b is connected to the lower flange 21f on the opposite side from where the cover base 52a is provided by a knurled screw 53 that can be rotated manually without the use of tools.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, an outlet 61 is formed at the top of the housing 21 to discharge air drawn into the housing 21 from the room R by the operation of the fan 40 to the outside of the housing 21. In this embodiment, the outlet 61 is formed to extend outward from the two side walls 21s of the housing 21. The discharge unit 60 discharges air that has passed through the filter 30 from the fan filter unit 20. As shown in Figure 1, the discharge unit 60 includes an exhaust duct 65 and a circulation duct 67. The exhaust duct 65 is connected to one discharge port 61 and discharges the air discharged from the fan filter unit 20 to the outside. The circulation duct 67 is connected to the other discharge port 61 and circulates the air discharged from the fan filter unit 20 into the room R. Each of the outlets 61 is equipped with a damper 62 that opens and closes the flow path within the outlet 61. By opening and closing the damper 62, the amount of air supplied to the exhaust duct 65 and the circulation duct 67 is adjusted. In the ceiling 4 and walls 5 of the interior R, air intake ports (not shown) are formed to introduce an equal amount of outside air or pre-purified clean air into the interior R from the outside (outside, corridor, etc.) to the interior R, in the same quantity as the air discharged to the outside from the exhaust duct 65. The circulation duct 67 is connected to a discharge unit 70 installed in the ceiling 4. The discharge unit 70 blows air circulated through the circulation duct 67 into the room R. The discharge unit 70 blows air from above downwards as an air curtain-like airflow Af so as to divide the room R into a first side R1 and a second side R2. This airflow Af can divide the room R into a first side R1 and a second side R2. For example, if the room R is used as an examination room, it is preferable to install an intake unit 50 above the patient Hp, such as an infected person, and to position the discharge unit 70 so that the airflow Af is blown out so that the medical personnel Hd are located on the first side R1 and the patient Hp, such as an infected person, is located on the second side R2.

[0029] In this aerosol infection prevention system 10, by operating the fan 40, indoor air R is drawn through the punched holes in the cover 52 and into the housing 21 of the fan filter unit 20 from the intake port 51 of the intake section 50. Here, since the intake section 50 is located on the ceiling 4, infectious aerosols, which are abundant in the exhaled breath of infected persons and rise on the updrafts generated by body heat, etc., are included in the indoor air R and are efficiently drawn in from the intake section 50 along with the indoor air R. The outside of the filter 30 is partitioned by the compartment section 28 and the filter flange 32f, so the indoor air R drawn in from the intake section 50 cannot pass outside the filter 30 but passes through the filter media 31 of the filter 30. In this way, infectious aerosols contained in the indoor air R are captured. The air that has passed through the filter 30 and had infectious aerosols removed to a level below a predetermined standard is discharged from the fan filter unit 20 by the discharge section 60. The air discharged from the fan filter unit 20 can be switched between three modes by appropriately opening and closing the damper 62: a mode in which the entire amount is discharged outdoors through the exhaust duct 65; a mode in which a portion is discharged outdoors through the exhaust duct 65 and the remainder is recirculated into the room R from the outlet 70 through the circulation duct 67; and a mode in which the entire amount of air that has passed through the filter 30 is recirculated into the room R through the circulation duct 67. Here, the operation of the fan 40 can be remotely controlled by a remote controller (not shown) located in the room R. When air is discharged from the room R to the outside via the exhaust duct 65, a corresponding amount of air is supplied from a common area such as the corridor H adjacent to the examination room, as shown by the arrow Ah in Figure 1.

[0030] Next, we will explain how to remove the filter 30 when replacing it in the fan filter unit 20 described above. Figure 7A is a diagram showing the procedure for removing the filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view showing the cover in an open state. Figure 7B is a bottom view of the filter as seen from below, with the cover open as in Figure 7A. Figure 8A is a cross-sectional view showing the filter with adhesive tape attached to its bottom surface. Figure 8B is a bottom view of the filter in the state shown in Figure 8A. Figure 9A is a cross-sectional view showing the filter with its bottom surface covered by a covering material. Figure 9B is a bottom view of the filter in the state shown in Figure 9A. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the filter after it has been removed. Figure 11 is a diagram showing the removed filter stored in a plastic bag. As shown in Figure 7A, to remove the filter 30, first open the cover opening / closing section 52b of the cover 52 from the interior R side. This is done by manually rotating the knurled screw 53 (see Figure 5) to release the connection with the lower flange 21f. Next, open the cover opening / closing section 52b downwards. At this time, since the cover opening / closing section 52b is connected to the cover base 52a via a hinge, it is unnecessary to remove the cover opening / closing section 52b and place it on the floor below. This exposes the filter 30 facing downwards.

[0031] Next, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, adhesive tape 100, such as butyl tape, is attached to the lower surface of the filter flange 32f of the filter 30 from the room R side. The adhesive tape 100 is attached so as to surround the filter media 31. Subsequently, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the outer periphery of the rectangular vinyl sheet or other covering material 101 is attached to the adhesive tape 100, thereby attaching the covering material 101 to the filter 30. In Figure 9B, the filter media 31 and adhesive tape 100 located on the far side are visible through the attached covering material 101. This covering material 101 covers the lower surface of the filter media 31, which may have infectious aerosols attached to it, from the room R side, thus suppressing the scattering of infectious aerosols into the room R from the filter media 31 during replacement work, and preventing workers from coming into contact with infectious aerosols. Alternatively, a covering material 101 with adhesive tape 100 attached to its outer circumference may be prepared in advance, and the adhesive tape 100 may be attached to the lower surface of the filter flange 32f so that the covering material 101 covers the lower side of the filter 30.

[0032] Subsequently, the restraint release operation portion 29s of each locking member 29 is pressed outward to release the locking of the filter 30 by the restraint portion 29t. At this time, the locking members 29 can be easily operated by hand without the use of tools. Once the locking of the filter 30 is released, the filter 30 is no longer supported from below. From this state, as shown in Figure 10, the worker pulls the filter 30 downward through the opening 28h of the compartment 28 to remove the filter 30, which is covered on the bottom side by the covering material 101, from the housing 21. As shown in Figure 11, the removed filter 30 is placed in a plastic bag 102, sealed, and then removed from the room R and disposed of using a predetermined disposal method. Next, the new filter 30 is installed on the fan filter unit 20 in the reverse order of removal. More specifically, the new filter 30 is positioned in the opening 28h of the compartment 28 and moved upward. When the filter 30 is pushed up to a position where its lower surface is above the restraining part 29t, the restraining part 29t locks the filter flange 32f from below, and the filter 30 is supported by the locking member 29. After that, the cover opening / closing part 52b is closed and the knurled screw 53 is rotated to connect it to the lower flange 21f. The replacement of filter 30 is completed with the above steps.

[0033] The aerosol infection prevention system 10 using the fan filter unit described above comprises a fan filter unit 20 equipped with a housing 21 embedded in the ceiling 4 of the room R, a fan 40 provided inside the housing 21 for drawing in air from the room R, and a replaceable filter 30 provided on the room R side of the housing 21 from the fan 40 for capturing infectious aerosols contained in the air; an intake section 50 provided in the ceiling 4 through which the air from the room R taken into the fan filter unit 20 passes; and an exhaust section 60 that discharges the air that has passed through the filter 30 from the fan filter unit 20, and controls the airflow of the room R using the fan filter unit 20. With this configuration, when the fan 40 operates, the air from room R is drawn in from the intake 50 to the fan filter unit 20 and passes through the filter 30 located on the room R side of the fan 40. The filter 30 captures infectious aerosols contained in the air from room R. The air that has passed through the filter 30 is discharged from the fan filter unit 20 by the discharge 60. In this aerosol infection prevention system 10, the fan filter unit 20 is embedded in the ceiling 4, so it does not interfere with furniture or other items installed in the room R during installation. Therefore, the degree of installation flexibility is increased, and it becomes possible to install it near areas where infectious aerosols are thought to be abundant, thereby increasing the likelihood of efficiently capturing infectious aerosols. In particular, infectious aerosols are abundant in the exhaled breath of infected individuals and rise towards the ceiling 4 in the room R, carried by the rising air currents generated by body fever, etc. As described above, since the fan filter unit 20 is embedded in the ceiling 4 and the intake section 50 is also provided in the ceiling 4, infectious aerosols that have risen towards the ceiling 4 can be efficiently drawn into the fan filter unit 20. Furthermore, since the fan filter unit 20 is installed on the ceiling 4, as already explained, its installation location is not significantly limited. Therefore, the fan filter unit 20 can be installed in a location that can effectively capture infectious aerosols, such as directly above an infected person. In this way, it becomes possible to efficiently take measures against infectious aerosols.

[0034] In particular, the aerosol infection prevention system 10 of this embodiment uses a fan filter unit 20 in which the fan 40 and filter 30 are integrated within a single housing 21. Therefore, compared to cases where, for example, the fan and filter are installed as separate devices on the ceiling 4, installation is easier and overall installation costs can be reduced. Furthermore, since the fan filter unit 20 is embedded in the ceiling 4, it does not occupy any space inside the room during installation.

[0035] Furthermore, the exhaust section 60 includes an exhaust duct 65 that discharges the air discharged from the fan filter unit 20 to the outside, a circulation duct 67 that circulates the air discharged from the fan filter unit 20 into the room R, and a damper 62 that adjusts the amount of air supplied to the exhaust duct 65 and the circulation duct 67. With this configuration, the damper 62 adjusts the amount of air sent to the exhaust duct 65 and the circulation duct 67, making it possible to either discharge the entire amount of air that has passed through the filter 30 to the outside through the exhaust duct 65, or to discharge a portion of the air that has passed through the filter 30 to the outside while circulating the purified remainder into the room R.

[0036] From the perspective of preventing the spread of infectious aerosols, it would ideally be desirable to discharge the entire volume of air that has passed through filter 30 to the outside through exhaust duct 65. However, in this case, a large amount of air equivalent to the exhaust volume needs to be supplied from the outside to the room R, which requires a lot of energy. Therefore, for example, in cases where energy consumption is to be reduced, the system can be operated in such a way that a portion of the air that has passed through the filter 30 is discharged outdoors while the remainder is circulated back into the room R. Thus, with the configuration described above, it becomes possible to operate in a way that balances the energy consumed with the efficiency of infectious aerosol countermeasures.

[0037] Furthermore, a dispensing unit 70 is provided on the ceiling 4 to blow air circulated via the circulation duct 67 into the room R. The dispensing unit 70 blows air from above downwards in an air curtain-like manner so as to divide the room R into a first side R1 and a second side R2. With this configuration, the air that has passed through the filter 30 is blown downward in an air curtain shape from the air outlet 70 installed on the ceiling 4, thereby gently dividing the room R into a first side R1 and a second side R2 with air. By installing such an air outlet 70 at an appropriate location in the room R, and positioning the person infected with the infectious disease on one side R1 and the person associated with the infected person on the other side, it is possible to suppress the direct reach of infectious aerosols from the infected person to the person associated with the infected person.

[0038] Furthermore, the fan filter unit 20 includes a locking member 29 having a restraining part 29t that secures the filter 30 from below, thereby restraining the filter 30 in a state supported inside the housing 21, and a restraint release operation part 29s that releases the restraining part 29t from securing the filter 30. With this configuration, the filter 30 can be restrained and supported inside the housing 21 by the restraining portion 29t of the locking member 29, which locks the filter 30 from below. Furthermore, by operating the restraint release operation portion 29s, the restraining portion 29t can release the locking of the filter 30 from below, allowing the filter 30 to be removed from inside the housing 21. Therefore, the replacement of the filter 30 can be performed easily and efficiently. In this way, the filter 30 can be replaced with simple operations, thus reducing the opportunity for workers to come into contact with the filter 30 during replacement. This reduces the risk of workers becoming infected by infectious aerosols adhering to the filter 30, and as a result, it is possible to efficiently take measures against infectious aerosols.

[0039] Furthermore, the locking member 29 includes a base end portion 29b fixed to the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21, an extension portion 21c extending inward from the base end portion 29b to the housing 21, and an elastic piece 29d extending downward from the tip of the extension portion 21c and elastically deformable in the inward and outward directions of the housing 21. The restraining portion 29t is formed on the elastic piece 29d so as to protrude inward from the housing 21, and the restraint release operation portion 29s is formed on the elastic piece 29d below the restraining portion 29t. By pressing the restraint release operation portion 29s outward from the housing 21 and elastically deforming the elastic piece 29d outward, the locking of the filter 30 by the restraining portion 29t is released. With this configuration, pressing the restraint release operation unit 29s outward from the housing 21 causes the elastic piece 29d to elastically deform outward, thereby releasing the restraint unit 29t from locking the filter 30. As a result, the filter 30 is released from its fixed position and can be removed from inside the housing 21. In this way, the filter 30 can be removed from inside the housing 21 with simple operation, thus reducing the opportunity for workers to come into contact with the filter 30 during replacement. This reduces the risk of workers becoming infected by infectious aerosols adhering to the filter 30, and as a result, measures against infectious aerosols can be taken more efficiently.

[0040] Furthermore, the housing 21 is provided with a partition portion 28 that is joined to the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21 so as to close the space between the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21 and the outer circumferential part of the filter 30, and partition portion 28 is provided that divides the space S1 on the suction side of the filter 30 and the space S2 on the discharge side of the filter 30 within the housing 21, and the partition portion 28 is provided at the height below the filter 30. With this configuration, the partition 28 closes the space between the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21 and the outer circumferential surface of the filter 30, thereby partitioning the space S1 on the intake side of the filter 30 and the space S2 on the discharge side of the filter 30 within the housing 21. Since the partition 28 is provided at a height below the filter 30, as shown in Figure 12, the area D in the fan filter unit 20 that is contaminated by infectious aerosols can be limited to a small area below the bottom of the filter 30, and a configuration can be made in which contaminated air does not enter the inside of the housing 21.

[0041] Furthermore, the filter 30 comprises a filter medium 31 through which indoor air R passes and captures infectious aerosols contained in the air, and a frame material 32 formed to surround the outer periphery of the filter medium 31. A groove-like portion 32m is formed on the outer periphery of the frame material 32, opening upward and continuing around the entire circumference of the frame material 32. A sealing member 33 is provided inside the groove-like portion 32m. An opening 28h for housing the filter 30 is formed in the partition 28. A rib 28r is formed on the periphery of the opening 28h, protruding downward around the entire circumference of the opening 28h. The rib 28r is in close contact with the sealing member 33, thereby partitioning the suction-side space S1 and the discharge-side space S2. With this configuration, the ribs 28r of the partition portion 28 provided on the inner circumferential surface 21g of the housing 21, extending around the entire circumference of the outside of the filter 30, are in close contact with the sealing member 33 provided on the outer circumference of the frame material 32 of the filter 30, thereby sealing the space between the partition portion 28 and the frame material 32 of the filter 30. This prevents infectious aerosols from entering the discharge-side space S2 of the filter 30 through the gap between the partition portion 28 and the frame material 32, and prevents the discharge-side space S2 of the filter 30 from being contaminated by infectious aerosols.

[0042] Furthermore, the method for removing the filter 30 as described above is a method for removing the filter 30 in the aerosol infection prevention system 10 as described above, and includes: opening the cover that covers the suction section 50 from the indoor side R to expose the filter 30; attaching the covering material 101 that covers the lower surface of the filter 30 to the filter 30 from the indoor side R; and removing the filter 30, whose lower surface is covered by the covering material 101, from the housing 21. With this configuration, the lower surface of the filter 30 exposed on the indoor R side is covered with the covering material 101, which prevents workers from inadvertently touching the filter 30 when replacing it. In this way, the risk of infection to workers during the removal of the filter 30 is reduced, and as a result, measures against infectious aerosols can be taken efficiently.

[0043] Furthermore, the fan filter unit 20 of the present invention is a fan filter unit 20 for infectious aerosol countermeasures comprising a housing 21 embedded in the ceiling 4 of a room R, a fan 40 provided inside the housing 21 for drawing in air from the room R, and a replaceable filter 30 provided on the room R side of the housing 21 relative to the fan 40 for capturing infectious aerosols contained in the air, and includes a locking member 29 having a restraining part 29t that restrains the filter 30 in a state supported inside the housing 21 by locking the filter 30 from below, and a restraint release operation part 29s that releases the locking of the filter 30 by the restraining part 29t. With this configuration, the filter 30 can be restrained and supported inside the housing 21 by the restraining portion 29t of the locking member 29, which locks the filter 30 from below. Furthermore, by operating the restraint release operation portion 29s, the restraining portion 29t can release the locking of the filter 30 from below, allowing the filter 30 to be removed from inside the housing 21. Therefore, the replacement of the filter 30 can be performed easily and efficiently. In this way, the filter 30 can be replaced with simple operations, thus reducing the opportunity for workers to come into contact with the filter 30 during replacement. This reduces the risk of workers becoming infected by infectious aerosols adhering to the filter 30, and as a result, it is possible to efficiently take measures against infectious aerosols.

[0044] The aerosol infection prevention system 10 described above can, of course, be constructed during the construction of the building to be installed. Furthermore, it is possible to construct the aerosol infection prevention system 10 even after the building has been constructed and operations have begun. In either case, the aerosol infection prevention system 10 can be easily installed by constructing it and creating an inspection opening of an appropriate size near the fan filter unit 20.

[0045] (Modified version of the embodiment) It should be noted that the aerosol infection prevention system 10 of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, and various modifications are possible within its technical scope. For example, in the above embodiment, the fan filter unit 20 is configured such that the fan 40 is positioned above the filter 30, and the filter 30 and the fan 40 overlap in a plan view, but the configuration is not limited to this. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, in this modified example, the fan filter unit 20B of the aerosol infection prevention system 10 mainly comprises a housing 91, a filter 30, and a fan 40. The housing 91 has a rectangular shape in plan view. An intake section 50 and a filter 30 are provided at one end of the housing 91 in the longitudinal direction. The fan 40 is located at the other end of the housing 91 in the longitudinal direction. In this way, in the fan filter unit 20B, the filter 30 and the fan 40 are located at different positions in plan view. Inside the housing 91, an intermediate flow path section 95 is formed between the filter 30 and the fan 40, which sends air that has passed through the filter 30 to the fan 40. Bends 97 and the like are appropriately formed in the intermediate flow path section 95. Sound-absorbing material 22 is provided on the inner surface of the housing 91 and on the wall surface forming the intermediate flow channel 95, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 13, similar to the embodiment described above.

[0046] Thus, in the modified fan filter unit 20B, the filter 30 and the fan 40 are arranged in different positions in a plan view, and an intermediate flow path 95 is formed between the filter 30 and the fan 40 to send air that has passed through the filter 30 to the fan 40. With this configuration, the filter 30 and the fan 40 are positioned at different locations in a plan view, which suppresses the direct transmission of the fan 30's operating noise to the room R. In addition, by forming an intermediate flow path 95 between the filter 30 and the fan 40, the path between the fan 40 and the suction section 50 is lengthened, making it more difficult for the fan 30's operating noise to be reflected and diffracted by the intermediate flow path 95 and transmitted to the suction section 50. These factors work together to suppress the transmission of the fan 30's operating noise to the room R.

[0047] Furthermore, compared to a configuration where the filter 30 and fan 40 are arranged vertically, the height of the fan filter unit 20B can be reduced, making it possible to install the fan filter unit 20B even in cases where the ceiling space is not very tall.

[0048] (Other variations) Furthermore, although the configuration of the locking member 29 was described in the above embodiment, the locking member 29 may be provided on the filter 30 side, for example. Also, if it has a similar function, a locking member 29 with a different configuration may be used instead of the locking member 29 having an elastic piece 29d. In this case as well, in order to ensure ease of operation, it is preferable that the filter 30 can be attached and detached by hand without the use of tools. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a portion of the air that has passed through the filter 30 is circulated into the room R through the circulation duct 67 and the discharge section 70. However, the circulation duct 67 and the discharge section 70 may be eliminated, and all of the air that has passed through the filter 30 may be discharged outdoors. Alternatively, the entire amount of air that has passed through the filter 30 may be circulated into the room R through the circulation duct 67. Furthermore, when circulating air that has passed through the filter 30 into the room R via the circulation duct 67 and the outlet 70, the outlet 70 may be provided at multiple locations on the ceiling 4 of the room R. Furthermore, the location of the air outlet 70 can be changed as appropriate; for example, it may be installed at an entrance or exit to the room R. Furthermore, the use of the indoor area R is not limited to examination rooms where infected individuals are examined, but may also be hospital rooms where infected individuals are housed. In addition, the aerosol infection prevention system 10 may be installed not only in medical facilities, but also in shops, facilities, etc., where users who may be infected with an infectious disease may enter. For example, the aerosol infection prevention system 10 may be installed by providing an air outlet 70 on the ceiling 4 above counters, tables, etc. in the lobby where customers of a shop or facility face each other, and creating an air curtain-like airflow that separates the staff from the customers. In addition to the above, it is possible to select or replace the configurations listed in the above embodiments, or to change them to other configurations as appropriate, as long as it does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 4. Ceiling, 32m, groove-like section 10 Aerosol infection prevention system 33 Sealing member 20, 20B Fan Filter Unit 40 Fans 21, 91 Housing 50 Suction part 21g Inner surface 52 Cover 28 Compartment section 60 Discharge section 28h opening 62 damper 28r Rib 65 Exhaust Duct 29 Locking component 67 Circulation duct 29b Base end 70 Blowout part 29c Extension section 95 Intermediate flow channel section 29d Elastic piece 101 Covering material 29s Restraint release operation section R Indoor 29t Restraint part R1 First side 30 Filter R2 Second side 31 Filter media S1 Intake side space 32 Frame material S2 Space on the discharge side

Claims

1. A fan filter unit comprising a housing embedded in the ceiling of a room, a fan provided within the housing for drawing in the air of the room, and a replaceable filter provided inside the housing on the room side of the fan for capturing infectious aerosols contained in the air, The ceiling is provided with an intake section through which the air from the room that is taken into the fan filter unit passes, The fan filter unit comprises a discharge unit that discharges the air that has passed through the filter, and the fan filter unit is used to control the airflow in the room. The housing is provided joined to the inner circumferential surface of the housing so as to close the space between the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the outer circumferential portion of the filter, and includes a partition portion that divides the space on the suction side of the filter and the space on the discharge side of the filter within the housing. The partitioned section is located at a height below the filter. A system for preventing aerosol infection using a fan filter unit.

2. The aforementioned discharge section is An exhaust duct for discharging the air discharged from the fan filter unit to the outside, A circulation duct for circulating the air discharged from the fan filter unit into the room, Each of the exhaust duct and the circulation duct is provided with a damper that adjusts the amount of air supplied to the exhaust duct and the circulation duct. A system for preventing aerosol infection using the fan filter unit described in claim 1.

3. A blowing outlet is provided on the ceiling for blowing the air circulated through the circulation duct into the room. The aforementioned air outlet divides the room into a first side and a second side, and blows the air from above downwards in an air curtain shape so that the person infected with the infectious disease is located on one side of the first side and a person associated with the infected person is located on the other side. Aerosol infection prevention system using the fan filter unit described in claim 2.

4. The fan filter unit includes a locking member having a restraining part that secures the filter to the inside of the housing by locking the filter from below, and a restraint release operation part that releases the restraining part from locking the filter. An aerosol infection prevention system using a fan filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The locking member comprises a base end fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the housing, an extension extending inward from the base end, and an elastic piece extending downward from the tip of the extension and elastically deformable in the inward and outward directions of the housing. The restraining portion is formed on the elastic piece so as to protrude inward from the housing, The restraint release operation part is formed on the elastic piece below the restraint part, By pressing the aforementioned restraint release operation part toward the outside of the housing and elastically deforming the elastic piece toward the outside, the restraint part's locking to the filter is released. A system for preventing aerosol infection using the fan filter unit described in claim 4.

6. The filter is located inside the housing and is detachably supported from the housing. An aerosol infection prevention system using a fan filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The aforementioned filter is A filter medium through which the air in the room passes and which captures the infectious aerosols contained in the air, The filter media comprises a frame material formed to surround its outer periphery, A groove-like portion is formed on the outer periphery of the frame material, opening upwards and extending continuously around the entire circumference of the frame material. A sealing member is provided inside the groove-shaped portion. The partitioned portion has an opening for housing the filter, and the peripheral edge of the opening has ribs that protrude downwards along the entire circumference of the opening. The ribs are in close contact with the sealing member, thereby separating the suction-side space from the discharge-side space. A system for preventing aerosol infection using the fan filter unit described in claim 6.

8. The filter and the fan are positioned at different locations in a plan view. An intermediate flow path is formed between the filter and the fan, which sends the air that has passed through the filter to the fan. An aerosol infection prevention system using a fan filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for removing the filter in an aerosol infection prevention system using a fan filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, From the indoor side, open the cover that covers the intake section and expose the filter. The above involves attaching a covering material to the filter from the indoor side to cover the lower surface of the filter, The filter, whose lower surface is covered by the covering material, is removed from the housing. How to remove the filter that includes [this].

10. A fan filter unit for infectious aerosol countermeasures, comprising a housing embedded in the ceiling of a room, a fan provided within the housing for drawing in air from the room, and a replaceable filter provided on the room side of the housing relative to the fan for capturing infectious aerosols contained in the air, The locking member comprises a restraining part that secures the filter from below, thereby restraining the filter in a state supported inside the housing, and a restraint release operation part that releases the restraining part from engaging the filter, The housing is provided joined to the inner circumferential surface of the housing so as to close the space between the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the outer circumferential portion of the filter, and includes a partition portion that divides the space on the suction side of the filter and the space on the discharge side of the filter within the housing. The aforementioned compartment is a fan filter unit for infectious aerosol control, located at a height below the filter.

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