Vertical Laminar Flow Ventilation to Reduce Aerosol Spread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation systems fail to effectively reduce the spread of germs and viruses between room occupants, as they often rely on air mixing that can lead to the circulation of aerosols containing pathogens, posing a higher risk to individuals with compromised immune systems, especially in enclosed spaces during flu seasons or pandemics.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation system featuring a lowered air-permeable ceiling and raised air-permeable flooring with varying permeability based on distance from the air supply inlet, creating a vertical laminar flow that prevents air mixing and reduces the buildup of aerosols, using floor tiles with adjustable through-holes and potentially automated systems to maintain consistent airflow speeds below 0.2 m/s, thereby minimizing the risk of disease transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air outlet openings are evenly spaced over the whole surface of the lowered ceiling for ventilation, then air circulation is provided throughout the room, but air mixing occurs which spreads aerosols containing germs and viruses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional ventilation approach by introducing air through the floor instead of extracting it through the ceiling. This reversal creates an upward vertical flow that pushes aerosols toward the ceiling outlet, preventing horizontal mixing and spread throughout the room. The air inlet is positioned at floor level while the air outlet remains at ceiling level, fundamentally changing the flow direction to eliminate harmful aerosol circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised flooring incorporates locally varied air permeability to optimize airflow distribution. The flooring material or structure has different permeability characteristics at different locations, allowing controlled air introduction that maintains vertical flow patterns. This local variation ensures consistent upward flow velocity across the floor surface, preventing turbulence and horizontal air mixing that would spread aerosols.
2Temperature
If conventional ventilation systems mix air inside the room to equalize temperature, then thermal comfort is improved, but the mixing spreads pathogens through aerosol circulation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using horizontal air mixing to equalize temperature, the patent employs vertical stratified flow with controlled thermal layers. Fresh air enters at the floor level and rises vertically, creating a temperature gradient that can be managed through the flow rate control. The air outlet at ceiling level extracts warmer air, providing passive thermal regulation without horizontal mixing that would spread pathogens.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic control through the raised flooring to regulate air introduction. By controlling the pressure differential and flow rate through the permeable floor, the system maintains stable vertical flow patterns that prevent turbulence. The airflow velocity is kept below turbulence thresholds, ensuring laminar flow conditions that prevent pathogen mixing while still achieving thermal comfort through controlled vertical convection.
3Productivity
If air flow speed is increased to improve ventilation efficiency, then air refreshing rate increases, but turbulence increases which spreads aerosols throughout the room
Solution Approach 1:
The raised flooring system uses pneumatic principles to distribute air pressure evenly across the floor surface. The permeable structure acts as a pressure equalization layer, ensuring uniform air introduction at controlled velocities. By regulating the pressure differential between the supply air and room air, the system maintains flow speeds that achieve adequate ventilation without exceeding turbulence thresholds, thus preventing aerosol spread while maintaining high air refreshing rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes airflow parameters by controlling velocity, pressure, and flow distribution. The air flow speed is carefully selected to remain below the critical velocity for turbulence onset, while the volumetric flow rate is maximized through increased floor permeability and optimized pressure differential. This parameter optimization allows high ventilation efficiency without the harmful effects of turbulent flow and aerosol mixing.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a raised flooring with varying air permeability is installed to create vertical laminar flow, then aerosol spread is reduced, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The raised flooring utilizes porous materials or pre-fabricated permeable panels that provide the required air distribution characteristics. These standardized porous components can be manufactured with consistent permeability properties and installed as modular units, significantly reducing installation complexity compared to custom-built solutions. The porous structure naturally provides flow distribution and velocity control without requiring complex mechanical adjustments or custom fabrication at each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised flooring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for floor loads, acts as an air distribution system with varying permeability, and creates the vertical flow pattern for aerosol containment. By integrating these functions into a single multi-functional component, the system avoids the need for separate air distribution ducts, diffusers, and support structures, thereby reducing overall system complexity and installation effort while achieving the desired health safety benefits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures a consistent and efficient vertical airflow that reduces the concentration of aerosols and pathogens within the room, lowering the risk of airborne disease transmission, even for prolonged occupancy, while being cost-effective and easy to install in existing buildings.
Implementation Method 1
causing a vertical laminar flow of fresh air entering the room via the floor
Implementation Method 2
the air permeability of the raised flooring varies in dependence on distance from the air supply inlet
Implementation Method 3
By convection the air blown in will be mixed with the room air and thus the possible temperature difference will be equalized
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation system for ventilating a room, comprising: a lowered ceiling, defining a ceiling space between the lowered ceiling and a ceiling of the room and having an air permeable ceiling surface area; a raised flooring, supported by a support frame and defining a floor space between the raised flooring and a floor of the room, the raised flooring being air permeable over a floor surface area opposite to the air permeable ceiling surface area; an air supply inlet connected to the floor space; and an air outlet, connected to the ceiling space, wherein the air permeability of the raised flooring varies in dependence on distance from the air supply inlet for forming a substantial vertical air flow in which air entering the room through the floor surface area displaces air in the room in the vertical direction and forces air out through the ceiling surface area.