Use of COMSOL Multiphysics for IAQ Monitoring in Cleanrooms

COMSOL Multiphysics is exploited for monitoring microclimate and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in a real Operating Theatre (OT). We propose results carried-out by a multi-physical modelling, mainly based on the fluid dynamics solution, and the consequent determination of several transport-diffusion equations for passive scalar variables, such as temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide and particles concentration. A special procedure is proposed to simulate person movement and sliding door opening/closing. It is mainly based on the definition of specific source terms in the governing equations, assuming assigned values in the portions of computational domains where the solid objects are located at a chosen time. Exploiting an iterative cross-comparison of numerical results with experimental data carried out by a monitoring campaign in the studied OT, an innovative methodology is also presented to assess the number of particles, for a chosen class of diameter, released by the occupants to the environment. From our analyses some IAQ indexes were deduced, allowing monitoring the local and overall OT air quality level due to the ventilating system during real operational conditions.