Impact of Air Change Rates on Streamlined Air Flow Under High Occupancy Students in a Classroom

This study examines the influence of air change rates (ACH) on reducing the transmission of airborne pathogens, specifically respiratory droplets, in classrooms using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach validated by experimental data. The research focuses on optimizing ACH values to achieve effective airflow distribution and pathogen dispersion control. An innovative aspect of the CFD approach lies in its ability to simulate detailed airflow patterns and particle behavior under varying ACH conditions. Key findings indicate that increasing ACH enhances airflow and particle distribution, with ACH 27 providing the best results. At this rate, airflow maintains swift, streamlined motion, ensuring improved air quality and minimizing infection risks for targeted ventilation strategies. These results underscore the importance of selecting appropriate ACH values to balance airflow efficiency and infection mitigation in classroom settings, offering evidence-based recommendations for optimizing indoor air quality.