Energy Efficiency, Air Quality and Comfort in Air-Conditioned Operating Theatres

Author(s):  
Essam Khalil
Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 791
Author(s):  
Gaetano Settimo ◽  
Pasquale Avino

Recently, there has been a great increase in the importance of issues related to energy efficiency [...]


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 357-367
Author(s):  
Liva Asere ◽  
Andra Blumberga

AbstractThe energy efficiency – indoor air quality dilemma is well known and the main drawback to operate the mechanical ventilation is electricity costs as concluded from previous studies. Educational buildings are one of the places where future taxpayers spend a lot of time. This paper aims to study an alternative solution on how to reduce energy efficiency – indoor air quality dilemma in educational buildings by adopting systems that use renewable energy sources. A typical education building in Latvia is taken as a case study by changing it from a consumer to prosumer. This building type has a specific electricity usage profile that makes the choice of photovoltaics (PV) power quite challenging so the various power options have been analysed and used for an electricity solution. Also, the more decentralised preference is chosen – disconnect from a public heating provider and using a local system with a pellet boiler. Educational buildings using PV can reduce the electricity tariff, but the payback periods are still not very satisfactory without subsidies. The average electricity tariff per month varies between scenarios and the best one is for the scenario with 30 kW installed power. The educational building partly using 16 kW PV system reduces not only its bill for electricity but also reduces CO2 emissions by around 36 tons. The education buildings as energy prosumers using renewable energy sources are reducing GHG emissions by having high indoor air quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalila Belhout ◽  
Helder Relvas ◽  
Brahim Haddad ◽  
Rabah Kerbachi ◽  
Ana Isabel Miranda

Author(s):  
Gastón Sanglier Contreras ◽  
Jose Amílcar Rizzo Sierra ◽  
Eduardo José López Fernández ◽  
Roberto Alonso González Lezcano

Nursing homes have been one of the most prominent targets of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Spain. The factors that have determined that this is the case are very diverse. In this study, physical agents and chemical pollutants, population density, and different capacities of the residences are analyzed to see their influence on the number of elderly people who have died in the geriatric centres in the different autonomous communities (AACC) of Spain. A statistical analysis has been carried out on the variables observed. The conclusions show that in many places where this overflow of deaths has occurred, the residences were private, with some exceptions. The influence of physical agents and pollutants has been shown to be a determining factor, especially for the communities of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha, although it is true that the large number of factors makes the study complicated. The dilemma between air quality and energy efficiency is of great importance, especially when human health is at stake.


2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 10902
Author(s):  
Souad Morsli ◽  
Rachid Bennacer ◽  
Mohammed El Ganaoui ◽  
Harry Ramenah ◽  
Alain Carmasol

Energy and buildings are increasingly becoming subjects for investigations, especially for the indoor air quality domain coupled to energy demand. The physics of fluids flowing inside enclosures bring basic models to understand and build better schemes. This paper is devoted to studying ventilation strategies in regards to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and energy efficiency in floor refreshing houses. A room model is considered in a simplified level, as a cavity heated on the external sidewall and cooled on the bottom ground surface. The external air injector is at variable positions and interacting with the needed cooling power; the air quality (mixing ability) and thermal comfort are also studied. The cooling efficiency inside the considered volume and the average air temperature are analyzed for a given temperature difference characterizing the natural convection level (Rayleigh number, Ra = 106) and a horizontal ventilation (moderate Reynolds number Re = 102). An obtained complex flow structure indicates that the natural convection and the forced flow (ventilation) act directly on the resulting patterns, mixing ability, heat exchange which in a straight line affect the thermal comfort and in fine the energy cost (cooling requirement).


Author(s):  
Cesira Pasquarella ◽  
Carla Balocco ◽  
Maria Eugenia Colucci ◽  
Elisa Saccani ◽  
Samuel Paroni ◽  
...  

Surgical staff behavior in operating theatres is one of the factors associated with indoor air quality and surgical site infection risk. The aim of this study was to apply an approach including microbiological, particle, and microclimate parameters during two simulated surgical hip arthroplasties to evaluate the influence of staff behavior on indoor air quality. During the first hip arthroplasty, the surgical team behaved correctly, but in the second operation, behavioral recommendations were not respected. Microbiological contamination was evaluated by active and passive methods. The air velocity, humidity, temperature, and CO2 concentration were also monitored. The highest levels of microbial and particle contamination, as well as the highest variation in the microclimate parameter, were recorded during the surgical operation where the surgical team behaved “incorrectly”. Turbulent air flow ventilation systems appeared more efficient than in the past and very low air microbial contamination was reached when behavior was correct. Therefore, adherence to behavioral recommendations in operating theatres is essential to not undermine the effectiveness of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and employed resources.


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