scholarly journals Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: Physical Principles and Implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Jarvis

Evidence has emerged that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, can be transmitted airborne in aerosol particles as well as in larger droplets or by surface deposits. This minireview outlines the underlying aerosol science, making links to aerosol research in other disciplines. SARS-CoV-2 is emitted in aerosol form during normal breathing by both asymptomatic and symptomatic people, remaining viable with a half-life of up to about an hour during which air movement can carry it considerable distances, although it simultaneously disperses. The proportion of the droplet size distribution within the aerosol range depends on the sites of origin within the respiratory tract and on whether the distribution is presented on a number or volume basis. Evaporation and fragmentation reduce the size of the droplets, whereas coalescence increases the mean droplet size. Aerosol particles containing SARS-CoV-2 can also coalesce with pollution particulates, and infection rates correlate with pollution. The operation of ventilation systems in public buildings and transportation can create infection hazards via aerosols, but provides opportunities for reducing the risk of transmission in ways as simple as switching from recirculated to outside air. There are also opportunities to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol form with sunlight or UV lamps. The efficiency of masks for blocking aerosol transmission depends strongly on how well they fit. Research areas that urgently need further experimentation include the basis for variation in droplet size distribution and viral load, including droplets emitted by “superspreader” individuals; the evolution of droplet sizes after emission, their interaction with pollutant aerosols and their dispersal by turbulence, which gives a different basis for social distancing.

Fluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Félix ◽  
Alberto Romero ◽  
Cecilio Carrera-Sanchez ◽  
Antonio Guerrero

The correlation between interfacial properties and emulsion microstructure is a topic of special interest that has many industrial applications. This study deals with the comparison between the rheological properties of oil-water interfaces with adsorbed proteins from legumes (chickpea or faba bean) and the properties of the emulsions using them as the only emulsifier, both at microscopic (droplet size distribution) and macroscopic level (linear viscoelasticity). Two different pH values (2.5 and 7.5) were studied as a function of storage time. Interfaces were characterized by means of dilatational and interfacial shear rheology measurements. Subsequently, the microstructure of the final emulsions obtained was evaluated thorough droplet size distribution (DSD), light scattering and rheological measurements. Results obtained evidenced that pH value has a strong influence on interfacial properties and emulsion microstructure. The best interfacial results were obtained for the lower pH value using chickpea protein, which also corresponded to smaller droplet sizes, higher viscoelastic moduli, and higher emulsion stability. Thus, results put forward the relevance of the interfacial tension values, the adsorption kinetics, the viscoelastic properties of the interfacial film, and the electrostatic interactions among droplets, which depend on pH and the type of protein, on the microstructure, rheological properties, and stability of legume protein-stabilized emulsions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 933-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Crowley ◽  
Daniel Mendelsohn ◽  
Nicole Whittier Mulanaphy ◽  
Zhengkai Li ◽  
Malcolm Spaulding

ABSTRACT The increase in oil and gas development activity at increasing water depths has highlighted the need for modeling tools to evaluate the unique aspects of accidental deepwater releases, one aspect being the need to assess the impact of subsurface dispersant application to a deepwater blowout. In response to this need, the effect of subsurface dispersant application has been implemented within RPS ASA's blowout model OILMAPDeep. OILMAPDeep was developed to simulate deepwater blowout releases; it predicts the evolution and characteristics of the subsurface plume and estimates the oil droplet size distribution associated with the release. The droplet size distribution dictates the vertical transport of oil within the water column, and impacts the relative volume anticipated to either surface or remain trapped in the water column. Droplet sizes are primarily a function of the energy of the release and the oil-water interfacial tension. The energy of the release is characterized by a reference velocity, typically the exit velocity, and the oil-water interfacial tension as a function of the oil properties. Dispersants mixed with oil reduce the oil-water interfacial tension, which in turn reduces the droplet sizes associated with treated releases serving to delay or eliminate surfacing oil. The present model implementation takes advantage of recent studies that have quantitatively assessed the relationship between the dispersant to oil ratio and surface tension. Here we present a background of the OILMAPDeep module, the governing physical processes of droplet formation, and the relationship between dispersant-to-oil ratio (DOR) and droplet size formation as characterized in the model. A description of the model implementation including model inputs and outputs are provided. Furthermore a set of scenarios are presented that demonstrate the model's capabilities for planning and preparing response activities in the event of a potential oil well blowout. This paper shows how the implementation of subsurface dispersant application within OILMAPDeep provides an effective means of evaluating potential response activities associated with subsurface dispersant application to a deepwater blowout. This includes evaluating the effect of subsurface dispersant application on droplet size distribution, and the ultimate impact on the timing, location and the relative volume of surfacing oil.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 561-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Zhao ◽  
Michel C. Boufadel ◽  
E. Eric Adams ◽  
Scott A. Socolofsky ◽  
Kenneth Lee

ABSTRACT This paper presents the details of a numerical model that is capable of simulating the droplet size distribution emanating from blowouts. The model was obtained as a result of combination of traditional mechanistic models developed in reactors with jet (or plume) models to predict the evolution of the plume away from the orifice. Inputs to the model include the energy dissipation rate (or the mixing energy) and holdup, which is the volume fraction of oil in the control volume. These parameters vary as the plume spreads away from the orifice. They have a maximum value near the orifice and rapidly decrease as moving away from the orifice. The model was validated using experimental data available in the literature. Subsequently, the model was used to predict the evolution of droplets in the Deepwater Horizon incident. The model provides the variation of the mean diameter and the droplet size distribution with depths away from the orifice. The sensitivity of different parameters, such as interfacial tension which could present the addition of dispersants was also evaluated.


2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 2051-2071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexei Korolev ◽  
Mark Pinsky ◽  
Alex Khain

Abstract A new mechanism has been developed for size distribution broadening toward large droplet sizes. This mechanism may explain the rapid formation of large cloud droplets, which may subsequently trigger precipitation formation through the collision–coalescence process. The essence of the new mechanism consists of a sequence of mixing events between ascending and descending parcels. When adiabatically ascending and descending parcels having the same initial conditions at the cloud base arrive at the same level, they will have different droplet sizes and temperatures, as well as different supersaturations. Isobaric mixing between such parcels followed by further ascents and descents enables the enhanced growth of large droplets. The numerical simulation of this process suggests that the formation of large 30–40-μm droplets may occur within 20–30 min inside a shallow adiabatic stratiform layer. The dependencies of the rate of the droplet size distribution broadening on the intensity of the vertical fluctuations, their spatial amplitude, rate of mixing, droplet concentration, and other parameters are considered here. The effectiveness of this mechanism in different types of clouds is discussed.


Author(s):  
R. A. Alsulami ◽  
S. Nates ◽  
W. Wang ◽  
S. H. Won ◽  
Bret Windom

Abstract Development of efficient and clean combustion systems requires the understanding of all the processes experienced by a complex liquid fuel in IC engines, such as atomization, vaporization, turbulent mixing, and combustion. Many of these processes are interconnected; the atomization process, which leads to various droplet sizes can enhance or diminish the vaporization rate of the liquid fuel and consequently impact the energy conversion process. Furthermore, the combustion/flame stability of liquid-fueled gas turbine can be influenced by the fuel and the air co-flow rates delivered in the engine. Increasing the fuel and/or air flow rates can enhance droplet breakup and the turbulence of the flow, and as a result sway the droplet size distribution of the spray. This work focuses on investigating the impact of varying the fuel and air flow rates on the spray atomization (e.g. droplet size distribution) of an Annular Co-Flow Spray Burner. This was explored by measuring droplet sizes and velocities of the spray at different radial and axial positions of n-heptane fuel under nonreacting conditions. In addition, the turbulence intensity and the liquid spray droplet distribution were quantified for different fuel and air flow rate conditions. The measurements were obtained by using a Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer/Laser Doppler Velocimeter (PDPA/LDV) at P = 1 atm and T = 298 K. Moreover, the Sauter Mean Diameters for different flow conditions are predicted, using an established correlations, and compared to PDPA/LDV measurements. The results provided a fair understanding of the influence of varying the fuel and air flow rates on the droplet sizes, velocity, and turbulent intensity. Furthermore, the results presented here will support future work that will focus on unraveling the role of phase change on flame stability.


2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 673-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laszlo E. Kollar ◽  
Masoud Farzaneh ◽  
Anatolij R. Karev

Author(s):  
Jian Wang ◽  
Jichuan Wu ◽  
Shouqi Yuan ◽  
Wei-Cheng Yan

Abstract Previous work showed that particle behaviors in ultrasonic atomization pyrolysis (UAP) reactor have a great influence on the transport and collection of particles. In this study, the effects of droplet behaviors (i.e. droplet collision and breakage) and solvent evaporation on the droplet size, flow field and collection efficiency during the preparation of ZnO particles by UAP were investigated. The collision, breakage and solvent evaporation conditions which affect the droplet size distribution and flow pattern were considered in CFD simulation based on Eulerian-Lagrangian method. The results showed that droplet collision and breakage would increase the droplet size, broaden the droplet size distribution and hinder the transport of droplets. Solvent evaporation obviously changed the flow pattern of droplets. In addition, both droplet behaviors and solvent evaporation reduced the collection efficiency. This study could provide detail information for better understanding the effect of droplet behaviors and solvent evaporation on the particle production process via UAP reactor.


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