AIRBORNE CONTAMINANT EXPOSURE CONTROL IN A PARTITIONED WORK-ENVIRONMENT BY EXHAUST VENTILATION SYSTEMS

The evaluation of contaminant removal effectiveness can play a key rol e in a working environment quality investigation and in remediation ef forts. In this study a computer simulation technique was developed for assessing the efficiency of contaminant removal within a partitioned working environment. To determine the effect of the physical parameter s of each partitioned space on contaminant removal effectiveness, a re lative contaminant concentration unit was used to show the simulation results. In addition, tracer gas techniques were adopted to validate t he accuracy of the prediction model. A comparison of measured CO2 conc entrations in a controlled environment chamber with the results of a s imulation model is presented. This study investigated the partition co nfiguration of work environment and environment parameters including o penings operation, constant concentration, and exhaust air volume mode . Results indicated that variations of the above three parameters can produce great differences in overall ventilation performance. Through this type of study, the interaction of airflow and contaminant concent ration between partitioned spaces can be understood in advance and ade quate knowledge can be provided to maintain a high-quality and healthy environment for workers.