Reduced Diffusion of Exhaled Air Using Partition Wall With Aerosol Diffusion Prevention Unit

In 2020, COVID‐19 caused a global pandemic, raising concerns regarding the possibility of another pandemic caused by a new or unknown virus in the future. Room ventilation is considered the most important factor to prevent disease transmission through droplets and aerosols. Acrylic partitions, as well as masks, have been used worldwide to prevent such transmissions. However, in a typical flat partition wall, aerosols expelled through a cough or sneeze diffuse back into the room after reaching the wall. To overcome this problem, we devised a partition wall equipped with aerosol diffusion prevention units above and below the wall. In this study, numerical analysis and flow visualization experiments were conducted using actual coughing and sneezing exhalation volumes to investigate the effectiveness of this partition. Particle image velocimetry analysis using video images obtained from flow visualization experiments and numerical analysis indicated that the exhaled air flowed into the device, thus reducing diffusion. In addition, low‐flow suction fans were installed at the end of the aerosol diffusion prevention unit to draw the exhaled air into the unit, preventing it from diffusing, despite the small size of the partition. Thus, the proposed partition wall with the aerosol diffusion prevention units can serve as an effective barrier for limiting the transmission of infectious diseases.