The cold and flu season heightens the risk of airborne disease.<\/p>\n
Researchers at UBC Okanagan are testing a new airflow device that removes pathogens before they spread, aiming to offer a stronger defense for enclosed spaces.<\/p>\n
The team argues that traditional ventilation upgrades often fall short. <\/p>\n
These systems move large volumes of air, but they struggle to control what people inhale during close contact. Dr. Sunny Li, a professor in the School of Engineering and study co-author, points to those limits.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnsuring high air quality while indoors is crucial for mitigating the transmission of airborne disease, particularly in shared environments,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
He notes that many Canadians spend most of their time inside. That makes indoor air quality central to daily health.<\/p>\n
Personalized ventilation systems try to close this gap by directing clean air at individuals.<\/p>\n
Airlines use similar methods to circulate cabin air around passengers, but these systems have trade-offs. They work only when people stay still and use them together. They also cause dry skin and eyes due to constant airflow.<\/p>\n
Postdoctoral researcher and first author Dr. Mojtaba Zabihi says inconsistent room layouts and older HVAC systems add another challenge. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to develop an innovative system that prevents occupants from inhaling contaminated air while allowing them to use a personalized ventilation system comfortably for extended periods,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
New\u2019 jet-sink\u2019 airflow approach<\/p>\n
The UBC team created an induction-removal, or \u201cjet-sink,\u201d concept that pulls exhaled aerosols away before they drift. Conventional personal systems push high-speed air toward the user.<\/p>\n
That air can feel harsh and become less efficient when users shift positions. The new design redirects airflow around the body and draws contaminated particles into a small purification<\/a> zone.<\/p>\n \u201cOur design combines comfort with control,\u201d says Dr. Zabihi. \u201cIt creates a targeted airflow that traps and removes exhaled aerosols almost immediately\u2014before they have a chance to spread.\u201d<\/p>\n The researchers tested the device through computer simulations.<\/p>\n They modeled breathing, body heat, and air movement during a 30-minute consultation. The results showed sharp drops in infection risk. Standard room ventilation left users with a 91 per cent chance of infection.<\/p>\n A personal system cut that number to 47.6 per cent. Adding an exhaust element dropped it to 38 per cent. The jet-sink system brought it down to 9.5 per cent.<\/p>\n The team also measured how many particles reached another person. <\/p>\n Under optimal placement, only 10 of 540,000 exhaled particles traveled across the space. Their model showed that the device removed up to 94 per cent of airborne<\/a> pathogens.<\/p>\n Future testing plans<\/p>\n Study co-author Dr. Joshua Brinkerhoff says current personalized systems cannot adjust when users move. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a smart, responsive solution for spaces like clinics, classrooms or offices where close contact is unavoidable,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n