| Title |
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Airborne COVID-19 Transmission in a Restaurant |
| Authors |
조예림(Jo, Ye-Lim) ; 조성민(Jo, Seong-Min) ; 성민기(Sung, Minki) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.3.299 |
| Keywords |
Airborne Transmission; Restaurant; Ceiling Fan; Outdoor Air; Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| Abstract |
This study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on an actual infection case to examine how entrance openings and
ceiling fan operation affect airborne pathogen transmission in a restaurant. Numerical reliability was confirmed through a grid independence
test, which showed less than five percent relative error between fine and medium meshes. The results showed that opening entrances and
operating ceiling fans improved indoor air mixing, reduced stagnant airflow zones, and lowered the average contaminant concentration to
about one third of the level observed under closed conditions. In contrast, closed entrances and inactive fans produced stronger airflow
recirculation and increased contaminant accumulation near partitions and walls. Contaminant removal effectiveness (CRE) reached its highest
value of 0.0947 when all entrances were open and its lowest value of 0.0262 when all entrances were closed. These results indicate that
ceiling fan operation alone is not sufficient for effective contaminant dilution and that outdoor air inflow plays a critical role in removal and
dispersion. The proposed CFD-based analytical framework enables quantitative evaluation of ventilation performance beyond nominal air
change rates and provides practical guidance for improving ventilation design and airflow management. This approach contributes to the
development of infection-resistant indoor environments while supporting occupant safety and energy efficiency. |