Analysis of HVAC Configurations for a Hospital Operating Room (LB-17-C004)

Airflow patterns within the hospital operating rooms (OR) determine the levels of air speed, temperature, and flow path of contaminants to and from the sterile and non-sterile zones. This paper with the help Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis analyzes the effect of various HVAC configurations on the resulting airflow pattern, temperature distribution, and importantly flow of path of contaminants between the sterile and non-sterile zones. With the help of airflow visualization this paper shows the effective flow path of the contaminants. The analysis provided in this paper is useful to practicing engineers in the healthcare industry in designing the HVAC systems for the operating rooms.