| A Portable Isolated Unit-Containment and Protection System Utilizing Life Support (PIU-CAPSULS) is a specially designed unit created in order to provide a controlled containment and comfort environment for a patient. It is used in cases involving chemical and biological contaminants or catastrophic events in civilian, commercial or military environments where the person may be infected or contaminated with an airborne agent such as nuclear, biological or chemical (NBC). This unit protects the patient from the external environment and helps to maintain comfortable conditions by preventing particulate (biological and radiological) cross-contamination between the human body (patient) and the surroundings. Providing individual casualty protection and maintaining comfortable conditions are complex concepts which take into account various aspects pertaining to sensorial, psychological and physiological concepts. Several factors such as temperature, air velocity and humidity along with human respiratory and thermal systems that regulate the consumption of oxygen and production of carbon dioxide and metabolic heat generation are to be considered. Apart from these, fluid flow, heat and mass transport also are an important part in the balance and distribution of heat and gas species within the unit.;In this study a three-dimensional CFD-based simulation model has been developed using ANSYS/Fluent commercial code to analyze the rate of heat and mass transport between the human body in an isolation unit and the environment. This model is based on convection and diffusion of heat and mass species such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, taking into account of the metabolic heat generation and species production. Simulations have been performed on different modes with two different flow rates and considering both pressure and suction modes of operation to identify favorable operating conditions. |
