Influence of Air Pressure on Unidirectional Flow Operating Theatres: A Study Based on Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

In operating theatres, delicate control of room pressurization is required to ensure indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Establishing a differential pressure in the operating theatre with respect to the adjoining rooms allows protection against cross-contamination with the outside. To achieve this, a flow rate of less than the flow rate is mechanically extracted. In this work it evaluates what percentage values of extraction on the impulse are optimal to reach the recommended pressurization values. The results show that it would be appropriate to extract between 92% and 95% of the driven flow rate so that the pressurization value is in the recommended range.