Evaluation of Air and Pollutant Transport in an Apartment with MVHR: Measurement and Simulation Study

Résumé et principaux résultats

Article présenté lors de la Conférence IEQ Montréal 2025.

Indoor air quality in urban environments requires effective ventilation and filtration to reduce airborne pollutants. This study examines air and particle transport in a four-room apartment in a building located in Lyon, France, equipped with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR). A measurement campaign conducted from September to October 2019 provided data on particle concentrations and airflow rates across various rooms, while simulations were performed using CONTAM to model air and pollutant transport considering actual supply and exhaust airflow rates, outdoor particle concentrations, and filtration efficiencies derived from in-situ measurements. Few additional simulations were carried out to assess the impact of a portable air cleaner used in one of the rooms, the presence of a sick occupant as a source of pollutants, and the impact of window and door opening on aerosol concentrations. In the apartment, with a surface area of approximately 100 m² (1076 ft²), an air exchange rate of around 0.6 h-¹ was maintained during the study period. The results show that filtration efficiency varied significantly over time, particularly for particles smaller than 2 ?m. Domestic activities such as cooking and window opening had a considerable impact on indoor air quality. A comparative analysis of measured and simulated data revealed systematic discrepancies, prompting iterative adjustments to model parameters related to pollutant sources and deposition rates. Sensitivity tests indicated that using average filtration efficiencies over time improved the alignment between simulated and measured particle levels. This study underscores the importance of precise modeling in understanding indoor air dynamics, contributing to the optimization of residential ventilation. By integrating empirical data with simulations, including scenarios with a portable air cleaner and a simulated infected occupant, this research sheds light on factors influencing indoor air quality in urban residential environments, with implications for air quality management in similar settings.

Thème

Ventilation et qualité de l'air

Auteurs

GINESTET Alain, LEFEBVRE Camille, MOURADIAN Laure, PUGNET Dominique, ROBITU Mirela