2017 Volume 8 Issue 2 Pages 53-56
In research laboratories, atmospheres as well as equipment and facilities are shared. Our previous research revealed that experimenters are often exposed to chemical substances which they do not use in their own protocol because air environments are shared in laboratories.To reduce the possible risks, the total airflow in the whole room needs to be studied. is evident that the total airflow is affected by the layout of the room and that the optimum air environment may vary depending on the purpose of the room’s usage and the type of operations conducted in the room.
In this study, the relationship between laboratory layout and total airflow was discussed to prevent unintended exposure risks in shared places. The airflow condition was calculated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, and was analyzed from the viewpoint of airflow vectors and the concentration of chemical substances at each position of the room.
Through CFD simulation, it was suggested that airflows and diffusion pathways of volatile chemical substances depended on the positional relationship of an air supply port, a fume hood and walls. In addition, the effect of installation of an extra wall in the room depended on airflows in the whole room. These results indicated importance of the relationship between laboratory layout and air environment for proper risk management.
