The regulation of air quality is important in an indoor area where physical activity takes place. It is especially crucial in natatoriums, where the main threat to health conditions is caused by disinfection by-products (DBPs) stemming from the primary disinfectant of the swimming pool. Ventilation systems serve several purposes, including controlling the temperature and humidity, reducing the condensation on cold surfaces, like windows, and removing harmful DBPs formed in the pool water, most importantly Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Trichloramines. Studies show that inhaling air high in THM concentration constitutes a higher risk to our health compared to oral ingestion or dermal absorption, which enhances the importance of air quality management in swimming facilities.
The air quality modeling is carried out by the simulation of the THM and Trichloramine flux from the pool surfaces into the atmosphere of the natatorium in two steps. Firstly, to give a more accurate result, the CFD model used to simulate the airflow is paired with a heat transfer model to include thermal induced flows. Secondly, a 3D THM transport model is applied using the modeled flow pattern and the volatile DBP flux from the pools. The results of the simulation are illustrated in 3D figures to display temperature distributions, THM distributions and flow patterns. The figures provide and overview of the swimming pool hall, clearly pinpointing areas for improvement and weak points in each investigated factor.
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