U of S researchers tackle airborne COVID-19 virus

A group of researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are working to find ways to stop the spread of airborne COVID-19 virus.

U of S engineering researcher, Carey Simonson and his team are working to develop testing equipment to measure how airborne viruses are transferred in building ventilation systems.

“Of course we’ve all heard that many societies deal with heating and air conditioning and have talked about the transmission of coronavirus which takes place certainly in distances larger than two metres into very small droplets that are formed as we exhale, talk and speak, and cough,” said Simonson.

He explains these small droplets can travel long distances in the air and can stay suspended for hours and as they do can travel around buildings.

“SARS-COV-2 virus may remain airborne for hours and can be transported tens of metres indoors and even further within air ducts,” said Simonson. “We want to see whether airborne viruses in the exhaust air of buildings are returned to the fresh supply air used to ventilate and reduce contaminants in the building.”

Simonson says the main way to reduce the concentration of the contaminant is to bring in fresh air from outdoors through the heat duct.

“Of course in Saskatchewan, when we do that there’s a large energy penalty, you have to heat that air to bring it in,” said Simonson.

He says his research really focuses on energy-efficient ventilation systems and how fresh air can be brought in that keeps everyone healthy and safe inside the building in an energy-efficient way.

Simonson will be working with another U of S engineering researcher, Jafar Soltan, on a project that aims to inactivate airborne pathogens using an air sanitization device.

Soltan will test the effectiveness and feasibility of the device for use in existing air conditioning systems.

“The research will improve air quality, reducing the risk of spread of airborne pathogens in health-care facilities, seniors’ residences and transit systems where maintaining adequate social distancing may be difficult,” said Soltan.