Numerical simulation of mixed convection heat and mass transfer in a human inhalation test chamber

Large baffled rectangular chambers, Rochester-style test chambers, and displacement ventilated rooms have traditionally been used to study effects of potentially toxic pollutants on animals and humans. Recently, the interest in harmful effects of indoor gaseous pollutants and associated air quality control have rapidly increased because most urban dwellers spend more than 90% of their daily lives in closed environments. Of interest here are the experimentally validated CFD simulations of transient turbulent non-isothermal flow with tracer gas transport in a personal exposure environment. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of transient breathing on trace gas ambient (i.e., exposure) concentrations and ultimately the uptake (i.e., dose concentrations) by the subject for three different orientations with respect to the non-isothermal air stream and the location of the tracer gas source.