Experimental Application of PIV: Micro-Scale Room Turbulence (Surgical micro-environment turbulent airflows) and Thermal Comfort Measurements

The presentation in PDF format is available for download by clicking on the image above.

The presentation by Prof. PhD Guangyu Cao explore the use of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to analyze complex airflow in surgical environments, where maintaining high indoor air quality is vital for reducing mortality rates from surgical site infections. The presentation details the technical components of a 2D-2C PIV system, which utilizes lasers and high-resolution cameras to precisely measure airflow characteristics. Through various case studies, it demonstrates how PIV tracks airflow disruptions caused by thermal plumes from staff and the physical movement of surgeons’ arms. Beyond airflow, the research addresses the significant thermal discomfort reported by surgical teams and patients, using the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) indices to quantify these environments. The presentation concludes by proposing innovative wearable solutions, such as neck air conditioners and external nozzle air jets for surgical gowns, to improve thermal comfort in the operating room.

The graphics accompanying this post were generated using artificial intelligence tools