State-space analysis of influencing factors on airborne particle concentration in aircraft cabins: Fid-Bau Portal

State-space analysis of influencing factors on airborne particle concentration in aircraft cabins

Zhai, Shang / Li, Zheng / Zhao, Bin

Abstract Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to airborne particles is strongly associated with human health. Air quality concerns in aircraft cabins increase as air travel is becoming more common. Analyzing factors that influence the concentrations of airborne particles and taking mitigating measures will protect human health during air travel. In this study, concentrations of particles larger than 0.3 μm were measured in aircrafts' supply air in 9 flights. Air change rates were evaluated by the concentration of CO2 in supply air and recirculation air. Human emission, deposition and resuspension of particles were analyzed with our previously published results. The state-space method was used to calculate time-dependent particle concentration in different particle diameter intervals. Afterwards, with variation ranges of the 5 factors above, deviation rates of particle concentration were defined to evaluate the importance of those factors. This study determined: 1) resuspension is not an important factor, especially as time elapses; 2) varied deposition rate slightly influences particles smaller than 5.0 μm; 3) air change rate and human emission rate strongly impact the concentration of particles smaller than 2.0 μm; 4) supply air concentration generally affects the concentration of larger particles.

Highlights • We perform state-space analysis of particle concentration in aircraft. • We evaluate significance of factors affecting particle concentration in aircraft. • We introduce deviation rate to quantify the significance of various factors. • Deposition and resuspension are not important factors. • Supply air, human emission and air change rate are determining factors.