New Airflow Device Stops Indoor Germs in Their Tracks
A team of UBC Okanagan engineers may have found a new way to stop germs before they spread indoors. Their “jet-sink” airflow device traps airborne pathogens nearly as soon as they leave someone’s mouth—cutting down exposure far more than typical ventilation systems ever could.
Most people don’t think much about the air they share—until winter rolls in and every cough starts sounding like a threat. With colds and flu on the rise every season, the quest for cleaner indoor air matters more than ever.
Enter UBCO’s Dr. Sunny Li, Dr. Mojtaba Zabihi, and Dr. Joshua Brinkerhoff. They’re working on a more innovative approach to indoor air quality, tackling a longstanding problem: most buildings aren’t designed to keep airborne germs at bay.
Why Old Ventilation Isn’t Enough
Most ventilation systems move air through big spaces. A few get fancy by blowing clean air directly at people, like those little airplane vents above your seat. But as Dr. Li points out, these solutions have problems. They only work well if you stay glued to the same spot, and they often leave your eyes dry and your skin itchy—not exactly a recipe for comfort in offices and classrooms.
“Nearly 90 percent of the average Canadian’s life happens indoors,” Dr. Li says. “Given how many germs can hang around in the air, better solutions are critical for public health.”
Designing for Real-World Life
According to Dr. Zabihi, the group’s lead researcher, every building is different—whether it’s the way the rooms are shaped or how heating and air conditioning are set up. This makes it difficult to consistently improve airflow. That’s why the team decided on a more personalized option: a device you can actually use (and tolerate) all day.
Their fresh solution? A jet-sink airflow system. Instead of blasting air at you, it creates a controlled stream around you—gathering up exhaled particles and whisking them away before they drift across the room.
How Does It Work?
Old-school personalized ventilation depends on blowing fast-moving air right at you—a system that doesn’t work if you fidget or adjust your seat. The new UBCO device, on the other hand, forms a gentle “shield,” capturing germs as you exhale and pulling them into a localized filter zone.
“It’s about combining comfort and control,” Dr. Zabihi says. “We can trap and remove nearly all exhaled aerosols almost instantly, before anyone else can breathe them in.”
The system was put to the test through computer simulations mimicking real-life conditions—breathing, body heat, movement, and everyday conversation — over 30 minutes. The results? The jet-sink device mopped the floor with conventional options.
Significant Results, Lower Risk
Published in Building and Environment, the study found the jet-sink airflow device slashed the risk of infection to just 9.5 percent. That’s a considerable drop compared to 91 percent with normal room ventilation, 47.6 percent with regular personal systems, and 38 percent using high-powered exhaust options.
Even when two people were close together, almost none of the exhaled germs reached the other person. Computers estimated that during the first 15 minutes, just 10 out of 540,000 pathogen particles might get into another person’s breathing space. All told, the system captured up to 94 percent of all airborne pathogens.
“Other personalized systems can’t keep up if people turn or interact,” says Dr. Brinkerhoff. “Ours adapts, making it a smart choice for places like classrooms, clinics, or offices—anywhere it’s tough to keep your distance.”
Where This Goes Next
Dr. Brinkerhoff points out that moving air the right way matters just as much as filtering it. The goal now? Tweaking the system to work for bigger rooms, then building and testing real-world models in clinics and public spaces.
As a member of Canada’s National Model Codes Committee on Indoor Environment, Dr. Zabihi believes the research could help shape the next wave of ventilation standards—and make everyday spaces much safer for everyone.
Comments
Post a Comment