Contaminant Source Identification within an Air Duct System: using a Backward Probabilistic Model. (2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zeng, Lingjie; Gao, Jun
• Is Part Of: Procedia engineering. Volume 205(2017)
• Page Start: 3485
• Page End: 3492
• Publication Date: 2017
• Subjects: ventilation system -- source identification -- probabilistic method -- contamination transport; Engineering -- Congresses; Engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 620.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.09.901
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-7058

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years, the indoor occupants are being threatened by various risks related to the re-lease of hazardous contaminants. If the terrorists release a bio-chemical agent into an air duct system, the source must be promptly and accurately located and characterized to minimize the adverse impact of the contaminant releasing. In this work, we presented a backward probabilistic model based on the convective and diffusion equation. It can be used to calculate the probabilities of the source location and releasing time. The model is derived with an assumed air distribution and with a single, instantaneous source of contamination in an air ductwork. A hypothetical air supply system and a typical releasing scenario were presumed in case studies. In all cases, the true source node and releasing time were identified as the one with maximum probability.