Airflow pattern inside car with windows open

Smith College

The air exchange rate depends heavily on vehicle speed, ventilation setting, window positions mainly control the air exchange rate (ACH)


Parked Car:

- AC off: 0.42 – 1.09 per hour

- AC on:  1.96-3.23 per hour

- AC off and fans on: 8.7-10.7 per hour

- windows closed and no mechanical ventilation: 1.0 – 3.0 per hour

- ventilation set on recirculation: 1.8-3.7 per hour

- windows closed and fan set on fresh air: 13.3-26.1 per hour

- windows open and no mechanical ventilation: 36.2-47.5 per hour

Moving Car (28 km/hr):

- window open and no ventilation: 71 per hour

- window closed and ventilation on: 60 per hour

- windows closed and no ventilation: 4.9 per hour




Aerodynamics in Car Interior Space

Jayaweera, M., Perera, H., Gunawardana, B., & Manatunge, J. (2020). Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosols: A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy. Environmental Research, 188, 109819. Advance online publication.

doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109819

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7293495/

Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosols: A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy

- Model #1

- Model #2

(The numbering does not indicate prioritization)

Aerosol and Droplet Behavior in Car Interior Space

Airflow pattern inside car with windows closed and AC on

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