Capital Metro Transportation Authority - Clean Air Study, Austin, TX

“SIZE:
Clean Air Study
Air Motion
Virus Movement

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Located in Austin, Texas Capital Metro Transportation Authority is a regional Mass Transportation provider. Capital Metro operates bus, paratransit service, and a common rail system that has been connecting people in Austin and several Suburbs since 1985. Over 32 million people are estimated to ride the Capital Metro every year.

 

SETTY provided a combined/detailed model data required to accomplish the goal of understanding air motion and virus movement/concentrations within a bus cabin, which was done by creating a simplified 3D model, used in our CFD effort that captures all relevant interior/exterior surfaces.

Our preliminary proofs-of-run were functional and indicative of air temperature profiles, air velocity profiles and air pathways through the cabin of the model. The temperatures indicated in the cabin were based on the bus actually being in Austin, TX with outdoor air temperatures based on the ASHRAE published summer and winter outdoor air temperatures.

 
 

Scope of work includes:

  • Building data in scenarios with only the driver; with the driver and socially distant passengers (~6’); and with the driver and a fully occupied cabin.

  • Building all Supply Air (from the HVAC to the cabin) and all Return Air (from the cabin to the HVAC-PHI equipment) air device locations.

  • The completed and verified model will run in various modes such as varied occupancies, bus booster fan on/off, driver’s window closed/driver’s window open and bus in motion, etc. in order to identify the cases with the worst performance in terms of air motion.

  • Suggesting solutions that improve the Stagnant Air Locations and to identify the most advantageous occupancies and seating positions and the recommend operational preferences.

Washington DCSuraj MallikTerm (Fed-State-Local Gov), office, Commissioning