AirLoop
This project investigates an alternative approach to respiratory protection for workers exposed to airborne particles in industries such as painting, construction, and surface finishing.
Traditional respiratory protective equipment (RPE), such as filtering masks, often faces challenges related to comfort, usability, and long-term adherence. Workers frequently remove or incorrectly wear protective equipment due to discomfort, communication barriers, and breathing resistance.
The goal of this project was to explore whether a directed air curtain system could provide a protective airflow barrier in front of the user’s breathing zone, reducing particle exposure without requiring traditional filtration masks.
The research combines fluid dynamics analysis, experimental testing, and user-centered design to investigate the feasibility of a wearable air curtain–based respiratory protection system.
Project Presentation
This presentation covers the key information of this project.
Problem Context
Workers in industries such as painting and construction are frequently exposed to hazardous airborne particles, including paint aerosols, solvents, and fine dust.
Despite the availability of certified respiratory protective equipment, compliance rates remain low due to discomfort and usability issues. Interviews with professional painters revealed common problems such as:
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heat and moisture accumulation inside masks
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communication difficulties on-site
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discomfort during long work shifts
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improper usage or removal during work
These behavioral factors can significantly reduce the effectiveness of conventional PPE.
This project explores whether engineering airflow instead of filtering air could offer an alternative protective strategy.
Concept: Air Curtain Protection
The proposed system generates a directed airflow barrier in front of the user’s face using high-velocity jets arranged around the breathing zone.
The air curtain forms a protective region that deflects incoming particles away from the nose and mouth before they enter the breathing zone.
Key engineering challenges include:
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achieving sufficient jet velocity to deflect particles
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maintaining a stable airflow barrier
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minimizing turbulence that could draw particles inward
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balancing airflow performance with wearable constraints such as weight, noise, and power consumption
Nozzle Geometry Exploration with Performance Modeling
The proposed system generates a directed airflow barrier in front of the user’s face using high-velocity jets arranged around the breathing zone.
The air curtain forms a protective region that deflects incoming particles away from the nose and mouth before they enter the breathing zone.
Key engineering challenges include:
-
achieving sufficient jet velocity to deflect particles
-
maintaining a stable airflow barrier
-
minimizing turbulence that could draw particles inward
-
balancing airflow performance with wearable constraints such as weight, noise, and power consumption
Fluid behavior was analyzed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to study airflow patterns around the breathing zone.
Simulations focused on:
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jet velocity profiles
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stability of the air curtain
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interaction with ambient airflow
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particle deflection behavior
The modeling helped identify promising nozzle configurations and guided prototype development.
Experimental Testing
To evaluate real-world performance, experimental testing was conducted using particle visualization and airflow measurements.
Key experimental methods included:
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particle image visualization
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airflow velocity measurements
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controlled particle exposure tests
These experiments helped verify whether the air curtain could effectively deflect incoming particles away from the breathing zone.
Results
Based on modeling and experimental insights, functional prototypes were built using:
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3D printed nozzle structures
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airflow generation components
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modular mounting systems for testing
The prototypes allowed iterative testing of airflow configurations and evaluation of system feasibility in a wearable context.