COVID-19 pandemic: Together against coronavirus

How can viruses be effectively eliminated from indoor air? This question is now becoming more important as fall approaches. Efficient indoor air purification is essential, especially in schools. Fraunhofer researchers are investigating and op-timizing various filter and air purification techniques in the AVATOR project.

Reliably eliminating viruses from the room air - that sounds like a good idea, especially in times of the coronavirus. In the “Fraunhofer vs. Corona” program, Fraunhofer IBP has established practical methods to demonstrate the efficiency of air purification technologies.

The "Healthy Air Initiative" aims at providing companies with quick, practical, and scientifically proven solutions to reduce the transmission of viruses via aerosols. With this in mind, practicable ventilation concepts for aerosol prevention will be developed and contact points for advice will be set up as part of three project phases.

Within the scope of the "Hy4HoGa" project, ways to reduce the risk of infection via aerosols in the hospitality industry, and thus how large, highly-frequented spaces can be used safely at affordable cost, is being investigated by Fraunhofer IBP in collaboration with the Bavarian hotel and restaurant association "Bayerischer Hotel- und Gaststättenverband DEHOGA Bayern e.V." and the Bavarian industry association "vbw - Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e.V."

The "Aerosols Expert Group" was convened by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science to clarify the transmission of the virus by aerosols. Fraunhofer IBP is represented in the expert group by Prof. Gunnar Grün, Deputy Director of Fraunhofer IBP and an expert in the field of indoor air flows.

In the project Anti-Virus Aerosol: Testing, Operation, Reduction, in short "Avator", research is being conducted to assess and reduce the risk of infection by viruses transmitted via aerosols in enclosed spaces. Besides simulation-based methods to assess airborne dispersion, the project aims to develop air purification technologies based on virus capture and inactivation.

To protect employees from cross-infections in rooms, our scientists are working on a further development of the climate sky concept. The end-result will be not only adaptable but also mobile: the aim is to create a personalized, protective air curtain with multi-stage filtering system based on the principle of air recirculation.

Scientists at Fraunhofer IBP in Stuttgart have studied the effect of different masks on acoustic speech quality. The project aims at assessing the acoustic limitations of masks with the aid of an experimental setup and evaluation system, and at developing acoustically optimized face masks.