• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.262-267
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• 2005

The air-side particulate fouling in the heat exchangers of HVAC applications degrades the performance of cooling capacity, pressure drop across a heat exchanger, and indoor air quality. Indoor and outdoor air contaminants foul heat exchangers. The purpose of this study is to investigate and to model the air-side particulate fouling characteristics of the heat exchangers using accelerated particle loading system. The main variables of the modeling equation are face velocity and dust concentration. The modeling equation shows good agreements with the experimental results at the face velocity of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 m/s and the dust concentration of 1.28 and $3.84\;g/m^3$. It will be very useful to predict fouling characteristics such as variations of pressure drop and heat transfer capacity in finned-tube heat exchangers of air conditioners.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.359-368
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• 1999

The outdoor and indoor air quality surrounding highway have been measured, and the study on the design of the booth shape and the air-conditioning system also has been carried out. For the first step of the work, the air quality at the Seoul tollgate on the Kyeong-bu highway was monitored over a year. The measured indoor air quality shows seasonal average concentration 85.6-92.1ppb of >;$NO_2$and the $SO_2$and CO lower than the EAQS(Environmental Air Quality Standards). The measured TSP concentration was much higher than the EAQS. In conclusion, there is necessity to improve the working environment of the tollbooths on highways, and the current air-conditions need to be modify for the purpose. In the process of modifying the air-conditioning system, particulate pollutants needs to be considered processing and the priority needs to be put on the booths for big vehicles.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2023

Natural ventilation has proven to be an effective passive strategy in improving energy efficiency and providing healthy environments. However, such a strategy has not been commonly adopted to tall office buildings that traditionally rely on single-skin façades (SSFs), due to the high wind pressure that creates excessive air velocities and occupant discomfort at upper floors. Double-skin façades (DSFs) can provide an opportunity to facilitate natural ventilation in tall office buildings, as the fundamental components such as the additional skin and openings create a buffer to regulate the direct impact of wind pressure and the airflow around the buildings. This study investigates the impact of modified multi-story type DSFs on indoor airflow in a 60-story, 780-foot (238 m) naturally ventilated tall office building under isothermal conditions. Thus, the performance of wind effect related components was assessed based on the criteria (e.g., air velocity and airflow distribution), particularly with respect to opening size. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was utilized to simulate outdoor airflow around the tall office building, and indoor airflow at multiple heights in case of various DSF opening configurations. The simulation results indicate that the outer skin opening is the more influential parameter than the inner skin opening on the indoor airflow behavior. On the other hand, the variations of inner skin opening size help improve the indoor airflow with respect to the desired air velocity and airflow distribution. Despite some vortexes observed in the indoor spaces, cross ventilation can occur as positive pressure on the windward side and negative pressure on the other sides generate productive pressure differential. The results also demonstrate that DSFs with smaller openings suitably reduce not only the impact of wind pressure, but also the concentration of high air velocity near the windows on the windward side, compared to SSFs. Further insight on indoor airflow behaviors depending on DSF opening configurations leads to a better understanding of the DSF design strategies for effective natural ventilation in tall office buildings.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.142-151
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• 2011

In this study, we have observed PM-10 and $CO_2$ concentration in the subway cabins and analyzed the factors affecting air quality using a multivariate statistical analysis. The measurements have been conducted at Seoul metropolitan subway lines. The results show that the mean concentration of the PM-10 and $CO_2$ inside subway cabins is in the range of 62.6 to 108.0 ${\mu}g/m^3$ and 907 to 2,008 ppm, respectively. $CO_2$ level in specific sections during the rush hours has exceeded air quality guidelines for public transportation, which requires designated train ventilation controls. Correlation and regression analyses of influencing factors imply that $CO_2$ level is severely influenced by the number of passengers and PM-10 level is also correlated with the number of passengers. In particular, PM-10 level in the cabins indicates a positive correlation with outdoor PM-10 level. In addition, the PM concentration has been highly affected by the number of passengers and distance between stations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.87-98
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• 2001

There has been increased interest in the health effects of the Environmental Tobacco Smoke(ETS) as a confirmed human carcinogen. It has been known to be extremely difficult to make an accurate assessment of exposure to ETS since it is consisted of a variety of components and there are a number of labile chemicals. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain, to interpretate and to provide the data of quantitative exposure assessment to ETS in the field of environmental health. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the concentration of ETS using VOC in indoor office environments. The correlations and concentrations of benzene, RSP, 3-EP, nicotine that are indicators for ETS were investigate with smoking density, air change per hour(ventilation rate). Air samples were taken in smoking room(7 sites), smoking allowed office (3 sites), corridor outside smoking room(7 sites), non-smoking office (9 sites). The concentrations of benzene showed significant difference according to category of indoor office environments. The geometric mean concentration of benzene were 23.56 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥(range 4.80~192.90 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥) in smoking rooms. 6.16 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥ in smoking allowed offices, 1.32 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥ in the non-smoking offices respectively. The ratios of the concentration of benzene between outdoor air and smoking room, smoking allowed office, and non-smoking indicators concentrations, SD, and SI were 0.82(benzene and nicotine). 0.76(benzene and RSP), 0.60(benzene and SD), 0.76(benzene and SI). It is proposed that benzene is a good indicator for ETS.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1019-1026
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• 2007

This study was performed in 30 selected apartments in Seoul, Asan and Daegu area which were constructed within 4 years and over 4 years, to measure the concentration of VOCs(benzene, toluene, xylene) from July, 2004 to September. Mean ratios of indoor to outdoor VOCs concentrations in the construction under 4 years were higher in 1 than average, I/O ratio of over 4 years were lower in 1. This was considered that the VOCs density influences indoor pollutant. For the indoor air quality estimation, the deposition constant and the source strength factor of toluene were $1.49{\pm}2.05\;hr^{-1}\;and\;36.95{\pm}52.26\;ppb/h$, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.359-364
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• 2007

The aim of this study were to assess the personal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and to estimate the personal exposure using time-weighted average model. Three target VOCs (benzene, toluene, xylene) were analyzed in personal exposure samples and residential indoor, residential outdoor and workplace indoor microenvironments samples in the iron mill 30 workers during working 5 days. Personal exposure to VOCs significantly correlated with workplace concentration p<0.05), suggesting workplace had strong source and major contribution to personal exposure. Personal exposure could be estimated with time activity pattern and time weighted average (TWA) model of residential indoor and workplace concentrations measured. Time weighted mean microenvironments concentrations were close approximately of personal exposure concentrations. Total exposure for participants can be estimated by TWA with microenvironments measurements and time activity pattern.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2010

This study examined the concentration level of the major air pollutants in public transportation. The study was conducted between February 2009 and March 2008 at Suwon-Yeosu line in Korea. $PM_{10}$ concentration level was $100{\mu}g/m^3$ on average. The $PM_{2.5}$ to PM10 ratio in transport is 0.37, which was lower than the results published by other researches. The result also demonstrated that outdoor $PM_{10}$ concentration was about 56~60% level compared to that of the cabin. $CO_2$ concentration level in the cabin was 1,359ppm, which does not exceed 2,000ppm, which is the guideline concentration level according to the Ministry of Environment. $CO_2$ concentration level in the cabin was $CO_2=23.4{\times}N+460.2$, and about 23.4ppm in $CO_2$ concentration level increased every time one passenger was added on. The experiment conducted on the train demonstrated that the average $PM_{10}$ concentration level was $100{\mu}g/m^3$ in case of the reference cabin while average $PM_{10}$ concentration level of the modified vehicle was $68{\mu}g/m^3$. Likewise, effect of the particle reduction device for the reduction of $PM_{10}$ concentration level was approximately 21%. Meanwhile there was almost no difference in the concentration level between reference and modified cabin in case of $PM_{2.5}$. Using zeolite as an adsorbent was made to reduce the $CO_2$ concentration level in the cabin. Number of passengers was factored in, to calculate the effect of the adsorption device, which demonstrated that about 36% of $CO_2$ concentration level was reduced in the modified cabin effect of the $CO_2$ reduction device. This research analyzed the current status concerning the quality of air in the public transportation and technologies were developed that reduces major air pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.262-270
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• 2008

This study was conducted to measure concentrations of particulate matter ($PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$) and endotoxin in thirty public facilities (7 elderly-care facilities, 4 hypermarkets, 4 university hospitals, 7 child-care facilities, 4 subway stations and 4 bus terminals) from September 2004 to February 2007 in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do province. $PM_{10}$ or $PM_{2.5}$ was measured with glass fiber filter and mini volume air sampler for 6 to 8 hours in indoor and outdoor of the facilities and expressed as ${\mu}g/m^3$. After weighing the filter, endotoxin was analyzed by Limulus Ameobocyte Lysate method ($EU/m^3$). $PM_{10}$ in indoor air was higher (GM and GSD was 78.00 and $1.92\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively) than the outdoor air (GM and GSD was 60.70 and $2.23\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, I/O=1.28). All measurements was not exceeded the national maintenance standard. Elderly-care and child-care facilities showed relatively higher concentrations ($83.27\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $81.75\;{\mu}g/m^3$; I/O=2.01 and 1.19, respectively) than hypermarkets or university hospitals. The highest PM2.5 was seen in child-care facilities ($62.15\;{\mu}g/m^3$, I/O=2.42). The I/O of the endotoxin in the PM10 and the $PM_{2.5}$ was exceeded 1.0 (1.37 and 1.57, respectively). Indoor $PM_{10}$ was affected by user/day and humidity, and endotoxin in the PM10 was affected by temperature. In conclusion, elderly- and child-care facilities are high priority facilities to be improved indoor air quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2024

Background: People's activities have been restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes in activity patterns may lead to a decrease in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations. Additionally, the level of population exposure to PM_2.5 may be changed. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the impact of population movement and meteorological factors on the distribution of PM_2.5 concentrations before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Methods: The study area was Guro-gu in Seoul. The research period was selected as January to March 2020, a period of significant population movement changes caused by COVID-19. The evaluation of the dynamic population was conducted by calculating the absolute difference in population numbers between consecutive hours and comparing them to determine the daily average. Ambient PM_2.5 concentrations were estimated for each grid using ordinary kriging in Python. For the population exposure assessment, the population-weighted average concentration was calculated by determining the indoor to outdoor population for each grid and applying the indoor to outdoor ratio to the ambient PM_2.5 concentration. To assess the factors influencing changes in the ambient PM_2.5 concentration, a statistical analysis was conducted, incorporating population mobility and meteorological factors. Results: Through statistical analysis, the correlation between ambient PM_2.5 concentration and population movement was positive on both weekends and weekdays (r=0.71, r=0.266). The results confirmed that most of the relationships were positive, suggesting that a decrease in human activity can lead to a decrease in PM_2.5 concentrations. In addition, when population-weighted concentration averages were calculated and the exposure level of the population group was compared before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, the proportion of people exceeding the air quality standard decreased by approximately 15.5%. Conclusions: Human activities can impact ambient concentrations of PM_2.5, potentially altering the levels of PM_2.5 exposure in the population.