Temporospatial distribution of particles released by printer and influence of ventilation: an experimental study

  Objective  To explore temporospatial distribution of particulate matter (PM) released by printer and the influence of ventilation factors on the distribution.

  Methods  An experimental chamber with a sized of 0.606 cubic meter (1.035 × 0.711 × 0.823) was fabricated for the study. The concentration of PM released by a printer at different times and locations was measured with a aerosol particle spectrometer. A ventilator was utilized to evaluate the influence of ventilation timing, flow rate and duration on the concentration of PM released by the printer.

  Results  No significant difference was observed in the time of PM concentration reaching to the peak value at different positions in the experimental chamber (P > 0.05). The peak value of PM concentration decreased with the increase in the height of detection position (r_s = – 0.740, P < 0.001) and horizontal distance between the printer and detection point (r_s = – 0.351, P < 0.01). In terms of ventilation, the peak value of PM concentration (number of particulates/per cubic centimeter) was – 26.96 ± 8.42 for the ventilation before printing, – 5.67 ± 4.72 for the ventilation at the beginning of printing, 39.23 ± 16.85 for the ventilation at the end of printing, and 75.43 ± 15.37 for without ventilation, respectively, with a significant difference among the peak values (P < 0.05). The peak value of PM concentration decreased with the increase in ventilation flow rate and duration.

  Conclusion  The particles released by printer spread rapidly in the experimental chamber and the number of released particulate matter presents an obvious vertical distribution and a horizontal distance attenuation. Ventilation timing, flow rate, and duration can affect the concentration of released particulate matter.