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Thermal Inactivation of Airborne SARS-CoV-2 with Interior Space Heaters in Winter
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  • Murat Canpolat,
  • Çağrı Şakalar,
  • Serhat Bozkurt,
  • Ahmet Çoban,
  • Deniz Karaçaylı,
  • Emre Toker
Murat Canpolat
Akdeniz Universitesi Tip Fakultesi

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Çağrı Şakalar
ANTIMIKROP Ar-Ge ve Biyosidal Analiz Merkezi
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Serhat Bozkurt
Akdeniz Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Ahmet Çoban
Akdeniz Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Deniz Karaçaylı
Akdeniz Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Emre Toker
The University of Arizona Health Sciences
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Abstract

The study aims to assess the thermal inactivation of airborne SARS-CoV-2 in a 30 m 3 test room by an electric heater typically used to heat interior spaces during winter, particularly in resource-limited settings. Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 was delivered to the test room at an ambient temperature of 20 oC and 40% humidity. Two electric heaters with different power and airflow rates were operated in the test room to compare their efficiencies in the inactivation of airborne SARS-CoV-2. The first and second electric heaters had power, airflow rates, and outlet temperature of 1.5 kW, 44 m 3/h, 220 oC, and 3 kW, 324 m 3/h, and 150 oC, respectively. A fan drew the outside air into the heater. Air forced through the heater tunnel absorbed heat energy by interacting with the stainless steel electric tube heating elements perpendicularly located to the airflow direction, increasing outlet air temperature. The first 1.5kW electric heater was operated in the test room for 80 minutes and inactivated 99.00% of the airborne virus. The second, 3 kW electric heater was operated in the test room for 75 minutes and inactivated 99.96% of the airborne virus. The control experiment of each test experiment was conducted without turning the heaters on under otherwise identical conditions.