Although human exposure to water aerosols is common in residential showers, the droplet distribution patterns generated in showers are not well understood nor is the bacteria released during shower operation. In this study, a two-phase flow Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) algorithm was successfully used to characterize the spatial spray pattern and velocity field in two experimental showers (one low-flow and one high-flow). In addition, the airborne bacteria present in the shower over nearly 5 months of controlled operation was determined for both showers. The results indicate that the droplet velocity out of the low-flow showerhead (which had fewer orifices) was significantly higher than that out of the high-flow showerhead resulting in a higher aerosol number concentration in the low-flow shower and more consistent wetting of the shower wall. Both showerheads generated droplets in the respirable range and genera of potential health concern were observed in the shower aerosols measured both prior to and following shower operation. The study provides one of the first visualizations of droplet spray patterns in residential showers and provides insight into the airborne bacteria present in showers.

尽管人们在住宅的淋浴器中经常暴露于水气溶胶中，但人们对淋浴器中产生的液滴分布模式还不甚了解，在淋浴操作过程中细菌也没有释放出来。在这项研究中，成功​​地使用两相流粒子跟踪测速（PTV）算法来表征两次实验淋浴（一次低流量和一次高流量）中的空间喷雾模式和速度场。另外，确定了两个淋浴器在近5个月的受控运行中存在于淋浴器中的空气传播细菌。结果表明，低流量喷头（孔口较少）中的液滴速度显着高于高流量喷头的液滴速度，从而导致低流量喷头中的气溶胶数浓度更高，湿润更均匀。淋浴墙。在淋浴操作之前和之后测量的淋浴气溶胶中都观察到两个淋浴喷头均产生了可呼吸范围内的液滴，并且存在潜在的健康隐患。这项研究提供了住宅淋浴中液滴喷雾模式的第一个可视化效果，并提供了对淋浴中存在的空气传播细菌的深入了解。