KE Fibertec involved in using fabric ducts for aircraft ventilation

For a number of years KE Fibertec has been working together with one of Denmark's leading universities on air technology, University of Aalborg, on the development of fabric ducts as personal air distribution systems to lessen the spread of diseases in aircraft cabins and in hospitals. The personal air distribution systems include pillows, blankets, airplane seats and head rests with delivery of air directly into the person's inhalation zone. Using fabric ducts has made it possible to isolate virus from persons and to avoid the spread of disease.

The project is still going on, and the results are remarkably good. All results have been collected in a number of research projects, research papers and articles.

Professor Peter V. Nielsen of University of Aalborg who is primary responsible for this research project was interviewed by Danish television, DR Update, on May 6, 2009 - watch the entire interview on this link:

http://www.dr.dk/Regioner/Nord/Nyheder/Aalborg/2009/05/06/065944.htm.

The news article by Cecillie Elmose Warnich was published on May 6, 2009.

Read the article below

Clean air for airline passengers
Scientists at the University of Aalborg have come up with an idea to prevent symptom-free passengers from being infected by contagious fellow passengers.
 The idea is a ventilation system that is built into the airplane seat itself enabling all passengers to have their own personal clean air zone.
It is all about minimizing the infection risk when highly contagious airborne diseases such as Influenza A, SARS or smallpox break out worldwide.
Tested on dummies
- With this system that supplies the air around each person, each person sits in his own fresh air zone and is not being affected by the passengers next to him, says Professor Peter V. Nielsen.

The system is called Personal Ventilation and is being tested on dummies at the University of Aalborg. Also scientists in Hong Kong are very interested in the Danish invention.
Tailored for Influenza A
Peter V. Nielsen hopes that the breakout of Influenza A may boost research:
- This system is tailored for diseases such as Influenza A, and that tells me that we are focusing on the right thing and that it holds potential.
Peter V. Nielsen is of the opinion that personal ventilation in a long-term perspective will apply also to other areas such as hospitals where the ventilation system can be built into pillows.