Particle leakage through the exhalation valve on a face mask under flow conditions mimicking human breathing: A critical assessment

Abstract

In today's era of active personal protections against airborne respiratory disease, general interest in the multiphase flow physics underlying face masks is greater than ever. The exhalation valves, installed on some masks to mitigate the breathing resistance, have also received more attention. However, the current certification protocol of evaluating airflow leakage only when suction pressure is applied is insufficient to capture practical aspects (particle penetration or leakage). Here, we experimentally measure two-phase flow across valve-type masks under conditions mimicking actual breathing. During exhalation, a high-speed jet through the valve accelerates the transmission of particles from inside while reasonable protection from external pollutants is achieved during inhalation, which supports the warnings from various public health officials. Based on the mechanism of particle penetration found here, we hope a novel design that both achieves high-efficiency shielding and facilitates easy breathing can be developed.