Robust Design Optimization of Powered Air Purifying Respirator System by Iterative Process

The personal protective equipment (PPE) has protected the frontline health workers from getting affected in COVID 19 spread situations to a certain level. Among the PPEs, PAPRs (Powered Air Purifying Respirators) are considered as one of the most efficient equipment for protection purposes. In pandemic spread situations, the PAPR becomes very much essential considering its protection. The PAPR is mainly imported to India. But the cost of PAPR being on the higher side (Rupees (Rs) 100000) becomes unaffordable to many frontline health workers. This paper focuses on the development of a cost-effective PAPR that is affordable to them. This paper projects a detailed step-by-step process of design and development of PAPR, and its evolution in each iteration. The study was conducted with the medical officers from AIMS Hospital and engineers from AMMACHI labs to bring out effective solutions for frontline health workers during a pandemic.