Development of infiltration and interroom airflow calculation methods, driven by a concern for indoor air quality have led to a computer simulation of interroom contaminant movement. The model, which assumes fully mixed room air, shows that open doorways provide rapid mixing between rooms in buildings using forced air heating. It also confirms that it is most energy efficient to remove the contaminant nearest its source. Detailed modeling of the variations in contaminant concentration within a room is not presently feasible for long term energy analysis simulations.
Describes an energy conservation strategy for a private home in Columbus Ohio and the benefits that resulted after nine years. The net result of the conservation steps was to reduce the annual house heating energy requirement from approximateley 1060 CCF of natural gas to 410 CCF and annual water heating energy requirement from approximately 400 CCF to 234 CCF. Thecombined savings at the present rate of $65/CCF was $530 per year. Includes a list of conclusions drawn from the experiment.
In December 1985 the Federal Republic of Germany joined the International Energy Agency's Annex V, the Air Infiltration Centre, as the twelfth participant. This report describes and summarises German research and development activities in the areas of ventilation, air infiltration andindoor air quality.
Air qulaity measurements along with airflow rate measurements of air conditioning system were conducted in an office building occupied by workers with clerical activities. Contaminamts measured were CO2, SPM (suspended particulate matters) NOx and airborne bacteria. Indoor CO2 and SPM levels were found to be quite high, 1,600 ppm (CO2) and 0.25mg/ m3 (SPM), respectively, at their maximum and exceeded Japanese Standards The cause of the high concentration was found to be air leakage in the outdoor air intake duct. The air leakage rate was estimated applying mass-balance model of CO2.
The Energy Division is working toward development of ventilation systems capable of providing acceptable levels of indoor air quality in superinsulated houses. The research was designed to analyze and improve the indoor air quality of a superinsulated retrofit house located in St. Paul, Minnesota. The occupants had encountered 'stuffy air' problems after their house was superinsulated and weatherized to reduce heat loss, and uncontrolled air infiltration. High levels of CO2 build up were revealed indoors, despite the presence of a continuously operating air-to-air heat exchanger.
Discusses the interrelationship of home ventilation rates, sources of air contaminants, and the relative quality of the indoor air environment, including: what is an unsafe air quality level? The problem in perspective, common household pollutants, home ventilation, identification and testing.
Reports a one-day seminar addressing 'The character and control of indoor air pollution', involving experts from both the public and private sector. Summarises the problems, the pollutants involved and some possible solutions.
Too high a concentration of certain gases (e.g. water vapour, carbon dioxide, tobacco smoke, alcohol, etc.) in public buildings can damage the health. Even low concentrations can cause discomfort and make the room air seem unpleasant. This paper describes this subjective perception of air qulaity. It is shown that installation of an appropriate sensor can make substantial energy savings.
The relationship between the observed concentration of air pollutants at points within a building and the characteristics of the ventilation system is examined, and a basic set of analytical expressions showing these relationships is presented. The extension to large and complex systems is considered, and an example of the application of the equations to an actual air quality problem is given.
Effectiveness of ventilation as a major means of controlling indoor air quality was evaluated by correlating concentrations of gaseous (CO and CO2) and particulate (total) pollutants with two ventilation parameters. Pollutants are differently af