Describes the use of SF6 tracer gas measurement techniques employed in airtightness and ventilation research at Princeton in terraced housing. Notes use of measurement results for constructing models describing the total adventitious ventilation in a house. Refers also to similar techniques used in research at Berkeley in single family dwellings.
During an extensive programme of sound insulation tests on a house near Manchester Airport the opportunity was taken to measure the field performance of partially open dual glazing. The results show an increase in insulation of up to 3dB(A) when compared with predictions based on laboratory SRIs. Also reports measurements of the ventilation rate in bedrooms with one window partially open and all other doors and windows closed. Measurements were made using nitrous oxide as a tracer gas.
Airflow inside air-conditioned rooms needs to be determined experimentally using test rooms. The test room dimensions vary because a test room must represent a section which is characteristic of the original room dimensions. The flow pattern is made visible; the velocities, and in some cases the gas concentration is measured. The experiments are done under thermal steady-state conditions. Some general results are:
Presents results of measurements of ventilation rates in the SEGAS test house. Describes the house and its heating and mechanical ventilation systems. Measurements of ventilation rates were made using helium as a tracer gas. Tests were made both with the house sealed to block obvious paths of infiltration and with it unsealed. Tests were also made with the house mechanically ventilated and with supply and extract systems working. Presents results of tests and examines the effect of variation in mean wind speed on ventilation rates.
Describes methods used at ECRC for measuring the ventilation rate in houses. Two tracer gas methods are used, the decay method and the constant concentration method. Measurements have been made using both nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide as tracer gases. Also describes test of air leakage made by pressurizing the entire house. Gives for each method a detailed description of the measurement technique.
Reports measurements of air infiltration and air leakage of an unpartitioned mobile home, made in an environmental chamber. Infiltration was measured using sulphur hexafluoride as a tracer gas. Leakage was measured by depressurizing the mobile home. Discusses results and uncertainties in the air change rates. Examines dependence of air change on indoor-outdoor temperature difference. Compares results with previously published measurements and discusses anomalies.
Describes different goals of air leakage measurement with corresponding measuring methods. Discusses results and experience from measurements carried out with the stationary overpressure method and the non-stationary tracer gas method. Adds working diagrams. Pleads for further standardisation of thespecific equivalent leak opening (SELO) especially of temperature on which it is based. Gives numerical example for calculating the lower limit of admissible non-tightness of cold rooms.
Reports heat loss measurements made in an unoccupied house at Kenmay, Scotland. Gives constructional details of this well-insulated house. Reports measurements of energy and temperatures over two heating seasons and short term measurements of ventilation by tracer gas decay method. Finds natural ventilation rate of 0.25 air changes/hour and attributes this to low windspeeds. Compares calculated value of fabric heat loss with measured value and finds good agreement. Finds type of system used, either convective or fan heating has not affected the measured heat loss.
The local ventilation efficiency of a mechanical ventilation system may in general terms be defined as "providing air in those parts of a room where it is required". In this paper different definitions of the local ventilation efficiency and methods for measuring it are discussed. Presents results from measurements of ventilation efficiency. A test room was mechanically ventilated and nitrous oxide used as a tracer gas. A number of sensors were placed in the room with the aim of determining the variations in the air change rates within the room.