English

The purpose of this project was to evaluate duct sealing as a means of reducing the energy consumption of hot air distribution systems in central Pennsylvania houses. Five houses were studied, all of which were heated with forced-air electric heat pump systems. During the winter of 1995, the heat pump energy consumption, supply air temperature, and the temperature at the thermostat were monitored continuously for approximately two months prior to the duct retrofit. A test also was performed to measure the leakiness of the ductwork.

A new type of residence (the SEA house) has been proposed in winter, the house is heated by solar energy. Thermal insulation, heat storage, and air circulation are used to maintain the room temperature at a comfortable level and to reduce the temperature difference between the south side and the north side of the house. In summer, earth tubes are used for the purpose of cooling the proposed house. The thermal performance of the house was simulated by a computer program called PSSP, which can predict room temperature in a multiroom system.

This paper presents results of applying the capture and containment test procedures in ASTM Fl 704-96, Standard Test Method for Performance of Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Systems, to determine the threshold capture and containment exhaust flow rates for a number of cooking appliances and two types of kitchen exhaust hoods.

This paper summarizes recent developments in natural and passive cooling in buildings and the main results from the European research project P ASCOOL. The project was completed at the end of 1995, after 2i'months of theoretical and experimental work resulting in a better understanding of passive cooling techniques and the development of tools and design guidelines. The project was a collaboration of 29 European universities and research organizations from 12 countries.

A time constant has been proposed to characterize the time it takes to fill an atrium space with smoke for design purposes. This was defined through the use of the empirical equation expressing the mass entrainment rate to the 312 power of the clear height. However, the equation holds only when the flame tip touches the smoke layer, and the flame temperature was taken to be 1100 K (827°C 1521°F).

In recent years, the atrium building has become commonplace. This paper explains the physical concepts of the steady fire, unsteady fire, zone fire model, and the fire plume that are the basis of atrium smoke management. The approach to smoke control design calculation in codes is based on the zone fire model concept. In the zone model, smoke forms an upward-flowing fire plume that reaches the ceiling and is considered to form a perfectly mixed layer under the ceiling of the room of fire origin.

In recent years, approaches to smoke management in atria have been introduced into many codes and engineering guides. This paper presents information that can be used for design analysis of atrium smoke management systems. Various approaches to manage smoke in atria are discussed Often a hot layer of air forms under the ceiling of an atrium, and this hot layer can prevent smoke from reaching the ceiling. A method is discussed for dealing with smoke detection when such a hot air layer prevents smoke from reaching the ceiling.

The use of the laboratory fume hood as the primary containment device in the laboratory has been a standard practice for almost half a century. Quantitative testing of the performance of these devices, however; is a more recent discipline. The use of the ANSI/ASHRAE 110-1995, Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods (ASH RAE 1995) is becoming a standard specification in the purchase of new fume hoods, the commissioning of new laboratory facilities, and benchmarking fume hoods in existing facilities.

Dampness in residential buildings is detrimental to the health of the occupants and causes the growth of mold and decay in the fabric of the building materials. In Taiwan the average winter relative humidity is 80% and the average temperature is 15°C (59°F). It has been found that the average winter indoor moisture content in Taiwanese apartments can be higher than the outdoor content by as much as 15%. Although the main cause for the increased indoor humidity levels has not been identified, removing the moisture generated from shower baths can help reduce the humidity.