English

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.

Describes the development and qualification of a test facility for providing a uniform method for testing all types of HVAC air-to-air energy recovery systems. Describes test method. The facility can be used to test coil-loop (closed run-around) heat exchangers, twin-tower (open run-around) enthalpy type exchangers, heat pipe exchangers and plate type exchangers with air flowrates of up to 1900 l/s.

Describes and discusses the principles, advantages and disadvantages of several types of air-to-air energy recovery devices, including the open and closed run-around systems; the heat pipe exchanger; the thermal wheel and the heat exchanger. Places emphasis on the potential energy savings in heating and cooling equipment and fuel costs by recovering energy from exhaust air before it is thrown away. Results indicate annual energy savings of up to 23% with even larger savings in the size of the heating and cooling equipment.

Describes a sampling system developed to collect, analyze and identify organic contaminants in air over as wide a range of molecular carbon number range as possible. Describes sampling technique and reports results of sampling in 36homes in the Chicago area. Two samples were taken simultaneously inside and outside. Fifteen homes were sampled in both summer and winter.< Concludes that people are exposed to a wide range of organic compounds on average at concentrations of below 100ppb.

Describes a method, derived from bibliographical research, for air infiltration calculation in a multistorey building. The method may be used both for computer calculations, in order to determine the building thermal balance hour by hour, and for steady state hand calculations. Analytical and experimental relations have been examined for the determination of the air flow rate due to wind and stack effect.

Describes a small calibrated hotbox, developed at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory for studying methods of improving window performance. Describes the construction and calibration of the box. Discusses measurements of thermal conductance made with the box. Finds the hotbox is reliable with known skin losses and free of systematic errors to at least the 7% level.

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.

Reports results of measurements of radon gas made in each of the Saskatoon low energy houses in December 1980. Finds that gas levels were higher in basements than on the ground floor but that concentrations of radon were not high enough to constitute a health risk. Suggests that permeability of basement walls may have a great effect on radon concentration and that sealing a basement may reduce levels.

A short note giving formulae for the design of spires for use in simulating the planetary boundary layer. Gives expressions for the height and base length of triangular spires which will produce given values of the boundary layer thickness and power-law exponent. Gives comparisons of calculated values with experimental data.