Design and development of air vent closure systems.

The following report documents the design and development of an automatic vent closure system for residential exhaust systems. The report discusses the rationale behind the perceived need for such a system and defines the objectives of the design and development work with respect to these needs. A detailed account of the development of the design and construction of successive prototypes will be given along with a thorough description of the testing procedures employed to evaluate the operational characteristics of each prototype as their design was further refined and developed. The operational characteristics of the vent closure systems dev eloped will be presented to demonstrate their capabilities and limitations with respect to airflow and pressure requirements for operation, battery life, and acceptable outdoor ambient temperature ranges. The installation requirements of the systems will also be demonstrated. Given the capabilities and limitations of the air vent closure systems developed, the report will conclude by listing the successes and failures of the design. Based on this analysis, the potential for such a device to ultimately be accepted in the marketplace will be postulated. Additionally, recommendations for any further refinements will be submitted.