Optimal sizing rules for natural, simple exhaust and mechanical residential ventilation systems

Sizing rules in residential ventilation standards lack uniformity in both methodology and resulting design flow rates. In order to investigate the best achievable performance of natural ventilation, exhaust and fully mechanical ventilation systems, this paper presents a multi-zone simulation based optimization study for both a detached dwelling.
Total ventilation heat loss, including mechanical ventilation, adventitious ventilation and infiltration as well as occupant exposure to carbon dioxide are used as criteria. The results show that the relative optimal performance of all three system approaches can be very different, when average exposure or peak exposure is considered.