Evaluation of the perfluorocarbon tracer technique for determining infiltration rates in residences

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00142a015· OSTI ID:5745104

Leaderer, B P; Schaap, L; Dietz, R N

A simple passive perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) technique, for determining air infiltration rates into homes and buildings, was evaluated in a well-defined environmental chamber under experimental conditions of (1) constant temperature and ventilation rate, (2) constant temperature but variable ventilation rate, and (3) variable temperature but constant ventilation rate. Two PFT sources of known emission rate and temperature dependence produced chamber concentrations of 100-300 nL/m/sup 3/ (parts per trillion). The average relative standard deviation for sampling and analysis of 16 paired samplers in experiment 1 was +/- 1.9 +/- 1.0%, and there was negligible consequence of sampler orientation. For a 3-fold variation in ventilation rates (experiment 2), the passive samplers accurately measured the average chamber tracer concentration, but the PFT-determined ventilation rate had a 10% negative bias. Temperature cycling differences of as much as 8 /sup 0/C were accommodated to provide essentially no bias in the PFT-determined ventilation rate. The PFT technique is applicable to the expected range of conditions in homes and buildings.

• Research Organization: Yale Univ. School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
• OSTI ID: 5745104
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 19:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR INFILTRATION
EVALUATION
AIR FLOW
AIRTIGHTNESS
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MEASURING METHODS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VENTILATION
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
POLLUTION
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)