Equivalence in Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · HVAC&R Research

OSTI ID:1050832

Sherman, Max; Walker, Iain; Logue, Jennifer

We ventilate buildings to provide acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ). Ventilation standards (such as American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Enginners [ASHRAE] Standard 62) specify minimum ventilation rates without taking into account the impact of those rates on IAQ. Innovative ventilation management is often a desirable element of reducing energy consumption or improving IAQ or comfort. Variable ventilation is one innovative strategy. To use variable ventilation in a way that meets standards, it is necessary to have a method for determining equivalence in terms of either ventilation or indoor air quality. This study develops methods to calculate either equivalent ventilation or equivalent IAQ. We demonstrate that equivalent ventilation can be used as the basis for dynamic ventilation control, reducing peak load and infiltration of outdoor contaminants. We also show that equivalent IAQ could allow some contaminants to exceed current standards if other contaminants are more stringently controlled.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: Environmental Energy Technologies Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1050832
• Report Number(s): LBNL-5036E
• Journal Information: HVAC&R Research, Journal Name: HVAC&R Research Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 18; ISSN 1078-9669
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AIR CONDITIONING
AIR QUALITY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
HEATING
INDOORS
MANAGEMENT
OUTDOORS
PEAK LOAD
VENTILATION