Infiltration and ventilation measurements on three electrically heated multifamily buildings. Final report
Detailed testing of air flows, pressures, and temperatures was done at three electrically-heated multifamily buildings in the Pacific Northwest under heating season conditions. These were done in-situ using multizone tracer gas technology. Tests were short-term tests, with several fan tests performed each day for a test period of about a week. The average natural infiltration for each of the three buildings ranged from 0.14-0.22 air changes per hour (ACH), with individual units ranging from 0.075-0.31 ACH. Due to stack effect, units on lower floors experienced a higher percentage of outdoor air in the total unit flow. Interzone flows were found to be dominated by stack effects. With ventilation fans in all of the units on, the average outdoor air ventilation for the buildings increased to 0.38-0.47 ACH with individual units ranging from 0.31-0.54 ACH. Running a single ventilation fan caused an increase in flow to the unit in which the fan was operating due to depressurization of the zone. Measurements of natural infiltration were compared to the predictions of two models, the LBL model and the AIM-2 model. The LBL model predictions were greater than the AIM-2 predictions, and averaged about a 41% error relative to measured data. AIM-2 predictions averaged about a 24% error relative to measured data. Results of a simple model for predicting the effects of fans on infiltration was compared to the measured data. The model averaged about a 12% error relative to the measured data.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Ecotope, Inc., Seattle, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 402404
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR--106675
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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