Controlling the flow of combustion air and fresh air in housing
- Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
- Hoyme Manufacturing Inc., Camrose, Alberta (Canada)
A study was undertaken to evaluate means of regulating the flow of combustion and fresh air in residential housing and gauging the impact on heating loads in a northern climate. Three methods of terminating combustion air ducts were evaluated: open pipe, diffuser, and motorized damper. In addition, the effect of installing a fresh air duct connected directly from the outdoors to the return side of a forced-air furnace was measured. The results are applicable to areas of Canada and the US in which airtight construction methods and/or local codes require the provision for identifiable supplies of combustion and fresh air. Airflow rates in combustion air ducts varied in a predictable manner when the mode of termination was changed from open to diffuser to damper. Laboratory measurements of flow resistance indicated that the use of a diffuser rather than an open termination should lead to a reduction in flow of 7% to 10%, but the magnitude of the reduction would depend on the average pressure differential across the air supply duct. Field measurements indicated a 3% reduction in airflow could be expected. A motorized damper added a small amount of flow resistance compared to an open termination but provided positive control of airflow when the damper was closed. Energy savings obtained by using either a diffuser or a damper were relatively small--1.3 MJ/day and 16.0 MJ/day, respectively.
- OSTI ID:
- 433716
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960606--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Draft air control system
Review of air flow measurement techniques