Air change measurements using a tracer gas technique

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:5874109

Doeffinger, R C

The air change rate in a single story office building was measured using a tracer gas technique. The air change rate was determined by the rate of decay method using sulfur hexafluoride as the tracer gas. A total of eight tests were conducted within a 48-h period under small temperature differences and wind velocities. Building conditions were investigated with supply ventilation fan on, producing a positive pressure in the building, and with supply ventilation fan off. Both multipoint sampling, and single-point return air sampling techniques were used. From this research an effective technique was developed for calibrating portable gas chromatographs. For this particular building, tests showed that the single-point return air sampling technique compared favorably with the multi-point sampling technique. With the limited number of tests, no empirical relationship between temperature difference, pressure difference and air change rate could be developed, although certain trends were established.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Architectural Engineering
• OSTI ID: 5874109
• Report Number(s): COO-2704-T2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320102* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Office Buildings-- (-1987)
AIR INFILTRATION
BUILDINGS
DATA
DATA FORMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GRAPHS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MEASURING METHODS
NUMERICAL DATA
OFFICE BUILDINGS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR FLUORIDES
TABLES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VENTILATION