Effects of infiltration and insulation on the source strengths and indoor air pollution from combustion space heating appliances

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/08940630.1988.10466441· OSTI ID:6587318

Traynor, G W; Apte, M G; Carruthers, A R; Dillworth, J F; Prill, R J; Grimsrud, D T; Turk, B H

Many energy conservation strategies for residences involve reducing house air exchange rates. Reducing the air exchange rate of a house can cause an increase in pollutant levels if there is an indoor pollution source and if the indoor pollutant source strength remains constant. However, if the indoor pollutant source strength can also be reduced, then it is possible to maintain or even improve indoor air quality. Increasing the insulation level of a house is a means of achieving energy conservation goals and, in addition, can reduce the need for space heating and thereby reduce the pollutant source strengths of combustion space heaters such as unvented kerosene space heaters, unvented gas space heaters, and wood stoves. In this paper, the indoor air quality trade-off between reduced infiltration and increased insulation in residences is investigated from combustion space heaters. Two similar residences were used for the experiment. One residence was used as a control and the other residence had infiltration and insulation levels modified. An unvented propane space heater was used as the source in this study. A model was developed to describe the dependence of both indoor air pollution levels and the appliance source strengths on house air exchange rates and house insulation levels.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6587318
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 38:8; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR INFILTRATION
AIR POLLUTION
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
HEATERS
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SPACE HEATERS
STATISTICS
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES