Air change measurements using a tracer gas technique

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7330985· OSTI ID:7330985

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 forty-eight hour period under small temperature differences and wind velocities. Two different building conditions were investigated: (1) supply ventilation fan on, producing a positive pressure in the building, and (2) supply ventilation fan off. Two sampling techniques were used: (1) multipoint sampling, (2) single-point return air sampling. 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: 7330985
• Report Number(s): COO-2704-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320102* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Office Buildings-- (-1987)
AIR
BUILDINGS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DATA
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GAS FLOW
GASES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MEASURING METHODS
OFFICE BUILDINGS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR FLUORIDES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VENTILATION