Multi-Tracer System for Measuring Ventilation Rates and Ventilation Efficiencies in Large Mechanically-Ventilated Buildings

摘要

This paper first provides background information on the ventilation of large buildings and a discussion of age of air and ventilation efficiency. Various tracer gas techniques are briefly reviewed and equations to analyze the tracer gas data from the step-up and decay techniques are presented. The experimental system is described in detail and the results of two tests of system performance are presented. In these tests, four of the six tracer gases yielded the same result (i.e., air exchange rate, age of air, or ventilation efficiency) within approximately 15%. In an experiment conducted in a well-mixed test space, these four tracer gases also yielded an air exchange rate, or age of air, that differed by no more than 12% from a reference measurement made with an orifice plate flow meter. Further work is required to increase the accuracy of measurements with the other two tracer gases. (ERA citation 11:009095)