Automatic measurements of air change rates (decay method) in a small residential building without any forced air-heating system.

Describes an automatic measurement system for air infiltration and discusses factors influencing the measurements in single rooms or in a group of connected rooms. The system works on the decay rate method and is controlled by a purpose-designed controller. The test data are evaluated off-line by computer. Discusses in detail the instrumentation and test procedure Gives results of measurements made in a detached house and correlations of the test data with wind and temperature difference data. Gives a comparison with pressurization data.

Air infiltration measurement techniques

Presents a survey of tracer gas techniques for measuring air infiltration and includes a theoretical derivation of the equations, a description of each method, and a short description of the experimental procedure. Derives a qualitative error analysis which concentrates on mixing problems and uses it to compare the strengths and weaknesses of each method.< Derives the theory of multi-chamber infiltration measurements in situations involving many interconnected spaces (network type models).

A prototype semi-automated system for measuring air infiltration in buildings using sulphur hexafluoride as a tracer.

Describes a system which automatically operates a small gas chromatograph and measures parts per billion concentrations of sulphur hexafluoride in air. It samples air on a 10-minute cycle and records the response on a strip chart recorder. When SF6 in distributed in the air of a building, data is obtained from which air infiltration rates may be determined.

Impact of air infiltration and ventilation on energy losses of buildings.

Discusses heat losses from buildings. Calculates proportion of heat loss due to ventilation under simplifying assumptions. Discusses factors influencing air change rates. Calculates energy that could be saved in the republic of Germany by reduction of ventilation under three different assumptions of energy price increases.

Wall thermography

Describes use of thermography by Fishburn Thermography group ltd. Outlines use of camera and isotherm function. Suggests use of thermography for the detection in walls of heat losses, thermal bridging, wet or inadequate insulation, air infiltration and other defects.

Infiltration and air leakage comparisons : conventional and energy-efficient housing designs.

Describes results of measurements of air leakage, surface pressures and air infiltration for several conventional and energy efficient houses located throughout the United States. The measurements are compared with predicted infiltration obtained from a simple model combining measured air leakage values and average surface pressures. It was found that within limits therewas reasonable agreement between measurements and predictions. Particular features of the energy efficient houses which reduce air leakage, and therefore air infiltration, are described.

An air infiltration model for modern single family dwellings.

Discusses five different models for predicting air infiltration. Presents a new model developed at the Institute of Gas Technology. The model is based on the results of tests to obtain the contribution of the existence of a chimney, and furnace operation, to house air infiltration. Reports verification of model by simulating results from 23 test homes. Concludes that model simulates with reasonable accuracy the measured values for a single-storey home equipped with an oil-fired central furnace.

Application of a generalised model of air infiltration to existing homes.

Presents examples of the use of a generalized model of air infiltration, developed earlier, to estimate the air infiltration characteristics of two test homes using data for the structures, weather and furnace installation. One of these is a single-storey home with basement of wood- frame construction, equipped with an oil-fired central heating furnace.

Measurements of the air flow resistance of rooms for natural ventilation studies.

Reports measurements of natural ventilation and leakage rates in two test rooms in a university building. Describes rooms and instrumentation. Gives results of pressurization tests with windows closed but not sealed, sealed, and weatherstripped. Gives results of measurements of ventilation rate using N2O as a tracer gas. Discusses the analysis of results and experimental errors. Compares measured rates with ventilation rates calculated using crackand ASHRAE methods.

NBSLD, the computer program for heating and cooling loads in buildings.

Describes computer program used for calculating heating and cooling loads on buildings. Discusses current state of heating and cooling load techniques and various unique features of NBSLD. Gives summary of various subroutines of NBSLD including an algorithm for calculating air infiltration Gives complete Fortran listing of NBSLD and data preparation forms.

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