The pressure field in fluid systems reflects the flow configuration. Measurements of the pressure along the perimeter of a slot ventilated room have been conducted for different room sizes. The momentum of the jet at the end of the room is decreased with increasing room length. The impingement region (region where the influence of the opposing wall is present) starts, independent of room size, when the distance from the supply device is about 70% of the room length. Corner flows could not be predicted by CFD using the linear eddy viscosity or standard stress models. However.

The performance of a heat-pipe heat recovery unit was tested in a two-zone chamber with a horizontal partition. Air velocity was found to have a significant effect on the effectiveness of heat recovery. The effectiveness decreased with increasing air velocity. Simulation of air flow was carried out for the test chamber under natural ventilation conditions. It was shown that a heat-pipe heat exchanger can be used to reclaim exhaust heat in naturally ventilated buildings to effect energy conservation.

The steepest descent and simulated annealing optimization techniques are used to simultaneously estimate the effective mixing volumes and air exchange rates of a large partition less building exhibiting heterogeneous spatial air flow conditions. The optimization is conducted using varying quantities and qualities of simulated tracer gas measurements. A simulated three-compartment system is numerically investigated to assess the performance of the parameter estimation methods.

Constant injection of tracer gas was used to determine the airtightness of a straight length of300 X 300 mm square duct in a laboratory setting. Holes are performed in the ductwork which is connected to a fan with variable speed control to simulate leakages. The holes can be sealed with rubber bungs to simulate an airtight ductwork. 'Stationary' and 'mobile' methods have been developed. The stationary method is suitable for conditions where the locations of the leaks in the ductwork is known.

Particle loss augmentation in turbulent flow was studied experimentally. Experiments were performed in a I SO mm square ventilation duct. Small tracer particles of size ranging from 0.7-7.l μ.m were used to study deposition enhancement with streamwise-periodic disturbances mounted on one of the principal walls, under turbulent flow. A new and highly sensitive analytical technique was adopted to determine the spatial mass flux along the ribbed duct. On some surfaces, particle deposition enhancement as much as seven times higher than on .smooth surfaces was observed.

The purpose of this study was to correlate building envelope performance problems which are currently being experienced in low rise wood frame residential buildings in the coastal climate of the BC Lower Mainland, with sources of moisture, and design and construction features. This study has facilitated the identification of key aspects of the design, construction, operations and maintenance processes leading to the problems, which in tum provides the construction industry with focal points for the development of solutions to the current problems.

A pressure-equalized rainscreen (PER) wall is a multiple-line-of-defence approach to rain penetration control. This Update defines pressure equalization and discusses the various elements that must be incorporated in a PER wall to minimize rain penetration due to air pressure differentials.

An experimental setup is presented that can measure concentrations generated around a pulsating source of carbon dioxide (C02) that simulates human respiration. The experimental setup is used to study the relationship between the ventilation efficiency and the pollutant removal efficiency of a space. These are two key parameters which describe the ability of a space in providing a comfortable and healthy environment for its occupants. Preliminary results obtained so far have focused on the conditions inside a small test chamber.