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Methodology for the Evaluation of Natural Ventilation in ... - Cham

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12:00 AM2:00 AM4:00 AM6:00 AM8:00 AM10:00 AM12:00 PM2:00 PM4:00 PM6:00 PM8:00 PM10:00 PMCarbon Dioxide (PPM)900AVERAGE SummerAVERAGE W<strong>in</strong>ter800700600500400Outside CO2 Level3002001000Figure 22. Internal Build<strong>in</strong>g Carbon Dioxide Levels: Summer versus W<strong>in</strong>ter ConditionsAlthough, each method proved useful <strong>for</strong> comparison and <strong>for</strong> evaluat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> air exchange rate,<strong>the</strong>re was a certa<strong>in</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty <strong>in</strong> each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> methods used. The hot-wireanemometer measures air velocity <strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle direction, and cannot account <strong>for</strong> flow that is notperpendicular to <strong>the</strong> wire. Additionally, <strong>the</strong> bag device had to be constructed to ensure that anaccurate volume flow rate was be<strong>in</strong>g measured. The bag device was useful <strong>in</strong> provid<strong>in</strong>g a betteridea <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> volume <strong>of</strong> air enter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g, but could not be used <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> upper w<strong>in</strong>dows, or<strong>the</strong> exhaust w<strong>in</strong>dows, due to restrictions <strong>in</strong> access to <strong>the</strong>m. A s<strong>in</strong>gle volume flow rate wasmeasured, as <strong>the</strong>re was only one bag device built <strong>for</strong> use <strong>in</strong> measur<strong>in</strong>g volume flow rate. Thecarbon dioxide data had a degree <strong>of</strong> uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty due to <strong>the</strong> location <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> device. There is somebuoyancy flow <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g, and locat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> carbon dioxide sensor on <strong>the</strong> upper floor couldcause elevated measurements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> levels <strong>of</strong> carbon dioxide <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g. F<strong>in</strong>ally, with <strong>the</strong>energy balance, data were used <strong>for</strong> a specific period <strong>of</strong> time, even though <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g hastransient effects due to <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>rmal mass, changes <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> exterior environment such as clouds orw<strong>in</strong>d gusts, and consistency <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternal loads.The airflow visualization techniques employed provided <strong>in</strong>sight <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>teraction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>occupied <strong>of</strong>fice spaces with <strong>the</strong> atrium. As <strong>the</strong> ground floor normally had <strong>the</strong> coolesttemperature, warm air from <strong>the</strong> occupied zone on <strong>the</strong> ground floor slowly moved toward <strong>the</strong>atrium. However, on <strong>the</strong> first floor, <strong>the</strong> air <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> atrium was cooler than <strong>the</strong> air <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> occupiedspaces on <strong>the</strong> first floor, so <strong>the</strong> air flowed from <strong>the</strong> atrium <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice space, and <strong>the</strong>n exitedat <strong>the</strong> ceil<strong>in</strong>g level <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice space back <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> atrium. At <strong>the</strong> second floor occupied zone,<strong>the</strong> airflow tended to ei<strong>the</strong>r move from <strong>the</strong> atrium through <strong>the</strong> second floor space and <strong>the</strong>n out <strong>of</strong>64

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