FAST-AIR: Fast analytic systems for tracer-gas assessment in indoor research - development and testing of CO₂ tracer-gas system

Department of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of Gävle, Sweden

^* Corresponding author: harald.andersson@hig.se

Abstract

The time constant of ventilation of rooms in buildings is between 15 minutes (in office spaces) to 2 hours (in residential buildings). Currently, most of the tracer gas system analyzers on the market have a minute-based time constant and depending on the channels a cycle of sampling and analysis may take up to 6 minutes, E.g., 6 channel system. Essentially, only mean values are recorded with most present tracer gas analyzers. This is a hindrance for detailed temporal analysis of conditions in the room and consequently is does not capture the resolution of the influence of the internal flow on air and contaminant distribution. The current paper presents work on the development and testing of a fast response CO2 tracer-gas system with a time constant of 1 second. In contrast to the present analyzers, not only the mean values but also the whole statistical distribution of variables can be recorded, and pulse responses can be analyzed. This makes the system viable for measurement and analysis of not only spatial but also temporal distribution of contaminants. For example, recirculating airflow in the room generated by flooding of ventilation air is possible to be measured and thus making it easy to extend the analyses of the process of ventilation far beyond the possibilities with current systems.