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Air handler An air handling unit; air flow is from the right to left in this case. Some AHU components shown are 1 – Supply duct 2 – Fan compartment 3 – Vibration isolator ('flex joint') 4 – Heating and/or cooling coil 5 – Filter compartment 6 – Mixed (recirculated + outside) air duct A rooftop packaged unit or RTU An air handler, or air handling unit (often abbreviated to AHU), is a device used to regulate and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. An air handler is usually a large metal box containing a blower, heating or cooling elements, filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators,

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Air handler

An air handling unit; air flow is from the right to left in this case. Some AHU components

shown are

1 – Supply duct

2 – Fan compartment

3 – Vibration isolator ('flex joint')

4 – Heating and/or cooling coil

5 – Filter compartment

6 – Mixed (recirculated + outside) air duct

A rooftop packaged unit or RTU

An air handler, or air handling unit (often abbreviated to AHU), is a device used to regulate and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. An air handler is usually a large metal box containing a blower, heating or cooling elements, filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, and dampers. Air handlers usually connect to a ductwork ventilation system that distributes the conditioned air through the building and returns it to the AHU. Sometimes AHUs discharge (supply) and admit (return) air directly to and from the space served without ductwork.

Small air handlers, for local use, are called terminal units, and may only include an air filter, coil, and blower; these simple terminal units are called blower coils or fan coil

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units. A larger air handler that conditions 100% outside air, and no recirculated air, is known as a makeup air unit (MAU). An air handler designed for outdoor use, typically on roofs, is known as a packaged unit (PU) or rooftop unit (RTU).

  Components

o 1   Filters o 2   Heating and/or cooling elements o 3   Humidifier o 4   Mixing chamber o 5   Blower/fan o 6   Balancing o 7   Heat recovery device o 8   Controls o 9   Vibration isolators

ConstructionThe air handler is normally constructed around a framing system with metal infill panels as required to suit the configuration of the components. In its simplest form the frame may be made from metal channels or sections, with single skin metal infill panels. The metalwork is normally galvanized for long term protection. For outdoor units some form of weatherproof lid and additional sealing around joints is provided.

Larger air handlers will be manufactured from a square section steel framing system with double skinned and insulated infill panels. Such constructions reduce heat loss or heat gain from the air handler, as well as providing acoustic attenuation. Larger air handlers may be several meters long and are manufactured in a sectional manner and therefore, for strength and rigidity, steel section base rails are provided under the unit. Where supply and extract air is required in equal proportions for a balanced ventilation system, it is common for the supply and extract air handlers to be joined together, either in a side-by-side or a stacked configuration.

ComponentsThe major types of components are described here in approximate order, from the return duct (input to the AHU), through the unit, to the supply duct (AHU output).[1][2]

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Filters

Air filtration is almost always present in order to provide clean dust-free air to the building occupants. It may be via simple low-MERV pleated media, HEPA, electrostatic, or a combination of techniques. Gas-phase and ultraviolet air treatments may be employed as well.

Filtration is typically placed first in the AHU in order to keep all the downstream components clean. Depending upon the grade of filtration required, typically filters will be arranged in two (or more) successive banks with a coarse-grade panel filter provided in front of a fine-grade bag filter, or other "final" filtration medium. The panel filter is cheaper to replace and maintain, and thus protects the more expensive bag filters.[1]

The life of a filter may be assessed by monitoring the pressure drop through the filter medium at design air volume flow rate. This may be done by means of a visual display using a pressure gauge, or by a pressure switch linked to an alarm point on the building control system. Failure to replace a filter may eventually lead to its collapse, as the forces exerted upon it by the fan overcome its inherent strength, resulting in collapse and thus contamination of the air handler and downstream ductwork.

Heating and/or cooling elements

Air handlers may need to provide heating, cooling, or both to change the supply air temperature, and humidity level depending on the location and the application. Such conditioning is provided by heat exchanger coil(s) within the air handling unit air stream, such coils may be direct or indirect in relation to the medium providing the heating or cooling effect.

Direct heat exchangers include those for gas-fired fuel-burning heaters or a refrigeration evaporator, placed directly in the air stream. Electric resistance heaters and heat pumps can be used as well. Evaporative cooling is possible in dry climates.

Indirect coils use hot water or steam for heating, and chilled water for cooling (prime energy for heating and cooling is provided by central plant elsewhere in the building). Coils are typically manufactured from copper for the tubes, with copper or aluminium fins to aid heat transfer. Cooling coils will also employ eliminator plates to remove and drain condensate. The hot water or steam is provided by a central boiler, and the chilled water is provided by a central chiller. Downstream temperature sensors are typically used to monitor and control "off coil" temperatures, in conjunction with an appropriate motorized control valve prior to the coil.

If dehumidification is required, then the cooling coil is employed to over-cool so that the dew point is reached and condensation occurs. A heater coil placed after the cooling coil re-heats the air (therefore known as a re-heat coil) to the desired supply temperature. This has the effect of reducing the relative humidity level of the supply air.

In colder climates, where winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, then frost coils or pre-heat coils are often employed as a first stage of air treatment to ensure that downstream filters or chilled water coils are protected against freezing. The control of

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the frost coil is such that if a certain off-coil air temperature is not reached then the entire air handler is shut down for protection.

Humidifier

Humidification is often necessary in colder climates where continuous heating will make the air drier, resulting in uncomfortable air quality and increased static electricity. Various types of humidification may be used:

Evaporative: dry air blown over a reservoir will evaporate some of the water. The rate of evaporation can be increased by spraying the water onto baffles in the air stream.

Vaporizer: steam or vapor from a boiler is blown directly into the air stream. Spray mist: water is diffused either by a nozzle or other mechanical means into fine

droplets and carried by the air. Ultrasonic: A tray of fresh water in the airstream is excited by an ultrasonic device

forming a fog or water mist. Wetted medium: A fine fibrous medium in the airstream is kept moist with fresh

water from a header pipe with a series of small outlets. As the air passes through the medium it entrains the water in fine droplets. This type of humidifier can quickly clog if the primary air filtration is not maintained in good order.

Mixing chamber

In order to maintain indoor air quality, air handlers commonly have provisions to allow the introduction of outside air into, and the exhausting of air from the building. In temperate climates, mixing the right amount of cooler outside air with warmer return air can be used to approach the desired supply air temperature. A mixing chamber is therefore used which has dampers controlling the ratio between the return, outside, and exhaust air.

Blower/fan

Air handlers typically employ a large squirrel cage blower driven by an AC induction electric motor to move the air. The blower may operate at a single speed, offer a variety of set speeds, or be driven by a Variable Frequency Drive to allow a wide range of air flow rates. Flow rate may also be controlled by inlet vanes or outlet dampers on the fan. Some residential air handlers in USA (central "furnaces" or "air conditioners") use a brushless DC electric motor that has variable speed capabilities. Air handlers in Europe and Australia and New Zealand now commonly use EC backward curve fans without scroll or "plug fans". These are driven using high efficiency EC motors with built in speed control.

Multiple blowers may be present in large commercial air handling units, typically placed at the end of the AHU and the beginning of the supply ductwork (therefore also called "supply fans"). They are often augmented by fans in the return air duct ("return fans") pushing the air into the AHU.

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Balancing

Un-balanced fans wobble and vibrate. For home AC fans, this can be a major problem: air circulation is greatly reduced at the vents (as wobble is lost energy), efficiency is compromised, and noise is increased. Another major problem in fans that are not balanced is longevity of the bearings (attached to the fan and shaft) is compromised. This can cause failure to occur long before the bearings life expectancy.

Weights can be strategically placed to correct for a smooth spin (for a ceiling fan, trial and error placement typically resolves the problem). But for a home / central AC fan or big fan are typically taken to shops, which have special balancers for more complicated balancing (trial and error can cause damage before the correct points are found). The fan motor itself does not typically vibrate.

Heat recovery device

A heat recovery device heat exchanger of many types, may be fitted to the air handler between supply and extract airstreams for energy savings and increasing capacity. These types more commonly include for:

Recuperator, or Plate Heat exchanger: A sandwich of plastic or metal plates with interlaced air paths. Heat is transferred between airstreams from one side of the plate to the other. The plates are typically spaced at 4 to 6mm apart. Can also be used to recover coolth. Heat recovery efficiency up to 70%.

Thermal Wheel, or Rotary heat exchanger: A slowly rotating matrix of finely corrugated metal, operating in both opposing airstreams. When the air handling unit is in heating mode, heat is absorbed as air passes through the matrix in the exhaust airstream, during one half rotation, and released during the second half rotation into the supply airstream in a continuous process. When the air handling unit is in cooling mode, heat is released as air passes through the matrix in the exhaust airstream, during one half rotation, and absorbed during the second half rotation into the supply airstream. Heat recovery efficiency up to 85%. Wheels are also available with a hydroscopic coating to provide latent heat transfer and also the drying or humidification of airstreams.

Run around coil: Two air to liquid heat exchanger coils, in opposing airstreams, piped together with a circulating pump and using water or a brine as the heat transfer medium. This device, although not very efficient, allows heat recovery between remote and sometimes multiple supply and exhaust airstreams. Heat recovery efficiency up to 50%.

Heat Pipe: Operating in both opposing air paths, using a confined refrigerant as a heat transfer medium. The heat pipe uses multiple sealed pipes mounted in a coil configuration with fins to increase heat transfer. Heat is absorbed on one side of the pipe, by evaporation of the refrigerant, and released at the other side, by condensation of the refrigerant. Condensed refrigerant flows by gravity to the first side of the pipe to repeat the process. Heat recovery efficiency up to 65%.

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Controls

Controls are necessary to regulate every aspect of an air handler, such as: flow rate of air, supply air temperature, mixed air temperature, humidity, air quality. They may be as simple as an off/on thermostat or as complex as a building automation system using BACnet or LonWorks, for example.

Common control components include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, sail switches, actuators, motors, and controllers.

Vibration isolators

The blowers in an air handler can create substantial vibration and the large area of the duct system would transmit this noise and vibration to the occupants of the building. To avoid this, vibration isolators (flexible sections) are normally inserted into the duct immediately before and after the air handler and often also between the fan compartment and the rest of the AHU. The rubberized canvas-like material of these sections allows the air handler components to vibrate without transmitting this motion to the attached ducts.

The fan compartment can be further isolated by placing it on a spring suspension, which will mitigate the transfer of vibration through the floor.

fan coil unit 

A fan coil unit (FCU) is a simple device consisting of a heating or cooling coil and fan.

It is part of an HVAC system found in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Typically a fan coil unit is not connected to ductwork, and is used to control the

temperature in the space where it is installed, or serve multiple spaces. It is controlled

either by a manual on/off switch or by thermostat.

Due to their simplicity, fan coil units are more economical to install than ducted or

central heating systems with air handling units. However, they can be noisy because the

fan is within the same space. Unit configurations are numerous including horizontal

(ceiling mounted) or vertical (floor mounted).

Design and operation

It should be first appreciated that 'Fan Coil Unit' is a generic term that is applied to a

range of products. Also, the term 'Fan Coil Unit' will mean different things to users,

specifiers and installers in different countries and regions, particularly in relation to

product size and output capability.

A fan coil unit may be concealed or exposed within the room or area that it serves.

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An exposed fan coil unit may be wall-mounted, freestanding or ceiling mounted, and will

typically include an appropriate enclosure to protect and conceal the fan coil unit itself,

with return air grille and supply air diffuser set into that enclosure to distribute the air.

A concealed fan coil unit will typically be installed within an accessible ceiling void or

services zone. The return air grille and supply air diffuser, typically set flush into the

ceiling, will be ducted to and from the fan coil unit and thus allows a great degree of

flexibility for locating the grilles to suit the ceiling layout and/or the partition layout within

a space. It is quite common for the return air not to be ducted and to use the ceiling void

as a return air plenum.

The coil receives hot or cold water from a central plant, and removes heat from or adds

heat to the air through heat transfer. Traditionally fan coil units can contain their own

internal thermostat, or can be wired to operate with a remote thermostat. However, and

as is common in most modern buildings with a Building Energy Management

System(BEMS), the control of the fan coil unit will be by a local digital controller or

outstation (along with associated room temperature sensor and control valve actuators)

linked to the BEMS via a communication network, and therefore adjustable and

controllable from a central point, such as a supervisors head end computer.

Fan coil units circulate hot or cold water through a coil in order to condition a space. The

unit gets its hot or cold water from a central plant, or mechanical room containing

equipment for removing heat from the central building's closed-loop. The equipment

used can consist of machines used to remove heat such as a chiller or a cooling

towerand equipment for adding heat to the building's water such as a boiler or a

commercial water heater.

Fan coil units are divided into two types: Two-pipe fan coil units or four-pipe fan coil

units. Two-pipe fan coil units have one (1) supply and one (1) return pipe. The supply

pipe supplies either cold or hot water to the unit depending on the time of year. Four-

pipe fan coil units have two (2) supply pipes and two (2) return pipes. This allows either

hot or cold water to enter the unit at any given time. Since it is often necessary to heat

and cool different areas of a building at the same time, due to differences in internal

heat loss or heat gains, the four-pipe fan coil unit is most commonly used.

Depending upon the selected chilled water temperatures and the relative humidity of the

space, it is likely that the cooling coil will dehumidify the entering air stream, and as a by

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product of this process, it will at times produce a condensate which will need to be

carried to drain. The fan coil unit will contain a purpose designed drip tray with drain

connection for this purpose. The simplest means to drain the condensate from multiple

fan coil units will be by a network of pipe work laid to falls to a suitable point.

Alternatively a condensate pump may be employed where space for such gravity pipe

work is limited.

Speed control of the fan motors within a fan coil unit is effectively used to control the

heating and cooling output desired from the unit. Some manufacturers accomplish

speed control by adjusting the taps on an AC transformer supplying the power to the fan

motor. Typically this would require adjustment at the commissioning stage of the

building construction process and is therefore set for life. Other manufacturers provide

custom-wound Permanent Split Capacitor (PSC) motors with speed taps in the

windings, set to the desired speed levels for the fan coil unit design. A simple speed

selector switch (Off-High-Medium-Low) is provided for the local room occupant to

control the fan speed. Typically this speed selector switch is integral to the room

thermostat, and is set manually or is controlled automatically by the digital room

thermostat. Building Energy Management Systems can be used for automatic fan speed

and temperature control. Fan motors are typically AC Shaded Pole or Permanent Split

Capacitor. More recent developments include brushless DC designs with electronic

commutation. While these motors do offer significant energy savings, initial cost and

return on investment should be carefully considered.

Areas of use

Fan coil units are typically used in spaces where economic installations are preferred

such as unoccupied storage rooms, corridors, loading docks.

In high-rise buildings, fan coils may be stacked, located one above the other from floor

to floor and all interconnected by the same piping loop.

Fan coil units are an excellent delivery mechanism for hydronic chiller boiler systems in

large residential and light commercial applications. In these applications the fan coil

units are mounted in bathroom ceilings and can be used to provide unlimited comfort

zones - with the ability to turn off unused areas of the structure to save energy.

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Installation

In high-rise residential construction, typically each fan coil unit requires a rectangular

through-penetration in the concrete slab on top of which it sits. Usually, there are either

2 or 4 pipes made of ABS, steel or copper that go through the floor. The pipes are

usually insulated with refrigeration insulation, such as acrylonitrile butadiene/polyvinyl

chloride (AB/PVC) flexible foam (Rubatex or Armaflex brands) on all pipes or at least

the cool lines.

Unit ventilator

A unit ventilator is a fan coil unit that is used mainly in classrooms, hotels, apartments

and condominium applications. A unit ventilator can be a wall mounted or ceiling hung

cabinet, and is designed to use a fan to blow outside air across a coil, thus conditioning

and ventilating the space which it is serving.

Variable air volumeVariable Air Volume (VAV) is a type of heating, ventilating, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Unlike constant air volume (CAV) systems, which supply a constant airflow at a variable temperature, VAV systems vary the airflow at a constant temperature. The advantages of VAV systems over constant-volume systems include more precise temperature control, reduced compressor wear, lower energy consumption by system fans, less fan noise, and additional passive dehumidification.

Simple VAV systemsThe simplest VAV system incorporates one supply duct that, when in cooling mode, distributes supply air at a constant temperature of approximately 55 °F (13 °C). Because the supply air temperature is constant, the air flow rate must vary to meet the rising and falling heat gains or losses within the thermal zone served.[2]

Even a simple VAV system has several advantages over a CAV system. One is more precise temperature control. To meet a space cooling load, a CAV unit operates the fan and compressor at full capacity until the temperature drops to a specified limit, and then the compressor turns off. This on/off cycling causes the temperature to fluctuate above and below the temperature set point. In a single-zone VAV unit, the fan speed varies depending on the actual space temperature and the temperature setpoint, while the compressor modulates the refrigerant flow to maintain a constant supply air temperature. The result is more precise space temperature control.

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Another advantage is energy savings and reduced wear. VAV fan control, especially with modern electronic variable-speed drives, reduces the energy consumed by fans, which can be a substantial part of the total cooling energy requirements of a building. Modulating control of the compressor also reduces wear and delivers further energy savings.

A final advantage is increased dehumidification. Because VAV air flow is reduced under part-load conditions, air is exposed to cooling coils for a longer time. More moisture condenses on the coils, dehumidifying the air. Thus, although a constant-volume and a single-zone VAV unit maintain the same room temperature, the VAV unit provides more passive dehumidification and more comfortable space conditions.

Multiple-zone VAV systemsThe air blower's flow rate is variable. For a single VAV air handler that serves multiple thermal zones, the flow rate to each zone must be varied as well.

Simple VAV terminal unit

A VAV terminal unit, often called a VAV box, is the zone-level flow control device. It is basically a calibrated air damper with an automatic actuator. The VAV terminal unit is connected to either a local or a central control system. Historically, pneumatic control was commonplace, but electronic direct digital control systems are popular especially for mid- to large-size applications. Hybrid control, for example having pneumatic actuators with digital data collection, is popular as well.

Fan controlControl of the system's fan capacity is critical in VAV systems. Without proper and rapid flow rate control, the system's ductwork, or its sealing, can easily be damaged by over pressurization. In the cooling mode of operation, as the temperature in the space is satisfied, a VAV box closes to limit the flow of cool air into the space. As the temperature increases in the space, the box opens to bring the temperature back down. The fan maintains a constant static pressure in the discharge duct regardless of the position of the VAV box. Therefore, as the boxes close, the fan slows down or restricts the amount of air going into the supply duct. As the boxes open, the fan speeds up and allows more air flow into the duct, maintaining a constant static pressure.

One of the challenges for VAV systems is providing adequate temperature control for multiple zones with different environmental conditions, such as an office on the glass

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perimeter of a building vs. an interior office down the hall. Dual duct systems provide cool air in one duct and warm air in a second duct to provide an appropriate temperature of mixed supply air for any zone. An extra duct, however, is cumbersome and expensive. Reheating the air from a single duct, using electric or hot water heating, is often a more cost-effective solution.

Variable refrigerant flow

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) is an HVAC technology invented

in Japan by Daikin company in 1982. Like ductless minisplits VRFs use refrigerant as the

cooling and heating medium. This refrigerant is conditioned by a single outdoor condensing

unit, and is circulated within the building to multiple fan-coil units (FCUs).

VRFs are typically installed with an Air conditioner inverter which adds a DC inverter to the

compressor in order to support variable motor speed and thus variable refrigerant flow

rather than simply on/off operation. By operating at varying speeds, VRF units work only at

the needed rate allowing for substantial energy savings at partial-load conditions. Heat

recovery VRF technology allows individual indoor units to heat or cool as required, while

the compressor load benefits from the internal heat recovery. Energy savings of up to 55%

are predicted over comparable unitary equipment. This also results in greater control of the

building's interior temperature by the building's occupants.

VRFs come in two system formats, two pipe and three pipe systems. In a heat pump 2 pipe

system all of the zones must either be all in cooling or all in heating. Heat Recovery (HR)

systems have the ability to simultaneously heat certain zones while cooling others this is

usually done through a 3 pipe design, with the exception of Mitsubishi which is able to do

this with 2 pipes. In this case the heat extracted from zones requiring cooling is put to use in

the zones requiring heating. This is made possible because the heating unit is functioning

as a condenser, providing sub-cooled liquid back into the line that is being used for cooling.

While the heat recovery system has a greater initial cost, it allows for better zoned thermal

control of a building and overall greater efficiencies.

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Ventilation

An air handling unit is used for the heating and cooling of air in a central location

Ventilating (the V in HVAC) is the process of "processing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality (i.e. to control temperature, replenish oxygen, or remove moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide). Ventilation is used to remove unpleasant smells and excessive moisture, introduce outside air, to keep interior building air circulating, and to prevent stagnation of the interior air.

Ventilation includes both the exchange of a air to the outside as well as circulation of air within the building. It is one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. Methods for ventilating a building may be divided into mechanical/forced and natural types.

"Mechanical" or "forced" ventilation is used to control indoor air quality. Excess humidity, odors, and contaminants can often be controlled via dilution or replacement with outside air. However, in humid climates much energy is required to remove excess moisture from ventilation air.

Ventilation increases the energy needed for heating or cooling, however heat recovery ventilation can be used to mitigate the energy consumption. This involves heat exchange between incoming and outgoing air. Energy recovery ventilation additionally includes exchange of humidity.

Kitchens and bathrooms typically have mechanical exhaust to control odors and sometimes humidity. Kitchens have additional problems to deal with such as smoke and grease. Factors in the design of such systems include the flow rate (which is a function of the fan speed and exhaust vent size) and noise level. If ducting for the fans traverse unheated space (e.g., an attic), the ducting should be insulated as well to prevent condensation on the ducting. Direct drive fans are available for many applications, and can reduce maintenance needs.

Ceiling fans and table/floor fans circulate air within a room for the purpose of reducing the perceived temperature because of evaporation of perspiration on the skin of the occupants. Because hot air rises, ceiling fans may be used to keep a room warmer in the winter by circulating the warm stratified air from the ceiling to the floor. Ceiling fans do not provide ventilation as defined as the introduction of outside air.

Natural ventilation is the ventilation of a building with outside air without the use of a fan or other mechanical system. It can be achieved with openable windows or trickle

vents when the spaces to ventilate are small and the architecture permits. In more complex systems warm air in the building can be allowed to rise and flow out upper openings to the outside (stack effect) thus forcing cool outside air to be drawn into the building naturally through openings in the lower areas. These systems use very little energy but care must be taken to ensure the occupants' comfort. In warm or humid

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months, in many climates, maintaining thermal comfort solely via natural ventilation may not be possible so conventional air conditioning systems are used as backups. Air-side economizers perform the same function as natural ventilation, but use mechanical systems' fans, ducts, dampers, and control systems to introduce and distribute cool outdoor air when appropriate.

DefinitionVentilation is the intentional movement of air from outside a building to the inside. Ventilation air, as defined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers in ASHRAE Standard 62.1]and the ASHRAE Handbook, is that air used for providing acceptable indoor air quality. It mustn't be confused with ventsor flues; which mean the exhausts of clothes dryers and combustion equipment such as water heaters, boilers, fireplaces, and wood stoves. The vents or flues carry the products of combustion which have to be expelled from the building in a way which does not cause harm to the occupants of the building. Movement of air between indoor spaces, and not the outside, is called "transfer air".

NecessityWhen people or animals are present in buildings, ventilation air is necessary to dilute odors and limit the concentration of carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants such as dust, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ventilation air is often delivered to spaces by mechanical systems which may also heat, cool, humidify and dehumidify the space. Air movement into buildings can occur due to uncontrolled infiltration of outside air through the building fabric (see stack effect) or the use of deliberate natural ventilation strategies. Advanced air filtration and treatment processes such as scrubbing, can provide ventilation air by cleaning and recirculating a proportion of the air inside a building.

Types

Mechanical or forced ventilation: through an air handling unit or direct injection to a space by a fan. A local exhaust fan can enhance infiltration or natural ventilation, thus increasing the ventilation air flow rate.

Natural ventilation occurs when the air in a space is changed with outdoor air without the use of mechanical systems, such as a fan. Most often natural ventilation is assured through operable windows but it can also be achieved through temperature and pressure differences between spaces. Open windows or vents are not a good choice for ventilating a basement or other below ground structure. Allowing outside air into a cooler below ground space will cause problems with humidity and condensation.

Mixed Mode Ventilation or Hybrid ventilation: uses both mechanical and natural ventilation processes. The mechanical and natural components may be used in

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conjunction with each other or separately at different times of day. The natural component, sometimes subject to unpredictable external weather conditions may not always be adequate to ventilate the desired space. The mechanical component is then used to increase the overall ventilation rate so that the desired internal conditions are met. Alternatively the mechanical component may be used as a control measure to regulate the natural ventilation process, for example, to restrict the air change rate during periods of high wind speeds.

Infiltration is separate from ventilation, but is often used to provide ventilation air.