INDOOR AIR-QUALITY AND THE VARIABLE-AIR-VOLUME BYPASS FILTRATION SYSTEM - CHAMBER EXPERIMENT

Two series of experiments were performed in an ail aluminum chamber un der controlled conditions to investigate whether the variable-air-volu me/bypass filtration system (VAV/BPFS) reduces indoor air pollutant co ncentrations relative to a conventional variable-air-volume (VAV) syst em. Twelve short-term experiments (100 min) were performed for each ve ntilation system using indoor sources and one energy load. Also, twelv e long-term experiments (240 min) were performed with the VAV/BPFS and conventional VAV system using indoor air pollution sources emitting i ntermittently and energy load increasing in a stepwise process. Cigare ttes and deodorants were used to simulate activities in the chamber. F our energy loads (400, 800, 1200, and 1900 W) were used to simulate th e presence of occupants in the chamber. Results show that, under contr olled experimental conditions, the difference between VAV/BPFS system acid VAV system in reducing indoor air pollutant concentration is stat istically significant. The particulate matter VAV/BPFS total effective removal rate was 50% higher than the corresponding VAV PM total effec tive removal rate. Also, the VAV/BPFS total volatile organic compound total effective removal rate was 20% higher than that of the VAV syste m. These chamber results indicate that the VAV/BPFS system is a promis ing alternative to the conventional VAV system because, under the cond itions tested, it is capable of reducing and maintaining good indoor a ir quality and decreasing outdoor supply air rate.