Sink characteristics of a full-scale environmental chamber and their impact on material emission testing

In this study, a method was developed and used to measure the adsorption/desorption characteristics (i.e., the so-called sink effect) of a full-scale environmental chamber (5 mx4 mx2.75 m high). Unrecovered and reversible sink parameters were measured for five volatile organic compounds (VOCs): ethy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ASHRAE transactions 1999-01, Vol.105, p.400-413
Main Authors: Zhang, J S, Nong, G, Shaw, C Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Air filters
Air pollution
Alcohols
Benzene
Desorption
Gas emissions
Materials testing
Paraffins
Volatile organic compounds
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Summary:In this study, a method was developed and used to measure the adsorption/desorption characteristics (i.e., the so-called sink effect) of a full-scale environmental chamber (5 mx4 mx2.75 m high). Unrecovered and reversible sink parameters were measured for five volatile organic compounds (VOCs): ethylbenzene, decane, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, octanol, and dodecane. It was found that for the five compounds tested, the full-scale chamber had noticeable reversible sink effect but negligible unrecovered sink effect. The reversible sink strength increased in the order of ethylbenzene, decane, 1,2-diclorobenzene, dodecane, and octanol. A first-order reversible sink model appeared to be adequate for describing the adsorption/desorption characteristics of the chamber. It was also found that when the return air was recirculated through heating and cooling coils and HEPA filter, the sink strength increased significantly. The reversible sink effect was more noticeable in testing `wet' coating materials rather than dry materials. The results of this study would be useful for developing standard test methods and procedures for evaluating the performance of full-scale environmental chambers and for using such chambers to test and investigate VOC emissions from building materials, and furnishings.
ISSN:0001-2505