The influence of ventilation in the work of domestic combustion appliances

• Autor(a) principal: Viegas, João
• Data de Publicação: 2007
• Outros Autores: Pinto, Armando, Pinto, Manuel
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.19/2397
• topic: Ventilation systems

In dwellings with collective ventilation systems users often install mechanical exhaust hoods in order to improve the exhaust flow rate. In this research the impact of such devices on the work of the gas water-heater appliance (usually installed in the kitchen) is assessed. Field testing was carried out in order to evaluate the performance of natural ventilation systems in a multi-storey building and its adequacy to provide conditions for the work of the gas waterheater. The combination of mechanical ventilation in hoods and natural exhaust of combustion products of gas water-heater was also tested and critical conditions that lead to the safety stop of the gas water-heater were evaluated. A computer simulation program was used to predict the occurrence of safety problems in the work of the gas water-heater with different mechanical exhaust rates and two different air permeability of the building envelope. It is shown that it is possible to reduce negative impact of mechanical devices increasing the envelope air permeability, but this action will largely increase building heat loss.