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AIR INFILTRATION MEASUREMENTS USING TRACER GASES: A LITERATURE REVIEW
Citation:
Samfield, M. AIR INFILTRATION MEASUREMENTS USING TRACER GASES: A LITERATURE REVIEW. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-95/013 (NTIS 95-173225), 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report gives results of a literature review of air filtration measurements using tracer gases, including sulfur hexafluoride, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and radioactive argon and krypton. Sulfur hexafluoride is the commonest tracer gas of choice, primarily because its presence may be accurately measured in the parts per billion range using electron capture/gas chromatography techniques. Most of the other gases used may be accurately measured in the parts per million range using infrared technology. There are three basic types of measurements: tracer gas decay, constant concentration, and constant injection. Investigators comparing tracer gases conclude that: (a) even though sulfur hexafluoride is appreciably heavier than air, mixing is not a problem; and (b) the inherent uncontrollable variables present in tracer gas work limit the accuracy of determinations to +/- 5 to 10%. Thus, if all other criteria are met, there is no reason why one tracer gas should be selected over another. The report describes a computer-controlled injection system.
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AIR INFILTRATION MEASUREMENTS USING TRACER GASES: A LITERATURE REVIEW (PDF, 2 pp, 65 KB, about PDF)AIR INFILTRATION MEASUREMENTS USING TRACER GASES: A LITERATURE REVIEW (PDF, 36 pp, 1020 KB, about PDF)