The model was compared with more complex three-dimensional models requiring supercomputers and with experimental data. Further experiments are planned to evaluate and refine the model for more complex and realistic room conditions. The objectives are to evaluate ventilation systems and their effectiveness in pollutant removal and to develop the theoretical bases for understanding gas and dust emissions and absorption from surfaces in rooms. Typical office and residential rooms are physically modeled in the room ventilation chamber to measure the airflow patterns and velocities and the ventilation effectiveness for alternative ventilation systems. Surface emission and absorption rates as affected primarily by air velocity and turbulence characteristics over the surface are measured in convective environmental chambers.
Applications are for research and environmental control in plant and animal housing.
Prototype instruments were constructed and tested in research environments. Tracer gas was used to determine the locations of leads in the air distribution. The airflow patterns in selected rooms was also measured with tracers and flow visualization equipment. Spacial and time variations of manure characteristics and hydrogen sulfide and methane generation rates were determined. Evolution rates of ammonia can be predicted at different environmental conditions and manure characteristics.