Effect of various factors on the rate of radon entry into two different types of houses

Various factors that affect the rate of radon entry were investigated in two detached hill-side houses. In the slab-on-grade house (A), this rate reached its maximum value during a particular weather condition when the wind-induced internal transport of radon, whereas the rate of radon entry into the basement house (B) on the upper slope of a esker was highest when the wind was blowing towards the esker. In neither house did changes in barometric pressure measured at 3 h intervals influence the radon entry rate. Nor did rain influence the rate of radon entry into house A. In house A, the radon entry rate was observed to have a 2–3 h delay; and after it was adjusted by the analysis of covariance, the radon entry rate was higher in the morning and lower in the evening. In house B, however, diurnal variations in the radon entry rate were negligible.     

The RAGENA dynamic model of radon generation,entry and accumulation indoors

The complexity generated by the existence of a great number of parameters and processes affecting the generation of radon in the source, its transport in the source medium, its entry into a dwelling and its accumulation in the different rooms of a dwelling has led to the development of partial models and experimental studies that are focused on a given aspect. However, in order to model radon levels and dynamics in real houses, it is necessary to take into account all the parameters and processes affecting radon levels. This is the objective of the dynamic RAGENA model of radon generation, entry and accumulation indoors. The model has been adapted to a Mediterranean climate house under dynamic conditions, and the indoor radon and soil radon dynamics have been compared to experimental results. It has been found (i) that the model gives a soil radon dynamics similar to that obtained experimentally, (ii) a remarkable model-experiment agreement indoors and (iii) that the indoor radon dynamics is given by a permanent radon entry from building materials and a dynamic removal through ventilation, which is driven by indoor-outdoor temperature differences and wind speed.     

The influence of meteorological parameters on soil radon levels in permeable glacial sediments

The influence of meteorological parameters on soil radon concentrations in a permeable ice-marginal deposit in Kinsarvik, Norway, was investigated based on continuous measurements of soil radon concentrations, temperature, precipitation, wind speed, wind direction, air pressure and soil moisture content over a period of 10 months. The results show that the soil radon concentrations exhibit distinct seasonal and diurnal variations that predominantly are caused by changes in air temperature. Air flows between areas of different elevation occur in the ice-marginal deposit due to temperature differences between soil air and atmospheric air, and instantaneous changes in air flow direction were recorded when the atmospheric air temperature reached the average annual air temperature. Air pressure was found to be the second most important parameter influencing soil radon concentrations, while no apparent effect of precipitation, wind speed, wind direction or soil moisture was observed. Seasonal variations in indoor and soil radon levels were also investigated in a glaciofluvial deposit located 40 km southwest of Kinsarvik, and the close correlation between the seasonal variation patterns observed in the two areas suggests that the results of the Kinsarvik study also might be applicable to other areas of highly permeable building grounds where differences in terrain elevation exist.     

The effect of the wind speed velocity on the stack pressure in medium-rise buildings in cold region of China

This paper presents the numerical simulation results of the stack effect in medium-rise buildings in Harbin, a typical city in the severe cold region of China. The simulation was carried out using the multizone ventilation model COMIS. The effect of the wind speed velocity and the temperature of the stairwell on the pressure difference curves shape have been investigated. The pressure difference between the stairwell and the outside shows a linear variation with the height. However, the wind speed velocity may have a strong effect on the pressure difference. The results of the simulation show that at high wind speed velocity the curve of the pressure difference is not linear in shape. It has been also shown that the air total change cannot be provided by only infiltration due to leakage particularly for such air-tight residential building in windy cold climate. Therefore, mechanical ventilation is required to compensate for the lack of it. A quantitative evaluation of IAQ based on the total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) concentration has been done. The effect of the wind speed velocity and the temperature of the stairwell on the VOTCs concentration at each floor have been also presented.     

Distribution of wind- and temperature-induced pressure differences across the walls of a twenty-storey compartmentalised building

An experimental investigation has been made of the distribution of pressure differences across the walls of a 20-storey student residence building at the University of Ottawa. The wind velocity at the test building as well as the temperature distributions both inside and outside the building were measured simultaneously.

While pressure differences are caused by all three of the factors investigated, namely the temperature gradient (stack effect), the wind and the mechanical ventilation system installed in the building, the first two effects are predominant for this particular building during the winter season.

The stack effect is found to be linearly proportional to the difference of the reciprocal outside and inside (absolute) temperatures, and varies almost linearly with height. The neutral pressure level occurs at a height of 40 m, or 70% of the height of the building.

The wind-induced pressure difference under relatively strong wind shows a good conformity with previous knowledge for typical bluff sections such as a rectangular prism.     

Multidisciplinary analysis of Finnish esker sediment in radon source identification

In order to define the naturally-occurring radioactive materials that are the source of radon in natural environments, a comprehensive analytical (geochemical, physical and chemical) methodology was employed to study sand samples from the Hollola esker in the city of Hollola (Lahti area, Finland). Techniques such as gamma-spectrometry, emanation measurements, sequential chemical extraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalyses (EPMA) and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used to determine the potential source of radon. Monazite and xenotime, uranium- and thorium-bearing minerals and potential radon sources, occurred in significant amounts in the samples and were also the main reason for the distribution of uranium and thereby radium in separate grain-size fractions. Following deposition, the esker sand has been exposed to no significant weathering, and radium has not therefore been much separated from uranium. However, considering its non-compatibility with crystal lattices, it was recognized rather in easily leachable species (44% of the total (226)Ra) than uranium (21% of the total (238)U) in our analyses. The smallest grain-size fraction of the esker sand had a higher emanation power (0.24) than the other fractions (around 0.17). Due to the small relative proportion of this fraction, however, it contributed only slightly to the total emanation (4%). The emanation power of the leachable species was about three times higher (ca. 0.20) than that of the species tightly bound to the crystal lattice (ca. 0.07).     

Temperature- and wind-induced air flow patterns in a staircase. Computer modelling and experimental verification

The typical infiltration load for a residential building has been found to range from one-third to one-half of the total space conditioning load. However, most infiltration measurements have been made on single-family houses. Information about the role of infiltration in the energy consumption of large buildings is limited. Furthermore, the prediction of infiltration rates in high-rise buildings is a complex problem. The forces that drive this flow result from the superposition of wind pressure on the faces of the building and the stack effect across the height of the building. Infiltration models have shown the latter effect to be significant in single-family residences, particular in colder climates and, consequently, the stack effect is even greater in high-rise buildings. For this work, we performed tracer gas and fan pressurization measurements on a 30 m tall University of California dormitory in order to determine the importance of both wind and stack effect upon infiltration. Measured pressure and tracer gas distributions were compared with those from a predictive infiltration computer model for high-rise buildings. To study the influence of the air flow pattern around the building, this model uses various wind velocity profiles characteristic of urban areas and different sets of surface pressure coefficients derived from wind tunnel experiments.     

Installation of supply/exhaust ventilation as a remedial action against radon from soil and/or building materials

Installation of supply/exhaust ventilation systems is a possible remedial action against excessive concentration of radon. Installations in some 15 one-family houses in Sweden have been evaluated regarding effectiveness, costs and impact on energy demad. This remedial action is most suitable when exhalation from the structure itself is the major source of radon. The resulting decrease in concentration of radon can be estimated from dilution in the increased flow of air through the building. The exhalation from the building materials is constant and unaffected by ventilation rate. When the radon originates from the soil subjacent to the building the inflow of radon is a function of untightness and pressure difference between soil and indoor air. The result of retrofitting a ventilation system will then be the combined effect of dilution and a possible change in pressure difference. The defects in these buildings are normally remedied by more cost-effective action based on sealing the route of entry or depressurising/ventilating the subjacent soil. If a ventilation system is installed, it should preferentially be a balanced supply/exhaust system in order to give a minimal negative pressure indoors.     

Seasonal variations in soil gas radon concentration

We have been studying seasonal variations in soil gas radon concentration in southern Finland since 1982.To detect the radon we employ liquid scintillation solution in an open glass vial placed in a plastic tube set in a hole drilled in the ground.The results from an esker area show that there may be an appreciable seasonal variation in soil gas radon concentration, similar to that in houses. Because of the varying permeability and radium concentration of the ground, small changes in the building may have a large impact.     

Experimental Investigation of Effect of External Side Wind on Fire Behaviors in a Corridor Connected to a Shaft

High-rise buildings are usually in a windy environment. The motion of fire-induced smoke and fire behaviors may be strongly affected by the external wind forces except by the stack effect. It turns out that wind with different directions and velocities can cause disparity in fire dynamics. Since most previous researches only focused on the cross wind conditions, this work investigated the effect of external side wind from 0 m/s to 1.21 m/s on the air flow behaviors, combustion characteristics of methanol pools and smoke temperature in a 1/6 scaled corridor connected to a 6-floor shaft. A remarkable observation is that the external side wind (parallel to top window, shown in Fig. 1) leads to pressure attenuation inside building and induces air to flow inside through bottom door. Therefore, the smoke spreads faster under the synergic effects of side wind and stack effect. At the steady stage, the supplement air flow velocity increases with wind velocity but remains proportional to 1/3 power of HRR. An equation incorporating the wind effect is proposed to predict the air flow velocity. Results also show that compared to cross wind conditions, the mass loss rates of methanol pools increase at high wind velocities. The wind effect on smoke temperature is obvious in cases with small pools. Here, the temperature first increases to a peak value and then decreases with increased wind velocity. However, the temperature remains the same in cases with large pools within our wind velocity range. The temperature in the shaft is also correlated with mass loss rate and wind velocity. This work shows that external side wind would increase the fire hazard of buildings by contributing to the combustion and spreading of smoke. Thus engineers should consider the effect of side wind carefully when designing smoke control system.

     

Characterization of Stack Effect in High-Rise Buildings Under Winter Conditions,Including the Impact of Stairwell Pressurization

To characterize the magnitude of stack effect within stairwells and elevator shafts, differential pressure measurements were taken in fifteen (15) high-rise buildings in four (4) different cities (Cleveland, Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia) during the winter months of January–March, 2013. Test buildings ranged in height from 44 m to 150 m (143 ft–492 ft). Outside temperatures during testing ranged from ?12°C to 15°C (10°F–59°F). Based on the differential pressures measured, there was evidence of winter stack effect in all buildings tested. On the lower levels of all buildings, air was observed flowing from the building into the stairwells and elevator hoistways with pressure differential magnitudes ranging from ?2.7 Pa to ?24.9 Pa, ?12.0 Pa average (?0.011 in. w.g. to ?0.100 in. w.g., ?0.048 in. w.g. average). Similarly, in most buildings (excluding Buildings 6 and 7) air was observed flowing from the stair and elevator hoistways into the building on the upper levels with pressure differential magnitudes ranging from 0.5 Pa to 34.9 Pa, 11.2 Pa average (0.002 in. w.g. to 0.140 in. w.g., 0.045 in. w.g. average). Under winter conditions, the data suggests that large quantities of air can migrate, floor-to-floor, via unprotected elevator shafts. Data further suggests activation of the stairwell pressurization system can increase vertical air movement via unprotected elevator shafts. This behavior is expected to impact the movement of smoke floor-to-floor during a fire, as airflow is indicative of smoke migration. The exterior stack force on the building’s envelope (governed by the building’s height and temperature differential between the building interior and exterior) does not always translate proportionally to shaft-to-building differential pressures (i.e., “stack effect”), as each building is unique. Although a building’s height and outside temperature play important roles in determining vertical airflow movement within a building, height alone was not found to be a good predictor of vertical airflow (or smoke movement) within the building due to stack effect. Other variables, such as architectural layout, architectural leakage, wind effects, and ventilation systems should all be considered. Simplified algebraic calculations (i.e. hand calculations) do not treat the building as a complete system, and do not account for all variables involved. Therefore, simplified algebraic calculations may result in inaccurate shaft-to-building differential pressure predictions. Based on this analysis, unless conservative leakage values are used, the simplified algebraic calculations may underpredict the shaft-to-building differential pressures. Using simplified algebraic calculations may be suitable for preliminary approximations, however, for design purposes a more complex analysis is recommended. The more complex analysis should consider other variables that affect pressure differentials such as changes in architectural layout and envelope leakage from floor-to-floor, HVAC systems, and wind.     

谈勘察设计阶段土壤氡浓度控制问题

防氡工程设计类同于防水工程设计,工程设计人员应掌握土壤中氡浓度的情况,必要时应采用有效的工程措施,使土壤氡浓度处于较低水平,从而保证室内氡浓度也降至最低,有利于以后施工及验收工作的进行。     

Experience from retrospective radon exposure estimations for individuals in a radon epidemiological study using solid-state nuclear track detectors

The relation between increased risk of lung cancer and exposure to indoor radon is assessed in epidemiological studies. Both the quality and reliability of smoking data and the radon exposure data are of primary importance. Contemporary measurement of radon concentration in the dwellings of individuals in a case-control study is traditionally used to assess past history of radon exposure. These assessments are somewhat unreliable since presently measured radon concentration might not be representative for a given location long ago. The measurement of long-lived decay products from 222Rn remaining indoors on hard surfaces, such as glass, makes it possible to assess the exposure to indoor radon. At the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute, a combination of two different solid-state nuclear track detectors has been developed to assess the 210Pb activity implanted in glass surfaces by measuring 210Po alpha activity. This detector (a RETRO detector) is used in the Swedish radon epidemiological case-control study of non-smokers with the aim to provide an alternative estimate of individual radon exposure and to evaluate the usefulness of RETRO measurements. A total of 576 different objects were found and 568 were measured. For 225 individuals, we measured two personal objects that had been in the same person's possession for more than 20 years. The standard deviation of the average radon concentration obtained from these two objects had a median value of 13 Bq/m3 indicating a precision of exposure of approximately 20%. The correlation between 210Po surface activity measured earlier and the mean values of radon concentrations in a number of Swedish dwellings is used to estimate the historical, average radon concentration. This average correlation factor seems also to be valid for measurements in the non-smoker epidemiological study.     

Meteorological Database for the United States

Abstract A meteorological database for the 48 contiguous states of the United States has been developed for use in indoor air pollution predictive models. The database contains predicted typical monthly meteorological statistics at the county level derived from hourly meteorological data from 208 (234 for precipitation) geographically distinct monitoring stations. Interpolation and extrapolation techniques were used to predict statistics for counties not containing a meteorological monitoring site. The LBNL database includes statistics for meteorological variables including dry-bulb temperature, dew-point temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, hours of precipitation, precipitation, and derived infiltration degree-days. The database consists of individual files of derived statistics for each weather variable and is potentially useful for indoor radon modeling as well as for other purposes. Each file contains data values for all 12 months and an aggregation of the 12 months up to a yearly statistic for all county centroids. A test was conducted to assess the quality of interpolated values. Examples showing the use of the database for mapping infiltration degree-days and an application of the database to a statistical correlation analysis attempting to find meteorological factors influencing indoor radon levels in the United States are discussed.     

Heat release rate of accidental fire in a supertall building residential flat

Residential highrise building fire of height above 200 m is now a concern in the Far East. Long-term survey study on fire load density indicated that high amount of combustibles over the local upper limit of 1135 M Jm⁻² used to be stored in residential flats. Wind-induced air-flow rates through openings at upper levels of those tall buildings can be very high. Stack effect in areas with large indoor and outdoor temperature differences (such as 14 °C indoor and − 30 °C outdoor at Harbin, Heilongjiang, China) will also give high ventilation rate through leakage areas. Adequate oxygen is then supplied to burn up all stored combustibles to give a big fire. In applying performance-based design to determine the fire safety provisions, heat release rate of the design fire is the first parameter to decide. In this paper, stack effect and wind action on possible increase in the heat release rate for fires in supertall residential buildings will be explored. Air intake rates through openings to rooms at high levels due to stack effect and wind action are estimated by simple empirical formula. The maximum heat release rates for well-developed room fires in these tall buildings under different stack and wind conditions are determined by varying two parameters. Air flow rate through openings in an 800 m tall building induced by wind gust can be over 20 times the value at ground level. Consequently, heat release rate can be much higher, confirming experimental studies on building fires under wind action.     

A study on the development and application of the E/V shaft cooling system to reduce stack effect in high-rise buildings

This study suggests the E/V(Elevator) shaft cooling system as a new approach to reduce the stack effect and the related problems in high-rise buildings. The basic characteristics on its application were analyzed with some simulations in this study. Moreover, the system was applied to an actual building and its performance was evaluated through the measurements.The system can reduce the stack effect itself and the related problems simultaneously and it can reduce the pressure and the air flow rate in each part of a building in the same ratio. These features were shown in the results of the simulations; for the examples, when all the E/V shafts were cooled from 22 °C to 12 °C, the stack effect and the pressure in each part of the modeled building were decreased by about 27%.In the field measurements, the wind velocity through the E/V door was decreased effectively in the whole building; its reduction ratio at the lobby floor was about 25% and at the upper floors (37F, 38F) about 10% respectively. But, the neutral pressure level at the E/V shaft was moved by the vertical temperature difference in the E/V shaft because of the inflow ducts concentrated in the lower part of the E/V shaft. This movement was also shown in another simulation on the same conditions as the measured ones. It is very important to minimize the vertical temperature difference in the E/V shaft to maximize the reduction effects on the problems.     

A Comparative Study on the Influence of Ventilation on Weather- and Fire-Induced Stack Effect in the Elevator Shafts of a High-Rise Building

This work assessed the impact of ventilation on both weather- and fire-induced stack effect in an 18-story high-rise office building. Elevator shafts are considered the main route of vertical air movement. Pressure distribution induced by cold weather within the elevator shafts was calculated theoretically. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of fire in the same high-rise building under different ventilation conditions were carried out with a fire dynamics simulator. It was found that ventilation exerted a more complex impact on fire than the weather-induced stack effect. For the weather-induced stack effect, the ventilation condition of the building only affected the height of the neutral pressure plane; in fire situations, it did not only affect the height of the neutral pressure plane in a similar manner to the weather-induced stack effect, but also influenced temperature and pressure distributions in the elevator shafts. The smoke movement and the distributions of temperature and pressure in elevator shafts are also learned. The smoke movement in high rises experienced four typical stages after ignition. The ventilation condition of the fire floor influences gas flow into elevator shafts, while that of the upper floors impacts the smoke rise speed in vertical shafts. When the stack effect finally reaches steady state, the gas temperature in the shaft decreases exponentially with height. Based on this assumption, a theoretical model was presented to characterize the fire-induced stack effect in typical high rises. Results showed that the model successfully predicts the pressure distribution in high-rise buildings.     

严寒地区电站锅炉房的通风与供暖防冻设计

严寒地区一般在电站锅炉周围采用复合型保温压型钢板进行封闭,形成封闭围护结构,称为紧身封闭锅炉房;认为紧身封闭锅炉房冬季运行底层温度偏低、管道冻裂的主要原因是热压作用下的大量冷风入侵,指出在设计过程中要综合考虑锅炉房的夏季全面通风与底层冬季供暖防冻,锅炉房运转层平台的钢格栅、开口、楼梯间等造成运转层上下部空气流通部位的尺寸需要合理控制,并简要描述了冬季循环通风系统的设计与应用。     

高层建筑中的烟气流动规律

本文就风压、热压等因素对高层建筑中烟气流动的影响进行了分析,并指出了高层建筑自然排烟设计中需注意的一些问题.