Nonlinear Least-Squares Minimization Applied to Tracer Gas Decay for Determining Airflow Rates in a Two-Zone Building

Abstract

We developed a method based on tracer gas decay measurements to quantify the airflow rates, including the interzonal airflows, in a two-zone building: different tracer gases were simultaneously pulse-injected into each of the two zones and the evolution of the gas concentrations in each zone was measured; theoretical concentration profiles obtained by solving dynamic material-balance equations for two coupled, well-mixed zones were fit to the experimental data using nonlinear least-squares minimization; and estimates of the airflow rates were iteratively refined until a best fit was achieved between the model and the data. We conducted experiments validating the method in two full-sized rooms of a test house. Airflows were controlled using blowers, and mixing was ensured by the use of fans. Airflow rates inferred by the tracer gas technique agreed with imposed airflow rates within an average absolute error of 8%. Results are also reported for two experiments conducted in the same structure under uncontrolled conditions. Goodness-of-fit tests revealed no statistically significant differences between measured tracer gas concentrations and theoretical concentration profiles constructed using the least-squares parameter estimates.