Influence of the height and location of chimneys and utility huts on the contamination of fresh-air intakes: In situ laboratory study

Abstract

An air intake’s location on the roof of a building is a determining factor for indoor air quality due to the possible reintroduction of contamination from the neighboring exhaust stacks. Ventilation system designers currently use tools such as mathematical models and wind tunnel simulations to estimate the dilution between the source and the air intake. These techniques are valid but do not take into consideration several variables, and sometimes the estimated dilution values differ from the measured values. Using field tests and boundary layer wind tunnel modeling, the authors studied the dilution phenomenon and impact of certain parameters (wind direction, stack height and location, roof irregularities, turbulence, air exhaust velocity) to refine the models used. This project has resulted in the development of guidelines intended for ventilation engineers. The results are also of interest to several professional associations and standardization organizations.

Produced Under this Project

Scientific Reports

The effect of stack height, stack location and rooftop structures on air intake contamination: A laboratory and full-scale study Research Report: R-391, R-392

Simplified Articles

Qualité de l'air des édifices
L'influence de la hauteur et de l'emplacemenet des cheminées Volume 18, n⁰ 3

Scientific Publications

Dilution of exhaust from a rooftop stack on a cubical building in an urban environment
Saathoff P., Lazure L., Stathopoulos T., Wei X.
Source :
Atmospheric Environment, vol. 36, no 29, 2002, p. 4577-4591
The influence of a rooftop structure on the dispersion of exhaust from a rooftop stack
Saathoff P., Lazure L., Stathopoulos T., Peperkamp H.
Source :
in 2002 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers / ASHRAE Annual Meeting Program (June 22-26, 2002 : Honolulu, HI), ASHRAE Transactions, HI-02-15-2, 2002, p.1029-1038
Dispersion of Emissions from a Low Building Located Downwind a Tall Building
Saathoff P., Gupta A., Stathopoulos T., Lazure L.
Source :
in Proceedings of PHYSMOD2003 : International Workshop on Physical Modeling of Flow Dispersion Phenomena (September 3-5, 2003 : Prato, Italie), 2003, p. 1-8
Effect of Rooftop Structures on the Plume from a Nearby Stack
Saathoff P., Gupta A., Stathopoulos T., Lazure L.
Source :
in 11th International Conference on Wind Engineering (11th : June 2-5, 2003 : Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas), 2003
The influence of structure on the dispersion of exhaust from a rooftop stack
Saathoff P., Lazure L., Stathopoulos T., Peperkamp H.
Source :
ASHRAE Transactions, vol. 108, 2002, p. 1029-1038
Wind effects on the building environment
Stathopoulos T.
Source :
in Impact of Wind and Storm on City life and Built Environment : 2nd Workshop organized by the COST Action C14 (2nd : November 21-22, 2003 : Ioannina, Greece), 2003
Wind-induced dispersion of exhaust from rooftop structures and air-intake contamination
Stathopoulos T., Lazure L., Saathoff P., Gupta A.
Source :
in International Symposiumon Wind Effects on Buildings and Urban Environment (1st : March 8-9 : Tokyo, Japan), 2004
Dispersion of Exhaust from a Rooftop Stack in an Urban Environment
Saathoff P., Lazure L., Stathopoulos T.
Source :
In Going global : American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition : the premier conference on occupational and environmental health and safety (1st : June 5-11, 1999 : Toronto, Canada), 1999, p. 26
Wind-induced dispersion of pollutants from building exhaust in the urban environment
Stathopoulos T., Lazure L., Saathoff P., Gupta A.
Source :
in International Workshop on Wind Engineering and Sciences, (October 29-30, 2004 : New Delhi, India), 2004
Wind tunnel simulation of tracer gas experiments performed in an urban environment: scaling considerations
Saathoff P., Gupta A., Stathopoulos T., Lazure L.
Source :
in A&WMA's 98th Annual Conference & Exhibition, (98th : June 21-24, 2005 : Minneapolis, U.S.A.), 2005
Développement d'un outil d'évaluation de la sécurité aux quais de transbordement
Bournival S.
Source :
Mémoire de maîtrise. Trois-Rivières, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2005
Wind-induced Dispersion of Pollutants from Building Exhaust
Stathopoulos T.
Source :
Wind Effects Bulletin, vol. 3, 2005
Contamination of fresh air intakes due to downwash from a rooftop structure
Saathoff P., Gupta A., Stathopoulos T., Lazure L.
Source :
Journal of the Air Waste Management Association, vol. 59, no 3, 2009, p. 343-353

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Additional Information

Type: Project

Number: 0099-0230

Status: Completed

Year of completion: 2004

Research Field: Chemical and Biological Hazard Prevention

Team:

Louis Lazure (IRSST)
Ted Stathopoulos (Université Concordia)
Claude Létourneau (IRSST)
Patrick Saathoff (Université Concordia)