Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
248524 Building and Environment 2012 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

A liquid-inner tube diffusion-film-emission (LIFE) reference was developed to quickly evaluate the performance of a chamber system for furniture/building material VOC emission tests. The reference has a constant emission rate determined by an analytical balance at typical temperature and relative humidity conditions, and is able to provide predictable concentrations in a chamber testing system. A 51 L stainless steel chamber was used to test the LIFE reference's performance at an air temperature of 23 °C with 50% RH. Factorial studies of the LIFE reference's emission under various temperatures (10 °C, 23 °C and 30 °C) and relative humidities (33%, 50% and 70%) showed that the emission rate is sensitive to the chamber environment. A numerical regression equation was developed to describe the impact of chamber temperature, relative humidity and their interaction on the reference's emission, with the difference between prediction and testing results of less than 6% at 23 °C and 30 °C.

► A toluene LIFE reference was scaled down from full-scale chamber to small-scale chamber usage. ► Factorial studies investigated the impact of temperature and relative humidity on LIFE's emission rate. ► A numerical regression equation was developed to predict the impact of environment on LIFE's emission reliably.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Energy Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
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