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Room Pressurization Control Methods
Room Pressurization Control Methods
February, 2003
Proper room pressurization is critical for preventing If there is absolutely no leakage area (a room is
unwanted air transfer. In chemical and biological totally and perfectly sealed off) then no airflow takes
research facilities chemical fumes and airborne place, even though a differential pressure exists
biological agents must be prevented from migrating between the room and its adjacent space. However,
out of laboratory rooms to non-laboratory areas. Air except for extreme situations (such as a Biological
must be prevented from flowing into spaces that Level 4 Laboratory), there is little reason to try to
require a high degree of cleanliness and purity, such attain a perfect seal or barrier between most
as food and drug processing operations. The pressurized spaces. Personnel typically need to
absence of airborne particulate is especially critical freely enter and leave, and materials often need to
for microelectronics and optical manufacturing. be transported into and out of such spaces. Thus, a
Proper room pressurization is vital for protecting the perfect seal or barrier is not a practical solution for
medical staff and patients from exposure to harmful the prevention of unwanted air transfer. This is the
and sometimes deadly airborne pathogens in fundamental reason for maintaining a differential
treatment facilities. This report discusses the pressure relationship; it is the most practical way to
advantages and disadvantages of the two most prevent unwanted air transfer. The required
commonly accepted methods of room pressurization differential pressure relationship is created and
control—Volumetric Airflow Tracking and Differential maintained by a properly designed and controlled
Pressure Sensing. ventilation system.
PERSONNEL CORRIDOR
O
Figure 3. Room Differential Airflow vs. Differential Pressure for Various Room Leakage Areas.
Maintaining Room Pressurization constant air volume (CAV) as well as variable air
volume (VAV) ventilation systems. Figure 4 shows
with Volumetric Airflow Tracking an airflow tracking control configuration for a VAV
Airflow tracking can maintain the desired room chemical laboratory room ventilation system.
pressurization polarity (positive or negative) for both
CFM
CFM
ROOM
CONTROLLER
Volumetric airflow tracking is based upon measuring essential components of a volumetric airflow tracking
and controlling room airflows. Figure 4 shows the control configuration for a VAV chemical laboratory
Page 4 of 8 Siemens Industry, Inc.
Document No. 149-977
room. The exhaust of each VAV fume hood is Volumetric Airflow Tracking
modulated as necessary by individual fume hood
controllers (not shown) to maintain the required
Considerations
fume hood face velocity. In addition, the ROOM As Figure 3 illustrates, the airflow tracking offset
CONTROLLER also continuously monitors the necessary to maintain a specific room differential
specific exhaust airflow of each fume hood. To pressure is dependent upon the room's total leakage
maintain sufficient room exhaust when all fume hood area. However, it is not usually possible to know
sashes are closed, the room may also need a where a particular room’s leakage area will be prior
ROOM GENERAL EXHAUST. The ROOM to construction. Therefore, a designer may initially
CONTROLLER then controls both the ROOM specify a room airflow tracking offset based upon the
GENERAL EXHAUST and the SUPPLY AIR designer's experience. Later, the airflow tracking
TERMINAL to always provide the proper amount of offset may be modified during the test and balancing
room exhaust and supply make-up airflow. phase of the project to attain a specific level of room
Whenever the room's total airflow changes (such as differential pressure.
when fume hood sashes are repositioned), the In practice, it is seldom necessary to achieve a
ROOM CONTROLLER adjusts the room supply specific differential pressure value for laboratory
airflow and the room general exhaust to maintain rooms since the purpose of room pressurization is to
proper room airflow along with the room's airflow create and ensure proper directional airflow for the
tracking offset. room. It should also be noted that a given airflow
tracking offset will not ensure that a specific
differential pressure value will be maintained over an
extended period such as the life of a building. As
buildings age and modifications are made, room
leakage area usually changes somewhat and results
in some minor variation from the initial room
differential pressure value. Although eventual
variations in room pressurization are likely, it must
be emphasized again that the primary goal of room
differential pressurization is preventing undesirable
air transfer that would still be attained.
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE
ROOM
CONTROLLER
ROOM DIFFERENTIAL
PRESSURE SENSOR
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
SECONDS SECONDS
Figure 6. Comparison of Time Needed to Obtain New Values After Room Airflow Change.
As a result of this arrangement, the airflow tracking Equally satisfactory results can usually be
offset value does not remain fixed as in regular obtained with regular volumetric airflow tracking
airflow tracking, but is periodically reset if needed. A and having someone occasionally check the
cascaded control arrangement will compensate for differential pressure values of various rooms.
differential pressure variations that might occur over
the long term. Since a differential pressure sensor is
part of a cascaded control arrangement, it also
Conclusion
enables local indication as well as remote monitoring This report has presented a detailed factual
of a room's differential pressure level. discussion on room pressurization control by both
volumetric airflow tracking and differential pressure
Although cascaded pressure control might seem to sensing. Due to its slower response, differential
be the best of both worlds, it also poses some pressure sensing control is best limited to
drawbacks: applications where room airflows remain very stable
as in constant air volume ventilation systems.
It is more costly than regular airflow tracking
since it also requires installation of the room The vast majority of experienced ventilation system
differential pressure sensor and inclusion of a designers find volumetric airflow tracking to be more
more complex room control algorithm. satisfactory for room pressurization control. In
particular, airflow tracking is well suited to and is
It requires the ventilation system designer to
perhaps the only reliable approach for controlling
also address some of the vexing problems
room pressurization in VAV laboratory ventilation
associated with differential pressure sensing
systems and whenever fast and stable
control such as the effects of open doors and
pressurization control is crucial.
ensuring that the proper amount of corridor
make air will be provided.
It involves a more complex startup and
balancing process.
Product or company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. © 2009 Siemens Industry, Inc.
Siemens Industry, Inc. Printed in the USA
Building Technologies Division Document No. 149-977
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