MECHANICAL

VENTILATION

Natural and Mechanical Systems

Four (4) possible combinations of natural and mechanical ventilations are as
follows;
Natural inlet and outlet (Fully Natural supply + Exhaust)
utilizing open able windows, air bricks, louvers, door-way and
chimneys. Provide up to about three air changes per hour but
depend upon prevailing wind direction and strength, the stack effect
of rising warm air currents, and adventitious opening around doors
and windows.
Natural inlet, mechanical outlet; (Natural Supply + Mechanical Exhaust)
Mechanical extract fans in windows or roofs and ducted systems
where the air is to be discharged away from the occupied space
owing to its contamination with heat, fumes, smoke, water vapor and
odour. A slight reduction in air static pressure is caused within the
building, and external airs flows inwards. This system can be used in
dwellings, offices, factories or public buildings.
Mechanical inlet, natural outlet; (Mechanical Supply + Natural Exhaust)
Air is blown into the building through a fan convector or ducted
system to pressurize the internal atmosphere slightly with a heated
air supply. The air leaks out of the building through adventitious
openings and permanent air bricks or louvers.
Mechanical inlet and outlet; (Fully Mechanical Supply + Exhaust)
When natural ventilation openings unable to cope with large air flow
rates without disturbing the architecture or causing uncontrollable
draughts. Full mechanical control of air conditioning and ventilation
system are in used.

Introduction

Indoor/outdoor exchange of air to replenish

oxygen and to remove pollutants generated by
breathing, indoor activities and emissions from
building materials and furnishings.
Poor indoor air quality causes or irritate 50% of
all illnesses and can lead to a host of health
problems for people of all ages.
For ages, most buildings relied on openings
through the building envelope to provide
indoor/outdoor air exchange. Nowadays,
mechanical ventilation can make it safe to seal
unwanted air leaks and install as much
insulation as needed.
Ventilation in modern buildings (enclosed space
and without natural ventilation) requires
additional equipment to create air movement.

The purposes/objectives
of mechanical ventilation
system:
1.

2.

3.

4.

To get enough air (quality

and quantity).
To control ventilation
systems (flow in and out)
To control indoor
environment (air quality, air
velocity, location, way of
use).
To remove heat and dirty air.

Four (4) basic types of

whole-house mechanical
ventilation systems:
Exhaust System
Supply System
Balanced System
Plenum System

(a) Exhaust System

An exhaust system may consist of a single fan that is centrally located

in a hallway or at the top of the stairs, or it can be an upgraded
bathroom fan that has a motor built to run for longer periods of time
and is sized to ventilate the whole house.
Three (3) mode of operation:
1. Mechanical inlet, natural exhaust (positive/over pressure)
2. Natural inlet, mechanical exhaust (negative/under pressure)
3. Mechanical inlet and exhaust (controlled pressure)

Mechanical Air Supply with Natural Air

Exhaust
Air supply is controlled mechanically and
the air exhaust takes place on a natural
way by ventilation openings, windows or
shafts. There will be an overpressure in the
building.
To prevent draught, the air supply in the
room has to be placed as high as possible
and the air inlet grid must have a possibility
to be regulated.
By preheating the incoming air, draught
problems can also be decreased.
An air filter used to clean the incoming air.
A ventilator (or fan) controls the air supply
and the outdoor air is transported into the
building by ducts.
By controlling the ventilator it is possible to
control the ventilation capacity for the
system.

Exhaust
System

Exhaust System
Natural air supply with mechanical air
exhaust
popular form of ventilation in residential and offices.
The mechanical air exhaust system creates an
under pressure in the building, the system is less
dependent on the weather. The under pressure
creates a pressure difference over the ventilation
openings encourage the air to suck in.
High wind pressure or temperature difference can
result in draught problems.
To prevent draught the air supply openings have to
be placed as high as possible and the air inlet grid
must have a possibility to be regulated.
Ventilation capacity (air out) controlled by an
exhaust ventilator.
In residential buildings suction takes place from at
least the kitchen, the bathroom and the toilet. (need
for suction ducts)
In non-residential buildings suction mostly takes
place from the corridor.
For locations where the sound load is high
sometimes baffle filters are used.

Mechanical Supply and Exhaust

Exhaust System

A mechanical ventilation system can be combined

with all sorts of heating and cooling systems.
Often the heating, cooling and ventilation of a
building are combined in the air-conditioning
system (HVAC).
In a mechanical ventilation system the supply air
and the exhaust air are transported mechanically.

Advantages of an Exhaust Ventilation are:

are

Good control of the ventilation capacity; no

dependence of the outdoor weather conditions and
despite possible noisy environment.
The possibility of extracting heat from the exhaust
air and use it to preheat the fresh air supply (heat
recovery).
The possibility of preheating and pre-cooling of the
air supply.
The possibility of humidify and dehumidify of the air
supply.
The possibility of cleaning the air by an air filter or
supplying the air from a relative clean site of the
building.

Exhaust Fresh-up
Raising exhaust air decreases room pressure to prevent the
leaking of odors or floating bacteria into other rooms

(b) Supply System

A supply system slightly pressurizes the house by drawing outdoor air into the
house. This pressurization pushes indoor air out through small openings in the
building, which helps to prevent outside moisture and pollutants from getting in
through these passages. Positive indoor pressure also protects against back
drafting.

(b) Supply System

In a supply system, a fan pulls
outside air into the house,
creating positive pressure.
Ductwork brings the air into the
living spaces that need it most
typically the bedrooms and living
room.
Spot exhaust fans are still
needed in high-pollutant areas
such as the kitchen, bathroom,
and laundry room.

Supply rich mode: Raising the air supply maintains proper room
pressure to prevent back-flow to toilet or kitchen odours or moisture inflow.

FRESH-UP operation: Both the excessive supply mode and the excessive
exhaust mode are selectable. This function allows for a more comfortable
air environment whether the occupied space is required to be pressurized
or de-pressurized.

(c) Balance System

A balanced central system uses two fans
(supply and exhaust fans working in
cooperation) and creates a neutral, or
balanced pressure.
One fan exhausts air out of the house, while
the other brings the same amount of outside
air into the house.
These systems are more complex than
supply-only or exhaust-only ventilation
systems, but provide better fresh air
distribution.
They may be two wall-mounted fans of equal
capacity--one for supply and one for
exhaust--in two different rooms.
Alternatively, they may be ducted to supply
air to the common living areas, such as living
rooms and bedrooms, and to exhaust air
from the rooms where pollution is high, such
as the kitchen and bathroom

In a balanced system, air is supplied to

some rooms and exhausted from others.
An optional heat- or energy-recovery unit
transfers heat or humidity from one air
stream to the other. Spot exhaust is
included where necessary.

(c) Balance System (benefits)

Balanced ventilation
systems can provide
many benefits
including:
Improved indoor
air quality
Improved comfort
Improved health
Lower utility bills
Improved resale
position

Balance System (benefits)

Improved indoor air

quality.

Improved comfort.

Improved health.

Balanced ventilation systems supply fresh air to the living

and sleeping areas of homes while exhausting stale air at an
equal rate from the bathrooms. This proactive approach to
ventilation can result in improved indoor air quality.

ENERGY STAR labeled homes with tight construction and

balanced ventilation systems can have fewer drafts and a
constant supply of outdoor air resulting in improved comfort.

Stale air can cause health problems. It can be responsible

for symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, and
respiratory problems. These symptoms are more common in
homes with poor ventilation and moisture control.
Continuously providing fresh air can result in the improved
health and well being of the occupants.

Lower utility bills.

Less energy is consumed to operate ventilation systems

than to heat and cool excessive amounts of outdoor air that
infiltrates leaky homes. Additional savings are captured
when these systems are equipped with either a sensible or
total heat exchanger. This can result in lower utility bills,
making homes less expensive to operate.

Improved resale
position.

ENERGY STAR labeled homes with balanced ventilation

systems can provide the many impressive benefits listed
including more comfortable homes with better indoor air
quality and lower utility bills. These benefits can translate
into higher resale value.

Typical Installation Configurations

SA = Supply air

RA = Return air

OA = Outside air

EA = Exhaust air

(d) Plenum System

Plenum is the space that can
facilitate air circulation for heating
and air conditioning systems, by
providing pathways for either
heated/ conditioned or return
airflows.
Space between the structural
ceiling and the dropped ceiling or
under a raised floor is typically
considered plenum.
Air pressure in plenum is higher
than outside.
For buildings, plenum is an
enclosed space that are not for
human occupancy, but are often
used for heating, ventilating
and/or air conditioning equipment
and airflow, and are for equipment
such as cables, piping, and
luminaries

Equipment for Mechanical System

The motive power for the distribution of air
in ventilation systems is invariably provided
by electrically driven equipement.
Fan / Blower
Extractor
Air Conditioning

Equipment for Mechanical System

There are three main types of fan in use
for blowing or extracting wind in or out of
the building :
1. Propeller fans
2. Centrifugal fans
3. Axial flow fans

(i) Propeller fans

Propeller fans are suitable for situations
where no great resistance to airflow has to
be overcome.

A typical fan

The free intake and discharge condition of

ventilation fans situated in wall openings
giving direct in/out and out/in movement
are eminently suited to this type of fan,
which under these conditions can move
large volumes of air economically and with
very low installation costs.
Efficiency 60-65%
Short duct systems can also be served,
provided the resistance of the system is
low.

(ii) Centrifugal fans

Centrifugal fans can generate high-pressure
rises in the gas stream 760Pa. Accordingly,
they are well-suited for industrial processes
and air pollution control systems. Efficiency
80%, high cost, silence, big size and need
more space.
A centrifugal fan has a fan wheel composed of
a number of fan blades mounted around a
hub. The hub turns on a shaft that passes
through the fan housing. The gas enters from
the side of the fan wheel, turns 90 and
accelerates as it passes over the fan blades.
The term, centrifugal, refers to the trajectory of
the gas stream as it passes out of the fan
housing.

The centrifugal
type generally
supplies more
cfm per
horsepower at
static pressures
over 4.0-4.5
inches of water
and is often
used where low
noise level is
desired

(iii) Axial flow fans

This type of fan is becoming popular.

Use in the ductwork system
Efficiency is high to 75%, simple
installation and appearance neat,
particularly in a line of ducting.

The vane-axial type has a propeller and vanes, and is best for static pressures under 4.0-4.5 inches of water

Advantages of good ventilation

1.0 REDUCTION IN HUMIDITY LEVELS
-Dust-mite levels decrease
-Mould disappears
-Fungus disappears
2.0 REMOVES THE CAUSE OF TIREDNESS AND HEADACHES
-High CO levels are replaced with fresh air
-Moist, stuffy air is eliminated
-Poisonous particles emitted by artificial building materials are removed
3.0 ELIMINATES RADON PROBLEMS
-Radon gas will be ventilated away
4.0 REDUCES THE NEED FOR REDECORATION
-Cigarette smoke will not linger
-The amount of pollution in the air decreases
5.0 LOWERS THE HEATING COST
-A damp house is impossible to heat (try heating a wet towel)

Example : TURBINE ROOF VENTILATION

The Whirling Turbine Action:

Tornado Turbine Roof

Ventilation

Removes Convicted Heat

Pollution Build-Up
- Improves Air Quality
- Water and Dust Proof
- Improves Productivity
- Removes Heat, Fumes, Steam and Dust

SI UNIT FOR VENTILATION

Unit used to determine a Ventilation in a
building:
1.Air Change per Hour (ACH)
2.Volumetric flow rate (m3/sec)
3.Mass flow rate (kg/s)

Exercise

A room 15m x 7m x 2.8m high has a ventilation rate of 11 air

changes per hour. Air enters from a duct at a velocity of 8.5
m/s. Calculate the air volume ow rate to the room and the
dimensions of the square duct.

Answer

The air ow rate is given by:

Exercise

Q = (N air changes/hour) (Vm3/air change) (1h/3600s)

where room volume Vm3 = 1 air change. Hence

Q = (NV/3600) m/s
= (11 15 7 2.8) / (3600) m3/s
= 0.9 m3/s

Also, Q m3/s = duct cross-sectional area A m2 air velocity V m/s

Therefore
A = Q/V = (0.9/8.5) m2 = 0.106 m2

If the duct side is l m, then A = l2m2. Therefore

l=VAm
= 0.106 m
= 0.325 m

Exercise

A lecture theatre has dimensions of 25m 22m 6m

height with 100 occupants; 8l/s of fresh air and 25 l/s of
re-circulated air are supplied to the theatre for each
person. A single-duct ventilation system is used. If 10%
of the supply volume leaks out of the theatre, calculate
the room air change rate and the air volume ow rate in
each duct

Exercise

Answer:

Supply air quantity

= (25 + 8) L/s x 1/1000 m3/L

= 0.033 m3/s

Hence
Qs

= 0.033 x (100 + 10)

= 3.63 m3/s

Also

Q
= NV/3600
3.63 m3/s = N (25 x 22 x 6)/3600
N
= (3.63 x 3600) / (25 x 22 x 6)
= 3.96 airchanges per hour

Leakage fron the theatre is

Ql

= 10% x Q
= 10/100 x 3.63 m3/s
= 0.36 m3/s

Exercise

Continue...

The quantity of air extracted from the theatre Qe

= (3.63 0.36) m3/s

= 3.27 m3/s

Quantity of fresh air

= (8 x 110)/1000 m3/s

Qf

= 0.88 m3/s

The quantity of recirculated air is

Qr

= Q - Qf
= 3.63 m3/s - 0.88 m3/s
= 2.75 m3/s

Quantity of exaust air

Qex

= Qe Qr
= 3.27 m3/s - 2.75 m3/s
= 0.52 m3/s

1.

Why proper ventilation is required inside

a building?

2.

Explain 3 factors to consider in

maximizing natural ventilation in a
building.

3.

Sketch and briefly describe 4 basic

system in mechanical ventilation.