New scales for assessing contribution ratio of pollutant sources to indoor air quality

The aim of this study was to provide effective design and control methods for indoor air quality (IAQ). For this it was important to identify each pollutant source and have an understanding of the room air distribution. To design a good system for IAQ both the pollutant sources as well as the ventilation system must be controlled effectively. In this paper, new scales for IAQ that assess the contribution of pollutant sources, that we have named the Contribution Ratio of Pollutant Sources (CRPSs), are developed. The contribution of each pollutant source in a room can be analyzed by evaluating the CRPSs. These new scales assume that the pollutant concentration due to different sources can be added linearly and the airflow is at steady-state. Using CRPS, the contribution of each pollutant sources in a model room air-conditioned by a displacement ventilation system could be analyzed. The CRPSs were all calculated using the method of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which can accurately analyze the distribution of the air velocity, temperature, and pollution in the room. The concept of CRPS was found to be very useful in this study.