Assessment of horizontal displacement flow with tracer gas pulse technique in reinforced plastic plants

Displacement ventilation systems are usually based on thermal stratification due to buoyancy forces generated by warm processes in industrial buildings. However, there are many processes in which contaminant emission and heat generation are not coupled together, e.g. lamination of glass-fibre reinforced polyester products. In order to control air contaminants in processes like this, a displacement flow created horizontally across a room may be useful.

This study evaluates the performance of a horizontal displacement ventilation system in two lamination rooms where reinforced plastic boats up to 17 m in length are manufactured. The tracer gas pulse technique was used to measure air change efficiency, local air change index and contaminant removal effectiveness.