1 Mechanical Application in

Buildings (AE - 331)

Chapter 8: Mechanical ventilation, air movement, and

smoke control
Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby
Mechanical Engineering Department
Introduction
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• Ventilation moves fresh outdoor air into a building or a room, and
distributes the air within the building or room to control indoor air quality
by diluting and displacing indoor pollutants.
• Ventilation provides exchange of polluted air for fresh outside air or clean
air from neighboring rooms.
• Ventilation requires air flowing between interior and exterior. Thus it is
necessary to start and maintain air flow according to requirements in a
ventilated space.
• Bathroom and toilet air must be exhausted directly to the outdoors and
shall not be recirculated within residence.
• The ventilation systems can be dived in three large groups according to
types:
➢ Natural ventilation,
➢ Hybrid ventilation (mechanical exhaust ventilation),
➢ Mechanical supply-exhaust ventilation
✓ Apartment based ventilation system
✓ Building based ventilation system
Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.
Fundamentals of building ventilation
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➢ Why is it necessary to ventilate?
❑ Air for breathing (‫)التنفس‬
✓ Adult man has frequency of breathing typically 16 times per minute – 8 l/min.
✓ Oxygen consumption varies between 250 – 350 ml/min
✓ Respiration
• Into lungs (atmospheric air) - 21 % O2, 78 % N2, 0,03 % CO2
• Out from lings - 16 % O2, 79 % N2, 4 % CO2 (plus water vapor)
❑ Pollutants production
✓ Men activity
• Carbon dioxide – CO2, water vapor
✓ Equipment
• Furniture, flooring, –VOC -Volatile Organic Compounds (carbon-based compounds that
easily evaporate)
✓ Technology
✓ Animals
✓ Outside pollutant sources
• Traffic – CO, NHx, …
• Earth – radon released from soil, dangerous in case of accumulation in homes and long
exposure to it
Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.
What ventilation system consist of?
4
▪ AHU – air-handling unit
▪ Ductwork – supply and exhaust of air
▪ Air distribution – supply grills, diffuser
▪ Other elements – fan-coils, VAV box
▪ Control devices - dampers

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Ventilation Types
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1. Natural ventilation
✓Is the flow of outdoor air caused by wind and air density differences
✓ Pressure difference is caused by difference between densities of interior
and exterior air given by temperature difference.
✓ Wind velocity providing on windward façade positive pressure and on
leeward negative pressure.

2. Mechanical (forced) ventilation

✓ Is driven by mechanical work – fan
✓ Pressure difference is caused by dynamic pressure of a fan.

3. Hybrid ventilation
✓ Combines both natural and mechanical ventilation.
✓ If natural ventilation is not able to provide required air flow rate, than
supporting mechanical element starts it operation.

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

 Natural ventilation
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▪ Influence building shape
▪ Flow direction through building, ventilation intensity

Natural ventilation by louvers (permanent)

heat source
Shaft ventilation (permanent)
depends on external
Interrupted natural ventilation (time limited) (ambient) climatic
Infiltration (time limited) conditions

Shaft ventilation
louvers
Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.
Natural ventilation (shaft, interrupted, louvers)
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Infiltration – air permeates through leaking structural joints, window gaps, etc.
✓ Historically the most widely used ventilation in residential and small office
buildings.
✓ Modern windows are tight, so infiltration is too small to keep ventilation
requirements
▪ Interrupted ventilation – ventilation through openings
✓ Suitable only for auxiliary increase of ventilation rate.

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Natural ventilation (Shaft ventilation)
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Shaft ventilation – combination of inlets and shafts

Automatic control of natural Ventilation

✓ Evaluation of indoor air quality - sensors
✓ Meteorological data
✓ Smart control system

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Natural ventilation (Example)
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▪ School of Engineering, De Montfort University, Leicester, GB.
✓ System features variety of ventilation towers, skylights, sunroofs, etc.

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Natural Ventilation (Passive cooling)
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Heat gains – avoid of building overheating
❑ Mechanical components like pumps and fans are not used
❑ Suitable for mild climates with cool dry nights - can be done with simple
ventilation

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation components
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• Dynamic pressure of a mechanical device – fan, blower

Basic purposes
▪ Ventilation operable independent (less) on exterior conditions.
▪ High ventilation demand – high rate of pollutants production.
▪ Precise operation control
▪ Temperature and humidity control

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation
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How ventilation systems work?
A variety of mechanical ventilation systems are available to select from, based
on local climate and the home’s heating and cooling system.

Mechanical ventilation is divided mainly into three types:

✓ Under pressure ventilation
✓ Overpressure ventilation
✓ Balanced ventilation

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

 Mechanical ventilation (1. Under pressure system)
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• The ventilated room is being supplied less amount of air than it is exhausted
from it.
• Negative pressure difference to neighboring rooms – air permeates into room.
• Indoor air is continuously exhausted to the outdoors with one or more fans
often located in bathrooms.
• Because indoor air is continually drawn out, the home becomes slightly
depressurized.
• As a result, these systems are typically not appropriate for hot, humid
climates where there is a risk of drawing hot outdoor air into remaining holes
and cracks in the construction assembly where it could reach cool interior
surfaces, condense, and cause moisture problems.

▪ Underpressure
Vs < Vex usually 15 - 30 Pa
400 Pa for work with radioactive materials

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

 Mechanical ventilation (1. Under pressure system)
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation (2. Over pressure system)
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▪ The ventilated room is being supplied more amount of air than it is exhausted from it.
▪ Positive pressure difference to neighboring rooms – air permeates from room.
▪ Fresh air is drawn in through an air “intake” vent and distributed to many rooms by a
fan and duct system.
▪ A fan and set of ducts dedicated solely to ventilation can be used, or an outside air intake
can be connected to the main return air duct, allowing the heating and cooling system’s
fan and ducts to distribute the fresh air.
▪ The benefit of connecting to the return air duct is that outdoor air can be air conditioned
or dehumidified before it is introduced into the home. Because supply systems
continually introduce outdoor air, a home can become slightly pressurized.
▪ These systems are typically not appropriate for cold climates where there is a risk of
heated indoor air being pushed through any remaining holes and cracks in the
construction assembly where it could reach cold exterior surfaces, condense, and cause
moisture problems.

▪ Overpressure
Vs > Vex e.g. clean rooms, operating room, …
min. 10 -15 Pa

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation (2. Over pressure system)
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation systems (3. Pressure balanced system)
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▪ The ventilated room is being supplied the same amount of air as it is exhausted from it.
▪ No pressure difference to neighboring rooms.
▪ With these systems, equal quantities of air are brought into and sent out of the home. This
is usually achieved using two fans—one to bring fresh air in and another to send indoor
air out.
▪ The two most common systems are “heat recovery” ventilation (commonly referred to as
HRV) and “energy recovery” ventilation (commonly referred to as ERV). HRVs transfer
heat from exhaust air to incoming air during the heating season and from incoming air to
exhaust air in the air conditioning season to reduce the heating and cooling load and
improve comfort.
▪ ERVs transfer heat and moisture between the exhaust air and incoming air. This provides
additional savings in the summer by reducing the moisture content of the incoming air
that would otherwise have to be dehumidified with the cooling equipment or a
dehumidifier.

▪ Balanced
Vs = Vex

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation systems (3. Pressure balanced system)
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation
19
Supply and exhaust ventilation system
➢ recirculation without exhaust

➢ recirculation with exhaust

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation
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➢ with heat recovery, recirculation, heating, cooling (drying), humidifying,
double filtration

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation (Air distribution)
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Rectangular ducts
• Galvanized steel
• 0.6 – 1.1 mm for pressure +1000/-630 Pa
• Dimensions AxB e.g. 500x315 mm
• Connection – bolt flanges
• Categories according to operating
pressure, required tightness (A –
regular, B, C)

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation (Air distribution)
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Ductwork system
Circular ducts
• Galvanized steel
• 0.6 – 1.25 mm for pressure +1500/-630 Pa
• Dimensions D e.g.. 500 mm
• Categories according to operating pressure,
required tightness (A regular, B, C)

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation (methods)
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Mechanical ventilation (Air distribution elements)
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Local air supply
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Local air supply
For local conditioning of air temperature or cleanlines
➢ air curtain
➢ air shower
➢ personalized ventilation

➢ Air curtain

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

 Local air supply
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➢ Air shower
• People protection in hot industrial work places with radiation (steel foundry,…)
• Higher air convection

➢ Personalized ventilation
• outdoor air supply directly to the breathing zone

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

 Ventilation air calculation (Example)
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Table 1. Necessary residential ventilation airflow rates according to local regulations

Geo-clusters and countries*

Room type Unit GC1 GC2 GC2 GC4
Denmark Estonia Latvia Portugal
Toilet m3/h 36 36 25 30 to 60
Bathroom
m3/h 54 54 50 45 to 90
with toilet
m3/(h·
Staircases 1.08 1.25 1 n/a
m2)
Dependent on
m3/(h· 12 l/s (8 l/s in room size.
Bedroom 1.08 3
m2) <11m2 bedroom) Approximate
value is 1h-1
30 (22 for 1 room
Kitchen m3/h 72 60-90 60 to 120
apartment)**
Hallway h-1 0.5 - 0.5 - 1 n/a
Technical
h-1 0.5 0.5 0.5 - 1 -
room
The sum of the
Total supply m3/(h· supply air of all
1.08 1.5 -
air m2) bedrooms and
living rooms
Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.
 Ventilation air calculation (2)
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Supply air Exhaust air
Room nr. Room type
m /h
3 m3/h
55 (90 for 2-room
1 Bedroom -
apartment)
2 Kitchen - 90
3 Bathroom - 50
4 Storage - -
Total for an apartment (m3/h) 55 (90) 140
Total for whole building (m3/h) 6 · 5 · 140 = 4200
Calculated ventilation air volumes for Ėstonian case study building
Supply air Exhaust air
Room nr. Room type
m3/h m3/h
1 Bedroom 86* -
22 (30 for 2-room
2 Kitchen -
apartment)
3 Bathroom+WC - 54
4 Storage - 10
Total for an apartment (m /h) 3 86* 86
Total for whole building (m3/h) (5 · 86 + 119) · 5=2745
Calculated ventilation air volumes for Denmark case study building
Supply air Exhaust air
Room nr. Room type
m /h
3 m3/h
1 Bedroom 20
2 Kitchen - 72 - VAV
3 Bathroom - 54 - VAV
4 Storage - -
Total for an apartment (m3/h) 40 (50)* 40 (50)*
Total for whole building (m3/h) (5 · 40 + 50) · 5 = 1250

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Ventilation type selection (1)
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Ventilation system through openable windows

and natural exhaust
Average price
Quantit
Name Size Units in EU for one Ventilation system through air inlets and natural exhaust
y
unit (EUR)
Average price
Extract 200x100
Pcs. 1 17.00 Name Size Units Quantity in EU for one
grille mm
unit (EUR)
Extract 200x200
Pcs. 1 20.00 Supply vents Ø160 mm Pcs. 2 120.00
grille mm
Extract grille 200x100 mm Pcs. 1 17.00
Duct Ø200 mm m 2 1.90 Extract grille 200x200 mm Pcs. 1 20.00
Duct Ø200 mm m 2 1.90
Duct Ø160 mm m 3 1.50 Duct Ø160 mm m 3 1.50
Total cost with 30 % added 60.00 Total cost with 30 % added 370.00

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Ventilation type selection (2)
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Hybrid type ventilation system with supply

through air inlets and mechanical exhaust
Average price
Decentralized ventilation system with room based mechanical
Quanti supply and exhaust with room based heat recovery
Name Size Units in EU for one
ty
unit (EUR) Average price
Quanti
Ø160 Name Size Units in EU for one
Supply vents Pcs. 2 120.00 ty
mm unit (EUR)
Domestic type extract Ø100 Paired decentralized
Pcs. 1 70.00
fan mm ventilation devices (50 - Pcs. 4 485.00
Domestic type extract Ø200 and 90 m3/h)
Pcs. 1 90.00
fan mm Control unit - Pcs. 1 320
Ø125 Domestic type extract Ø100
Duct m 2 1.20 Pcs. 1 70.00
mm fan mm
Ø100 Ø100
Duct m 3 0.90 Duct m 2 0.90
mm mm
Total cost with 30 % added 525.00 Total cost with 10 % added 2560.00

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Ventilation type selection
31

• High-tech ceramic energy

accumulator with regenerating
efficiency up to 90%
• Reversible EC ventilator with
low energy demand from 3.5 up
to 6.1 W and safe voltage 12 V
• Cena ap 350 EUR gabalā

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

 Ventilation type selection
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Decentralized ventilation system with apartment based

mechanical supply and exhaust with apartment based Centralized ventilation system with
heat recovery building based mechanical supply and
exhaust with heat recovery
The total cost includes the cost of all units
located in the apartment and 1/30 of whole price
for whole building units, as there are thirty
apartments that would be served by the AHU.14
Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.
 Integrated duct design
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Round duct size, mm
Latvia Estonia Portugal
Velocity in ducts Denmark
(140 (119 (135
(50 m3/h)
m3/h) m3/h) m3/h)
<3 m/s 160 125 100 160
< 4m/s 125 125 100 125
< 6m/s 100 100 100 100

Fig. Integration of ducts into prefabricated panel (approx. thermal

transmittance is 0.18 W/(m2·K))

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Air movement and smoke control
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Wind
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▪ Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale.
▪ Measures in KPH (MPH) or Knots
▪ Strongest gust UK (1989) 146mph (low level)
▪ Strongest sustained wind UK (1971) 73MPH

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Wind
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Wind driven fire
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There are inlet AND outlet to compartments creating an air path
Very high energy release rates 17Mw +
Fuel used quickly

If air pathway runs FROM inside the building and travels to

the fire compartment then less hazardous to Ff’s

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Wind driven fire

WIND DIRECTION

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Wind driven fire

WIND DIRECTION

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Smoke control: Dilution…
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Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Smoke control: Layering…
41

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Smoke control: Pressure differential system…
42

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Smoke control: Specific application…
43

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Smoke control: Specific application…
44

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

Smoke control: Fire alarm concept…
45

Associ. Prof. Khaled Harby., Mech Eng. Dept. Taibah Uni.

46