
The local mean age of air at any location is the integral (or zero moment)
of the probability distribution:
r
¼
0
¼
ð
1
0
F
r
ðtÞdt ð3:8Þ
The first moment of the probability distribution is, by definition:
1
¼
ð
1
0
tF
r
ðtÞdt ð3:9Þ
If there is only one single exhaust, the room mean age of air can be deduced
from tracer concentration measurements in the exhaust duct, C
e
ðtÞ:
hi¼
1
0
e
¼
ð
1
0
tF
e
ðtÞdt
ð
1
0
F
e
ðtÞdt
ð3:10Þ
In this case, the nominal time constant of the ventilated space,
n
, which is
the ratio of the space volume and the volu metric airflow rate, is equal to the
mean age of air at the exhaust:
n
¼
e
¼
ð
1
0
F
e
ðtÞdt ð 3: 11 Þ
Therefore, the air exchange efficiency,
a
, can be assessed directly by
measuring the evolution of the conce ntration at the exhaust:
a
¼
n
2hi
¼
e
2hi
¼
2
0
2
1
e
ð3:12Þ
Practical interpretation of the concentration records
In practice, the moments in the above formulae are calculated numerically,
on the basis of discrete recorded values of the concentration and time. A
simple way to calculate these moments uses the trapezium integration
method, with the general formulation of:
ð
t
N
0
fðtÞdt ffi
X
N 1
j ¼0
1
2
ðf
j
þ f
j þ1
Þt ð3:13Þ
where f
j
is for fðt
j
Þ and t for t
j þ1
t
j
.
Approximating the variation of the concentration during each time step
by a straight line, the two integrals defined above can be estimated by
summing finite elements:
0
¼
ð
1
0
F
e
ðtÞdt ¼
F
0
þ F
N
2
þ
X
N 1
j ¼1
F
j
t þ "
0
ðN;
d
Þð3:14Þ
1
¼
ð
1
0
tF
e
ðtÞdt ¼
NF
N
2
þ
X
N 1
j ¼1
jF
j
t
2
þ "
1
ðN;
d
Þð3:15Þ
Age of Air and Ventilation Efficiency 45
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