CRR 384/200 - Joint industry programme on carbon monoxide issues:
Vitiation studies of an open-flued central heater boiler operated in compartments
BG Technology has conducted a series of tests to determine the
behaviour of an open-flued central
heating boiler when operated with a fully blocked flue in
compartments of various sizes. The objectives
were to assess the validity of the predictive oxygen vitiation
alarm levels previously reported and to
provide data against which validation for the Combustion Product
Gas Build-up Model.
The series of tests were carried out using a domestic central
heating boiler deployed in compartments
installed into the BG Technology Test Facility, providing a
configuration typical of that found in a
suburban house. The computerised data acquisition systems were
deployed to monitor the air quality
within the compartment containing the boiler. Where the compartment
was significantly larger than the appliance, either no vitiation
occurred or the predictive vitiation level was attained prior to
significant CO levels being observed. Where the compartment was of
a similar volume to the appliance mounted inside, the vitiation was
either rapid and severe, leading to the self-extinguishing of the
appliance on timescales of less than three minutes, or the
appliance operated with significant CO levels in the compartment.
An explanation for the latter observation is offered.
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