Research Highlights

(200 kB pdf file, LBL report 39083)
This report is an in depth case study of a duct system located entirely on the exposed roof of a central-valley California community college building. The system and roof underwent a retrofit which applied additional insulation and a highly reflective coating. The report analyzes the the effects of the retrofit.

"Investigation of Duct System Performance in California Light Commercial Buildings."

(420 kB pdf file, LBL report 40102)
This report gives the results of 1996 summer field work done in light-commercial buildings. This work investigated the leakage area and developed methods for predicting conduction losses in light-commercial buildings.

"Field Measurements of Interactions Between Furnaces and Forced Air Distribution Systems."

(113 kB pdf file, LBL report 40587)

"Leakage Diagnostics, Sealant Longevity, Sizing and Technology Transfer in Residential Thermal Distribution Systems."

(412 kB pdf file, LBL report 41118)

"Can Duct-Tape Take the Heat?"

(266 kB pdf file, LBL report 41434)

A Simplified Model for Predicting Thermal Losses in Duct-Work Systems

(64 kB pdf file)
This LBNL paper was presented at the DOE/EPA Cool Sense forum held last summer at the SF Presidio. The paper gives a simplified steady-state duct model suitable for analysis of commercial duct systems.

Leakage Diagnostics, Sealant Longevity, and Technology Transfer in Residential Thermal Distribution Systems: Part II

(153 kB pdf file)
This report builds on and extends our previous efforts as described in "Leakage Diagnostics, Sealant Longevity, Sizing and Technology Transfer in Residential Thermal Distribution Systems. New developments include defining combined duct and equipment efficiencies in a concept called "Tons At the Register" and on performance issues related to field use of the aerosol sealant technology.