140 likes | 253 Views
Did Panasonic Make a Contractor-Proof Bath Fan ?. Ben Hannas -- ben@hannasanalytics.com Jonathan Coulter -- jcoulter@advancedenergy.org Bruce Manclark -- brucemanclark@gorge.net Data, Not Dogma - July 18-19, 2011 - Goldendale, WA.
E N D
Did Panasonic Make a Contractor-Proof Bath Fan? Ben Hannas -- ben@hannasanalytics.com Jonathan Coulter -- jcoulter@advancedenergy.org Bruce Manclark -- brucemanclark@gorge.net Data, Not Dogma - July 18-19, 2011 - Goldendale, WA Measuring Air Flow, Energy Use, and Static Pressure in a Variety of As-Installed Conditions
Panasonic Whisper GreenFan Controls • Dial-in CFM • Timer not visible to homeowner
Variables • Duct type (metal flex, sheet metal) • Elbow placement (immediate, 2-3’) • Flap (open, screwed shut) • Termination (forced passive, duct roof vent) • Grille (with, without) • Installation type (perfect, small oops, they probably won’t catch this mistake)
Baseline and Ideal • Baseline • No duct, open flap, with grille • 136 CFM, 1.5 Pa, 10 Watt • Ideal • 2 feet straight before elbow, 5 feet up to roof duct vent termination • 143 CFM, 45 Pa, 19.8 Watt
Duct Type • No change between metal flex and sheet metal in ideal setup • 141 CFM, 22-24 Pa, 15 Watt
Changing the Termination • Passive attic vent used as duct termination • Shove it in and seal it • 142 CFM, 22.2 Pa, 14.8 Watt • Duct roof vent • Meets code • 143 CFM, 45.0 Pa, 19.8 Watt • As a note, running fan 24/7 at this rate is <$20/year
Real-world Duct Run • We have a ladder and a phantom truss in the way! • CFM increased slightly (5 CFM) • Static pressure doubled to 46 Pa • Energy increased slightly, up to 21 Watt
Damper • With the same realistically awkward duct run, now tape the damper shut (but that never happens in real life) • CFM dropped almost in half, but still pulled 87 CFM • Static pressure jumped from 46 Pa to 128 Pa • Watts increased slightly, from 21 to 23 Watts
Calibrated Crush • The “small oops” scenario • Damper open, but complex duct run • No change in CFM • Static increases from46 Pa to 60 Pa • Watts increase from21 to 24
Maybe They Won’t Notice • Still pulled 57 CFM • 140 Pa • Only 20 Watt