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Effect of Return Air Leakage on Air Conditioner Performance in Hot/Humid Climates
Abstract
An experimental study was conducted to quantify the
effect of return air leakage from hot/humid attic
spaces on the performance of a residential air
conditioner. Tests were conducted in psychrometric
facilities where temperatures and humidities could
be controlled closely.
Return air leakage from hot attic spaces was
simulated by assuming adiabatic mixing of the
indoor air at normal conditions with the attic air at
high temperatures. Effective capacity and Energy
Efficiency Ratio both decreased with increased
return air leakage. However, power consumption
was relatively constant for all variables except
outdoor temperature, which meant that for the same
power consumption, the unit delivered much lower
performance when there was return air leakage. The
increase in sensible heat ratio (SHR) with increasing
leakage showed one of the most detrimental effects
of return air leakage on performance.
Citation
O'Neal, D. L.; Rodriguez, A.; Davis, M.; Kondepudi, S. (1996). Effect of Return Air Leakage on Air Conditioner Performance in Hot/Humid Climates. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /6671.