Consulting-Specifying Engineer - January 2008 - (Page 54) AMCA’s headquarters and laboratory are located in Arlington Heights, Ill. An inlet chamber was commissioned and competed in October 2007. In this new test facility, AMCA certifies induced flow fans under AMCA Standard 260-07. How the standard works Fan performance is measured using several setups per the AMCA 210 standard. Two common methods include a multiple nozzle inlet chamber and a multiple nozzle outlet chamber. The multiple nozzle inlet chamber (see Figure 2) uses a variable supply fan or system to regulate the operating point of the test fan. The test fan’s airflow characteristics are determined by measuring the pressure drop across a nozzle wall, which correlates with the airflow. The fan’s pressure characteristics are determined by reading static and dynamic pressures in the appropriate location. In order to enhance the accuracy of the test, precise air density is required at several locations in the setup. A multiple nozzle outlet chamber is similar, but connected to the outlet of the test fan. To determine induced flow fan characteristics, a multiple nozzle inlet chamber determines a traditional fan curve for the device. To measure the induced flow found at the outlet of an induced flow fan, a multiple nozzle outlet chamber is used and kept at 0 atm at varying inlet pressure. The varying inlet pressures are obtained by using the damper on the inlet box shown in Figure 3. In many laboratory test setups, the airflow profile often is conditioned using settling means (see Figures 2 and 3). The conditioning is used to help obtain a more fully developed profile to ensure greater accuracy of the pressure readings. To date, the test standard and the certified ratings program were published in April 2007 as AMCA 260-07 and an inlet chamber was commissioned and completed in October 2007 at the AMCA Headquarters Lab. The new test facility allows AMCA to certify induced flow fans as well as accredit authorized laboratories for the testing of induced flow fans. Joe Brooks is director of engineering with Air Movement and Control Assn. International Inc., Arlington Heights, Ill. In his 12 years at AMCA, he has managed the AMCA Headquarters Laboratory and was instrumental in the development of a test method and test apparatus for testing fire and smoke dampers. He is responsible for AMCA’s CRP program and working with its Air Movement division. AMCA Standard 260-07 Committee Contributing to the success of the development of AMCA Standard 260-07 and the method of standard are: Joe Brooks AMCA International Inc. Brad Cochran CPP Inc. Mel Cooper M.K. Plastics Corp. Rad Ganesh Twin City Fan Companies Ltd. Charlie Gans Strobic Air Corp. Doug Gifford Jr. DF Fan Services Inc. Keith Lins M.K. Plastics Corp. Tim Mathson Greenheck Fan Corp. Brian Merritt Strobic Air Corp. Mike Seliger Greenheck Fan Corp. Paul Sixsmith Plasticair Inc. Paul A. Tetley Strobic Air Corp. Bob Valbracht, chair Loren Cook Co. Dick Williamson Twin City Fan Companies Ltd. Alex Zhang Shanghai Nautilus General Equipment Manufacturing Co. Attached inlet and outlet nozzle chambers Variable resistance box AMCA 210 Chamber Airflow Settling Means Temperature Pressure Figure 3: In this example, the outlet chamber is kept at 0 in. water gauge pressure for each inlet pressure over the operating envelope. The varying inlet pressures are obtained by using the damper on the inlet box. Source: AMCA International Inc. 54 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • JANUARY 2008 Photos: AMCA International Inc.
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