1206-102AORIFICE METERING FAN DEVICEABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREDisclosed is a device for generating andmeasuring the flow of a gas, the device beingparticularly adapted for measuring the magnitude of airinfiltration in a building and for locating sources ofair infiltration. The device of the inventioncomprises a propeller-type fan for generating gas flowmounted in a gas flow guide, a drive for rotating thefan, an orifice plate located upstream from the fan, adamper or drive controller for varying the gas flowrate through the orifice, and one or more flow-directing vanes between the orifice plate and the fan,the plane of the orifice plate being approximatelyparallel to the plane of rotation of the fan, and theorifice and fan being generally concentric and spacedless than one fan diameter apart. The device furthercomprises a housing enclosing the space between theorifice plate and the fan, a pressure-sensing probeprojecting into the housing and located near theorifice plate and between the orifice plate and thefan, and a pressure differential sensor for measuringeither the pressure difference between the probe andthe static air upstream of the orifice, or thedifference in static air pressures downstream andupstream of the device. Also disclosed is a method fordetermining the magnitude of air infiltration in abuilding and locating air leaks which utilizes theabove device.
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