EVALUATION OF LEV

PERFORMANCE

Learning outcomes
Describe methods for inspection, testing and evaluation of
LEV performance.

Conduct inspection, testing and evaluation methods for

assessing the performance of LEV.
Analyze and present the results of inspection, testing and
evaluation methods of LEV performance to enable
management for complying with relevant legislation.

Topics
Reason
Inspection of LEV system
Testing and Examination
of LEV system
Precaution
Instrumentation
Procedure
Determination of capture
or face velocity
Determination of hood
static pressure
Types of losses
Determination of static
pressure

Determination of hood
velocity pressure &
transport velocity
Determination of air
cleaners efficiency
Determination of face
efficency
Instrumentation for fan
inspection
Type of fan
Inspection of fan
Testing of fan

RECAP

What are the

components of LEV
systems?
FUNCTIONS?

1.0 Reasons
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Commissioning
Proof of performance
Balancing ventilation systems
Baseline maintenance
Troubleshooting ventilation systems
Change of management

Inspection of LEV system

a) Inspection of physical condition of all component
of local exhaust ventilation system
b) Observation of how the work carried out in relation to
the utilization of local exhaust ventilation system
c) Smoke tube tracer test
d) Identify any thing that can be obstruction of flow

e) Observation of condition surrounding and near the hood

f) Inspection on the air cleaner device

g) Maintenance of the fans motor.

Testing and Examination of LEV system

At least every 12 months or at shorter interval
as specifed by the designer.
Reasons:
1. Commissioning
2. Proof of performance
3. Balancing ventilation systems
4. Baseline maintenance
5. Troubleshooting ventilation systems
6. Change of management

Testing and Examination of LEV system

a)

Inspection of LEV system

b) Determination of capture or face velocity;

c) Determination of hood static pressure;

d) Determination of duct static pressure along the ducting system;

e) Determination of hood velocity pressure and transport velocity;

f)

Determination of air cleaners efficiency; and

g) Determination of fans capacity and efficiency.

Area that typically should be monitored

frequently
1. Pressure drop across the air
cleaner
2. Static pressure
hoods

at

the

3. Static pressure at or across

sites of frequent plugging
or other problems

For hood that prevent high

exposure to hazardous
airborne contaminants,
the hood static pressure
should be measured at
least monthly.

Recommended maximum inspection

intervals

Month SPh T

12

24

SPend

Fan Across air

inlet cleaning
device
X

Pitot
tranverse

Not include for the system frequently have problems or

controlling highly hazardous materials.

Precaution During Inspection,

Testing and Examination
Inspection, testing and examination on:
1. Inside of ducts
2. Motors
3. Passages and scaffolds
4. Electrical parts

Instrument use for inspection

1) Inspection, Testing and

Examination Procedure
A) Hood

1. Physical appearance of the hood

2. Obstruction of flow

3. Direction and size of opening area for exterior

hoods
4. Velocity
5. Environmental monitoring
6. Hood static pressure

Inspection, Testing and Examination

Procedure
B) Duct system
1. Physical condition of duct outer surface
2. Physical condition of duct inner surface

3. Loose joint
4. Condition of inspection holes

5. Static pressure
6. Duct velocity
7. Temperature in duct

Inspection, Testing and Examination

Procedure
C) Damper
1. Condition of damper
2. Static pressure

Inspection, Testing and Examination

Procedure
D) Fan
1. Condition of outer casing surface
2. Condition of inner surface of casings,
impellers and guide vanes
3. Condition of belts
4. Rotating direction of fan
5. Condition of bearings

Inspection, Testing and Examination

Procedure
E) Air cleaner
1. Physical appearance
2. Static pressure

Testing and
Examination of
LEV system

Airflow and static pressure measurement

Change in pressure = change air flow

Too little airflow = inadequate control by hood
So excessive airflow = waste energy

2. Determination of capture or
face velocity
- Use anemometer
- Use smoke tube: show dispersion and show capture
distance (Capture velocity)
- Air that enters a LEV system enters at the hood face
(the cross-sectional area of the hood at its opening) =
face velocity.

Capture velocity = velocity that is necessary to capture

the contaminant at its farthest possible distance from
the hood.

Estimating airflow from hood static pressure

Measuring face velocities:

1. Divide an enclosing hood face into equal areas and sample the
centre points of each area
2. Measure all velocities in the same plane

3. Accuracy = take velocities at each point then repeat every

reading
4. Variability at a point, place the probe in position and record
several reading (e.g. 20 readings at one second intervals)
5. Measured air velocity must be within 10 percent of design
value of standard.

Face velocity for enclosing hood

Operation

Face velocity (ft / min)

Welding

150

Paint spray booth

100 - 200

Laboratory hood

100 500

Abbrasive blasting room

500

Belt conveyer enclosure

150 200

Bin or hooper conveyer

150 - 200

Mixer

100 200

METALLIZ ENCLOSURE
*Toxic

200 (with respirator)

* Non toxic

125

Melting furnace

150 200 + product of combustion, if any

Swing frame grinder booth 150

Machining toxic materials

300

Measuring capture velocity:

- At nip point of the source of
contaminants.
- The dotted mark shows the nip point

3. Determination of hood static

pressure
Hood Static Pressure:
Method of estimating air flow into an exhaust hood or duct.
Method is quick, simple and practical.
Procedure of Measurement:

U-tube manometer at one or more holes.

The manometer is connected to each hole in turn by means of
a thick walled soft rubber tube.
The difference in height of the water columns is read in inches.
After hood static pressure (SPh) is known, the volumetric flow
rate is determined

Points to Remember while Measuring

Pressure:
Avoid pressure measurement at the heel of an elbow or other
location.
Drill 2-4 pressure holes at uniform distances around the duct
and obtain the average.

Tapered hood-a hole of 1/16 to 1/8 in diameter is drill on the

duct at about one duct diameter away from the hood.
(Vp , the average duct velocity pressure, can also be measured
at the same location)
Hole should be drilled not punched.
When in use, the instrument must be pointed upstream and
parallel to the duct for accurate measurement.
Testing of Ventilation Systems

28

29
(c)d. jeff burton

29

Relationship between SP, VP, and Losses

| SPh | = VP + he
SPh = (VP + he)
US Unit = inch w.g, SI unit: mw.g
(c)d. jeff burton

30
30

Types of losses

Entry loss
Friction loss
Loss due to elbow
Loss due to branch entry
Loss due to enlargement and contraction
Loss due to special fitting

At the hood, all available static pressure is converted to velocity

pressure and hood entry loss.
Entry loss (he) : sum total of all the losses from the hood face to the
point of measurement in the duct.

SPh = VP + he
where he = K VP d

(28)

SPh = VP + KVPd = (1+K d) VP

K = loss factor of hood; determine by manufacturer

 Vena contracta = As air enters the hood, the cross-sectional area

of flow contracts and forms a stream with cross-sectional area
less than that of the duct.
During this contraction, the velocity increases. The velocity
pressure must also increase.

It is clear that some static pressure must be converted to velocity

pressure. During this conversion of static pressure to velocity, a
loss of energy results: he

Hood efficiency:

If all SP change to VP, he = 0

Example 6-4 The hood static pressure is measured at SPh

= -29.0 mm w.g. and the average duct velocity pressure is
measured to be VP = 8.5 mm w.g. What is the Coefficient of
Entry, Ce?
Ce = (VP/|SPh|)0.5 = (8.5/29.0) = 0.54 (unitless)

The hood provides 54% of the ideal flow rate.

4. Determination of static pressure along

the duct system
Static Pressure:
Pressure which tends to burst or collapse a duct

Positive when > atmospheric

Negative when < atmospheric

Pressure Measurement:
At any point in the exhaust system, three air pressures
exist

TP = SP + VP
Where:
TP = Total Pressure in wg or pascal/psi
SP = Static Pressure in wg or pascal/psi
VP =Velocity Pressure in wg or pascal/psi
Testing of Ventilation Systems

39

Instruments Used for Measuring

Pressure:
Simple Piezometer
Pressure sensor( U-tube Manometer, Inclined
manometer, portable digital manometer, aneroid
gauges
Water gauge
Reading pressure gauge
Pitot tube

Testing of Ventilation Systems

40

Measure the static pressure in the duct at the inspection holes

the duct before and after the position where dust tend to be
piled up
The holes should be at least 7.5 duct diameters down stream from
any disturbance.
If not possible, then four holes should be drilled 90o apart around
the duct and static pressure are measure at each holes and
averaged

SP points measurement

Before and after elbow

Before branch entry
Before and after air cleaner
Before and after fan
Along long duct

5. Determination hood velocity pressure

and transport velocity
Measure velocity pressure in the duct with a traverse pitot
tube connected to a manometer
Velocity pressure can be converted to velocity by using
conversion formula

At STP condition

When the contaminant is captured by the hood system

and enters the ductwork, a minimum transport
velocity must be maintained:
- to keep the contaminant from settling out of the gas
flow stream and building up deposits in the
ductwork.
Declines in gas flow rates could indicate that the
minimum transport velocity is not being maintained.

Minimum transport velocities for different types of

particulate matter:
Type of pollutants
Gas
Light particulate loading
Normal particulate
loading

Recommended transport
velocity (ft/min)
1000 2000
3000 3500
3500 4000

Location of Measuring Point- depend on shape and size

Velocity distribution is not uniform within the duct
For round ducts : Two traverses at right angle should be
made.

6 and smaller - minimum 6 traverse points.

6 and larger - minimum 10 traverse points.

For round duct

For rectangular :
-

The cross-section is divided ducts into equal areas

A reading is taken at the centre of each area.

At least 16 readings should be taken,

Distance between measuring points = not exceed 6 inches.

Best location to perform a traverse is at least 7.5 dia.

downstream from any major disturbance = laminar flow

If it less than 7.5 diameter, another traverse has to be made

at a second location and compare the results.

within 10% of range, the results are acceptable.

- Velocity will increase with distance from inner

surface to a maximum value at the centre of duct
Essential Data to Be Collected:
Area of the duct at the traverse location.
Velocity pressure at each point in the traverse.
Temperature of the air stream

Determination of transport velocity:

The minimum transport velocity is important to
prevent settling of particles within the duct.
this minimum transport velocity affects only the
large particles since smaII particles fol low the air
movement and do not settle.
Use anemometer

6. Determination of air cleaners

efficiency

Will learn in air pollution

technology subject.
Next semester..

7. Determination of fan efficiency

The fan speed, expressed as revolutions per minute (rpm)

Relationship between fan speed and air flow rate

Fan speed (rpm)

800
900
1000
1100
1200

Air flow rate (acfm)

16 000
18 000
20 000
22 000
24 000

First fan law:

Fan Static Pressure:

FSP
=
Fan TP VP out
=
SP out SP in VP in
The air stream moving through the fan experiences a static
pressure rise due to the mechanical energy expended by the
rotating fan wheel. The static pressure at the outlet is always
higher than the static pressure at the inlet.

Second Fan Law

The fan SP is related to the square of the fan speed as indicated in

the second fan law shown below. The fan static pressure rise is
usually expressed in units of inches of water column.

The Fan Laws can be applied when:

The fans have the same design and geometric
shape.
The fans have not been altered in shape or form.
The system characteristic curve has not changed.

A portion of a ventilation system is shown in Figure 2. At a fan

speed of 900 rpm, the fan static pressure rise is 16.5 in. W.C.
and the gas flow rate is 8,000 ACFM. Suppose the fan speed
changes while the rest of the system remains the same.
Estimate the new fan static pressure rise if the flow rate
increases to 12,000 ACFM.

Solution:
1. Calculate the new fan speed, rpm2, when the
flow rate is increased from 8,000 to 12,000 ACFM.

2. Calculate the new fan static pressure rise,

Fan SP2, due to the higher fan speed.

Third Fan Law

Fan static pressure:

1. Must be sufficient to accelerate the air entering
the hoods and,
2. To overcome the flow resistances of the hoods,
ductwork, air pollution control systems, and
stack at the prescribed hood, ductwork, and air
pollution control system airflow velocities.

Estimate new operating conditions for the system if

the system is changed as shown:
rpm

Q (cfm)

FTP (in w.g) AHP

Initial

1000

5000

1100

2
3

6000
10.0

6.29

Fan total pressure:

FTP
=
Tp outlet TP inlet
=
Sp out + Vp out Sp in VP in

Fan Power:
AHP = air horsepower
BHP = Break horsepower
SHP = Shaft horsepower
ME = Mechanical efficiency
(Usually 0.6)
KDL = Drive Loss Factor (1.15
Pulley, 1.05 Direct)
SF = Safety Factor (1.1)

SHP = BHP X KDL

RATED HP = SHP X SF

Exercise:
Estimate the AHP, BHP, SHP & the
rated HP motor you would choose
for the following system:
FTP: 10.00 in w.g
Q: 5000 cfm
ME: 0.65
KDL:1.1

Static Pressure Profile of the

System
The changes in the air stream static pressure from the
point of entry into the hood to the fan.

The overall static pressure drop across each

component of the overall system is related to the
square of the airflow rates.

The multi-rating data used to select the fan represented a subset of

the total data set that defines this fan characteristic curve.
There is a specific fan characteristic curve for each fan model, model
size, and speed.
The intersection of the fan characteristic curve and the system
characteristic curve is illustrated as Point A.

Instrument for fan inspection and testing

1. Smoke tube: Detect leaks
2. Tachometer: Measure Fan rpm

3. Pitot tube and Manometer: Measure Vp and Sp

4. Volt meter and Amp meter: BHP determination
5. Thermometer

Inspection of fan
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Direction of fan rotation

Blade and casing condition
Belt condition
Excessive vibration of bearing or housing
Correct coupling alignment
Proper alignment of fan impeller
Safety devices

Testing of fan
1.
2.
3.
4.

Get fan rating curve

Check fan speed
Detect spinning flow
Measure fan inlet Vp

Limitations
Monitoring = consistent behavior by systems moving air
through hoods.
Do not directly predict hood effectiveness in controlling
exposures
Environmental and exposure sampling should be
conducted
Services done by qualified IH

Conclusion
Inspection, Testing and examination of LEV
system is needed to ensure the effectiveness
of LEV performance