The influence of occupants’ body mass on carbon dioxide mass flow rate inside a university classroom – case study

ABSTRACT

From 2014 to 2017, through the cold season, 37 experimental measurements of carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration were done inside a selected university classroom, during the same type of activity, namely written examination. Based on the data obtained from the experimental measurements, the article sought to primarily establish a correlation between the body mass of the students and the intensity of carbon dioxide releases inside the experimental classroom. This relationship was determined by using statistical analysis (general least-square estimation of the regression line). The resulting equation may be used to determine in an easier way the required outdoor air volume flow rate inside a university classroom.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbon dioxide concentration
• CO₂ generation rate
• mass flow rate
• occupants’ body mass

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by VEGA (Vedecká grantová agentúra) - Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and Slovak Academy of Sciences [project No. 1/0307/16].