Abstract
We conducted an investigation work to derive the actual concentration in a conventional home equipped with 24-hour ventilation system when using a flue-less kerosene fan heater, and we also carried out a laboratory experiment to determine the pollutant emission rate of the kerosene fan heater.
As a result, 1) indoor concentration of VOCs such as heptane, toluene, octane, nonane, decane, nonanal, undecane, decanal, dodecane, tridecane and tetradecane increased when using the kerosene fan heater, showing remarkable rise particularly in decanes. In addition, among nitrogen oxides, NO2 concentration reached at 395 ppb by operating the appliance for 50 minutes, and the measured value was 6.6 times higher compared with air quality standards based on the Japanese Air Pollution Control Act. 2) Based on a comparison between actual field survey measurement values and those in the experiment in the chamber relating to pollutant concentrations during usage of the appliance, it has been proved that ethanol, acetone toluene and heptane was produced not only from the appliance but from building materials and daily necessities in the room. 3) The VOCs of octane, m, p-xylene, o-xylene, nonane, 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, pentadecane were measured from the appliance, and some of the VOCs such as octane m, p-xylene, nonane et al. generated even when it was not used. 4) The largest fuel consumption rate of the appliance was observed during the first 10 minutes since starting to use it, showing values 2.15 to 2.87 times larger than those observed during other time range. 5) the TVOC emission rates for 0-10 min. and 10-20 min. value were 90,317 and 858,204 μg/kg respectively.
