Combustion Air Conditioning Systems

It is consistently demonstrated by various test groups that the air flow rate, temperature, humidity, and perhaps, pressure entering the combustion process, must be tightly controlled if repeatable tests or studies are to be attained. Combustion Air Conditioning systems are used to supply either a “standard air” inlet condition or other simulated climatic conditions. Flow rates and temperature control are relatively easy, but humidity and pressure control present real challenges to the test engineer and the equipment designer.

The intent of this paper is to inform the test engineer how these parameters may be controlled on present day equipment, and to explain various methods and difficulties of achieving each test condition.