The ASHRAE Technical Committee TC-5.10 Kitchen Ventilation is an active body of CKV professionals. It recently met all day in Chicago, IL on January 22, 2006.

The objective of this committee is to research and quantify where possible, the mechanics of why and how CKV works. Members of the committee work to establish priorities of information needed to help the industry design and construct better and more reliable commercial kitchen ventilation systems.

They are also active in developing and presenting programs such as symposiums, seminars and workshops at the bi-annual ASHRAE Conferences. In Chicago for instance, a three part symposium was chaired by Doug Horton, D.J. Horton & Associates and titled:

 “The Latest Findings in Kitchen Ventilation Research”.

1. “A New Standard Method of Test for Determining the Grease Particulate Removal Efficiency of Filter Systems for Kitchen Ventilation”
   Derek Schrock, Halton Company.
    
2. “Effects of Appliance Diversity and Position on Commercial Kitchen Hood Performance”
   Richard Swierczyna, Architectural Energy CKV Lab.
    
3. “Effects of Range Top Diversity, Range Accessories and Hood Dimensions on Commercial Kitchen Hood Performance”
   Paul Sobiski, Architectural Energy CKV Lab.

The next two programs will be presented at the ASHRAE Conference in June 2006 in Quebec City, Canada. These topics were strategically selected on the basis of the conference location in a northern climate. Doug Horton, D.J. Horton Associates will chair the seminar titled:

“Operating CKV Systems in Northern Climates”

1. “Strategic Introduction of Makeup Air Systems/Heat Recovery”
   Don Fisher, Fisher-Nickel Associates.
    
2. “Demand Ventilation Control in Cold Climates”
   Ted Owen, Melink Company.
    
3. “Effects of Temperature on Makeup Air Design (CFD)”
   Derek Schrock, Halton Company.
    
4. “Grease Rich Exhaust Challenge in Cold Ductwork”
   Tim Ferrell, Captrate

A forum will also be chaired by Steve Brown, LC Systems entitled:

“Energy Efficient CKV System Design: Do Government Agencies Help or Hurt Implementation?”

Programs are being developed for the 2007 programs in Dallas, TX and Long Beach, CA.

Research projects are an effective way to enlighten us as to the vagaries of CKV. It should be easy. You cook, under a hood, with a fan and all the grease, heat and particulate matter are immediately taken up in the plume of hot air and exhausted to the outside. In the real world, sometimes things do not go that smoothly.

Research helps us understand how and why things work the way they do. Sometimes it changes our understanding of what we thought was common knowledge. For instance, it was commonly accepted that in order to keep grease molecules suspended in the air stream, the air had to be moving at 1500 to 2100 CFM.

At the request of the TC-5.10, ASHRAE funded a project that changed our minds completely. We found that air movement at much lower speeds did not create any additional deposition on duct walls, sides or bottom. The research was conducted by Prof. Thomas Kuehn, P.E. at the University of Minnesota Mechanical Engineering Department.

This ASHRAE research has resulted in a change in national model codes, reducing the lower threshold of exhaust air to 500 CFM. While systems will still be designed to 1500/1800 CFM, the lower threshold allows for variable speed fan technology to be employed. This technology greatly enhances energy savings. It also gives designers, engineers and AHJ officials room to utilize lower velocities when remodeling existing building systems as may be needed.
                  
The current TC list of potential research projects include the following:

1. Evaluating Field Test Method for CKV Performance
2. Thermal Comfort in Commercial Kitchens
3. Minimum Acceptable Dilution of Commercial Kitchen Exhaust
4. Make-up Air Impact on Hood Performance and Indoor Air Quality
5. Analysis of Island Hoods
6. Thermal Plume Development and CFD Simulation of Hood Performance
7. Dishwasher CFM Requirements
8. MOT to Determine Whether Type I Hood is Required
9. Enhanced Kitchen Load Calculation Manual

These future research projects will be revisited by the TC at each bi-annual meeting and rearranged in priority as needed. Funding of future projects from ASHRAE will determine when and if these projects proceed in future years.

If you have a suggestion, forward your comment to george@upyourstack.com  Any such comments will be forwarded by UP YOUR STACK® to the TC chairman for discussion.