| dc.description.abstract | The Uganda Bureau of statistics indicate that 58% of the population of Uganda lack access to proper lighting. This compels this proportion of the population to use alternative means (Open flame lighting) which are associated with very many emissions. This study aimed at investigating the effect of ventilation systems on air circulation in structures where open flame lighting systems are utilized. By examining the dynamics of air movement and the dispersion patterns of combustion byproducts, this research sought to provide valuable insights into optimizing ventilation strategies to enhance indoor air quality and mitigate potential hazards.
The research methodology involved the use of environmental sampling techniques. These were conducted on real-world structures where open flame lighting systems are used. The
experiments involved measurements of quantities of emissions associated with the selected open flame lighting systems (candle, simple wick lamp, and lantern), as well as the time it took them to reach acceptable levels in structures with different ventilation conditions.
The study revealed that the hourly production rate of the major pollutant (PM 2.5) significantly varied from one lighting system to another. Burning a candle was responsible for the production of 151.09 ± 23.16 μg/m3 per hour, the simple wick lamp and lantern were both responsible for producing 948.15 ± 1.30 μg/m3 per hour and 143.27 ± 1.36 μg/m3 per hour respectively. It further revealed that increased ventilation percentages resulted in better air circulation in the residential structures evidenced by minimized concentration levels of PM2.5. Reduced ventilation percentages, on the other hand, caused stagnation of the pollutant thus leading to poor air circulation. It was further discovered that an ideal ventilation percentage (that permits PM2.5 levels to fall below 35 μg/m3 in a period of three (3) hours) for structures where candles are to be used should be at least 13.5% of the total floor area, 17.69% of the total floor area for the simple wick lamp, and 1% for the lantern. To design for the worst-case scenario, it is advised that an ideal ventilation percentage for structures should be 18% of the total floor area.
This would ensure optimum air circulation, reduce the concentration of combustion byproducts, thus enhancing indoor air quality, minimize potential health risks, and improve the overall safety and living standards of occupants. | en_US |
