A Method of Test for Tracer Gas Test of an Outdoor Furnace Designed for Installation Without a Flue Pipe

Published

November 1, 1998

Author(s)

S T. Liu, George E. Kelly

Abstract

An induced draft, gas-fired furnance orignally designed for outdoor installation without a flue pipe was tested by the tracer gas method to determine its off-cycle power burner draft factor. This report describes the feasibility of attaching a short flue pipe to the outside furnance during the optional tracer gas test in facilitating test measurement without significantly increasing the measured power burner draft factor due to the stack action of the added flue pipe during the burner off period. The results showed that it is possible to conduct the tracer gas test with a short attached flue pipe to facilitate the test without changing the calculated results for the value of Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). Therefore, it is recommended that a short flue pipe, between 0.2m to 0.3m (8 in. to 12 in.), be allowed in the DOE furnace test procedure for the optional tracer gas test for outdoow furnances desgned for installation without a flue pipe.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 6257

Report Number

6257

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

Annual Fuel Utilization, Building Technology, DOE test procedures, Efficiency, Flue Pipe, Induced Draft Furnace, Outdoor Installation, Power Burner Draft Factor, Tracer Gas Test

Citation

Liu, S. and Kelly, G. (1998), A Method of Test for Tracer Gas Test of an Outdoor Furnace Designed for Installation Without a Flue Pipe, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860773 (Accessed October 11, 2025)