How do I adjust the CO2 level to generate additional ventilation?
Thermostat Configuration
In Pelican solutions where Pelican is controlling the ventilation rate, are three configuration that need to be configured to manage ventilation rate. Both of these configurations are found under a Thermostat Configuration page:
CO2 Ventilation: This configuration sets when that thermostat will request an increase in ventilation. This is not a “setting, like a temperature set point;” a temperature set point sets a target. The CO2 Ventilation configuration tells the PEARL when to begin to increase the ventilation rates because the room has become more occupied and therefore requires more ventilation.
Minimum Damper Position: This configuration sets what the ventilation rate will be at when the CO2 level is below the CO2 Ventilation configuration and the supply fan is running. This is normally defined as the Minimum Ventilation Rate.
Maximum Ventilation Rate: This configuration sets the maximum ventilation rate that the room should ever require. This is defined by the size of the room, what the room is used for, and the maximum number of occupancy the room can hold. This configuration is never exceeded no matter the CO2 level reading.
Why does Pelican recommend setting CO2 Ventilation to 800PPM?
It is common industry practice that if the CO2 levels in a room reach 1000PPM, the ventilation rate should be at a rate that helps keep the room around 1000PPM. Many vendors of ventilation controllers have two ventilation rate settings: the rate for when the CO2 level is below 1000PPM and the rate for when the CO2 level is above 1000PPM. Based on our data, Pelican has found that two ventilation rate settings does not provide the best approach to properly ventilating a room.
If the goal is to keep CO2 levels at or below 1000PPM, the ventilation system should begin to provide more ventilation as the CO2 levels rise, in response to more people enter the room, instead of being too late because the system waited until the CO2 levels were already at 1000 PPM.
Because of our theories, Pelican designed their system to dynamically adjust the ventilation rate as the CO2 levels rise. By setting the CO2 Ventilation to 800PPM, it allows Pelican to providing additional ventilation as people enter the room. This has shown to maintain better indoor air quality and energy efficiency in relation to the number of people in a room.
What should I set the Minimum Damper Position and Maximum Ventilation Position too?
There are a lot of items to consider when setting your Minimum Damper Position and Maximum Ventilation Position.