%0 Conference Paper
%A Haoran Zhao
%A Woody Delp
%A Wanyu R Chan
%A Brett C Singer
%A Iain S Walker
%B Indoor Air Conference
%D 2020
%G eng
%T Performance of Microwave Range Hoods Compared to Traditional Range Hoods
%X <p>Venting range hoods enable efficient removal of odors, moisture, and pollutants generated from burners and cooking<br />activities. Appliances that combine a microwave oven and exhaust fan (described as “over the range” microwaves or OTRs)<br />are popular in the U.S. for their space saving utility. Prior to this study, there were very few published data on the<br />performance of OTR microwaves for installed airflow and capture efficiency (CE) compared to traditional range hoods<br />(RHs). In this study we conducted laboratory performance assessments of six OTRs representing models that were observed<br />to be present in numerous California new homes, including three with airflow and sound ratings certified by the Home<br />Ventilation Institute (HVI). Performance testing was also conducted on two RHs. The performance testing included exhaust<br />airflows, sound level and CE. They were evalautedusing a mock- kitchen. Capture efficiency was measured using a dynamic<br />mass balance test with CO 2 emitted from gas cooking burners as the tracer and pots of water being heated on the cooktop.<br />The OTRs met the airflow requirement of ASHRAE 62.2 for kitchen ventilation. The new data combined with prior studies<br />indicates that OTRs have similar CE vs. airflow relationships as conventional range hoods, ranging from 40% to 85% for the<br />front burners and 60% to 100% for the back burners. As installed in homes, OTRs have similar peak airflows as RHs of<br />comparable costs but tend to be more noisy</p>