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Ask an Expert: Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebook, 2nd Edition

We took the opportunity to ask Dr. Howard D. Goodfellow, 2021 Engineering Medal of Management recipient, some questions about the 2nd edition of his book Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebook now in two volumes. Volume 1: Fundamentals which published in September 2020 with co-editor Risto Kosonen, features the latest research technology in the broad filed of ventilation for contaminant control including extensive updates of the foundational chapters from the previous edition. Volume 2: Engineering Design and Applications which published in June 2021 with co-editor Yi Wang, features best practices for specific industrial sectors.
What motivated you to revise this book?
The systematic design of ventilation systems is not well understood in the global scientific community and the literature is fragmented in different disciplines and in different regions of the world. I am a global leader in the industrial ventilation field with an extensive private sector/academic career spanning over several decades in the engineering and research communities. My goal was to provide a comprehensive definitive handbook in the ventilation field for the engineering and scientific communities based on updating the Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebook published in 2001 (i.e. a one-stop reference book on science and engineering of ventilation design).
Can you describe the approach of the book and how it reflects today’s important issues in ventilation design?
A decision was made to have two volumes of the Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebook. Volume 1: Fundamentals, is an updated revised edition of the original 2001 edition which published in summer 2020 and is now available. Volume 2: Engineering Design and Applications includes many new topics and is also now available. As Editor-in-Chief of both volumes, I have assembled a global team of over 100 researchers and engineers to prepare a single source handbook on the subject of the design of ventilation systems for the control of the indoor environment.
The book is a comprehensive reference on ventilation – both from the fundamental and practical applications. They address today’s important issues and challenges of the best practices to achieve a sustainable global green economy to meet climate change issues and control of airborne viruses for a safe indoor environment.
Who would benefit from this book?
This is a valuable reference for consulting engineers as well as mechanical, process and plant engineers working in the design of air pollution and ventilation systems based on sustainability for their industrial clients (processing and manufacturing) as well as health care applications for safe indoor environments from airborne viruses. Novel design methodology and advice on sensors and control algorithms for specialized ventilation and new sections on commissioning protocols and best practices are included.
You have gathered a considerable team of contributors from all over the world. What do they collectively bring to the book?
Our global team of contributors brings together a wealth of current research, development and engineering skills in the science and technology of ventilation. This represents a significant advancement in the goal of global harmonization and implementation of best practices for the global community.
Key contributions by the team are:
- Single reference source for design equations and methodology to develop control algorithms for automation (Industry 4.0) and to meet global challenges of climate change and a green economy
- Expanded section on experimental measurement techniques for process parameters in real time using state-of-the-art sensors
- Expanded section on modeling techniques and its practical application based on recent advances in research
- New chapter on the commissioning of conventional and complex ventilation systems
- New chapter prepared by global leaders on Best Practices for Ventilation Design for eleven different sectors including process and manufacturing industries, health care, commercial kitchens, etc.
Volume 2: Engineering Design and Applications has now published. Can you talk about the approach of that volume and how it will compliment Volume 1?
The details for the holistic approach to ventilation design based on a detailed design methodology for ventilation systems are outlined in the four key steps below and show how Volume 2 will complement Volume 1.
Holistic Design Steps
Step 1: Design Methodology
Step 2: Design Equations
Step 3: Design Toolkit
Step 4: Best Practices for More than 10 Sectors
Volume 1: Fundamentals covers steps 1 and 2 and Volume 2: Engineering Design and Applications covers steps 3 and 4. Figure 1 shows the chapter headings for Volume 1 and 2 of the Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebooks.

In summary, the publication of these two in-depth volumes on ventilation, covering both the fundamentals and engineering design and applications is a timely reference source that addresses today’s global issues pertaining to a sustainable green economy. The publication also addresses the global pandemic crisis and the critical role of ventilation design for the control of airborne viruses to provide a safe and healthy indoor environment. These two volumes are unique in the marketplace and represent a single authoritative global reference book on industrial ventilation.
How do you see industrial ventilation design developing in the next few years?
The science and technology of industrial ventilation is at a crossroads and key decisions need to be made to capitalize on the unbounded opportunities. Three key areas to be pursued are:
- Better communication (scientific and engineering community of ventilation and contaminant control)
- Develop a global collaborative community
- Embrace disruptive technologies (sensors, modeling, Industry 4.0, AI, etc.)
Key Future Activities

Advanced design of industrial ventilation systems based on best practices will play a major role in meeting our common goal to meet climate change objectives on a global basis. The “big picture” goal for the revised Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebook is to provide a roadmap for the future development of the research and development and engineering of industrial ventilation systems. Success depends on a holistic, multidisciplinary, and sustainable funding. We must “extend the global community” and “extend the technological horizons.”
I am also pleased to announce Ventilation 2021, the 13th International Industrial Ventilation Conference for Contaminant Control being organized by ASHRAE in Toronto, Canada from June 22-24, 2022. The first conference was organized by myself in Toronto (1985) with the conference being held every three years in different parts of the world. The goal of this conference is for international engineers, practitioners, researchers and regulatory personnel working in the specialized area of industrial ventilation field to share recent advancements from a global perspective in the field of ventilation and contaminant control. https://www.ashrae.org/conferences/topical-conferences/ventilation-2022

Ready to read the books?
Volume 1: Fundamentals & Volume 2: Engineering Design and Applications, are both available now on ScienceDirect. Want your own copy? Enter ENGIN30 when you order via the Elsevier store and save up 30%
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