title: A dual-respiration chamber system with automated calibration.
abstract: This study characterizes respiration chambers with fully automated calibration. The system consists of two 14-m3 pull-type chambers. Care was taken to provide a friendly environment for the subjects, with the possibility of social contact during the experiment. Gas analysis was automated to correct for analyzer drift and barometric pressure variations and to provide ease of use. Methods used for checking the system's performance are described. The gas-analysis repeatability was within 0.002%. Results of alcohol combustion (50-350 ml/min CO2) show an accuracy of 0.5 +/- 2.0 (SD) % for O2 consumption and -0.3 +/- 1.6% for CO2 production for 2- to 24-h experiments. It is concluded that response time is not the main factor with respect to the smallest practical measurement interval (duration); volume, mixing, gas-analysis accuracy, and levels of O2 consumption and CO2 production are at least equally important. The smallest practical interval was 15-25 min, as also found with most chamber systems described in the literature. We chose to standardize 0.5 h as the minimum measurement interval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. P.Schoffelen@HB.UNIMAAS.NL
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Schoffelen
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Westerterp
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Saris
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ten Hoor
mesh_terms: D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers / Q000592:standards; D001331:Automation; D002138:Calibration; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D014691:Ventilation
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen