This paper describes the development and demonstration of an in-situ method for dynamically measuring the infiltration rate of air to low-temperature freezing systems. The method is based on the application of an unsteady mass balance and utilizes a low-cost tracer gas — CO₂. Based on the measured rate of change of CO₂ concentration within the low-temperature freezer system microenvironment relative to the CO₂ concentration of the air infiltrating along with physical measurements of the freezer space, air infiltration rates and their associated sensible and latent loads to the freezer can be estimated.

Units: I-P