8:00 AM-9:00 AM
Seminar 1
A Better Writer is a Better Engineer: TC 7.3 O&M Management Perspective on Good Communication
Professional Skills Beyond Engineering
224 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Mina Agarabi, P.E., Agarabi Engineering PLLC
Technical Committee: 07.03 Operation and Maintenance Management
Successful engineers require many communication skills. This seminar focuses on the value and importance of good writing skills for both experienced engineers and YEA, the requirement as engineers to communicate technical ideas and data to non-technical people, ASHRAE O&M Management perspective on good communication and how to achieve improved communication.
1 Effective Communication Skills for Success as an Engineer
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Tom Sahagian, Retired |
Successful Engineers require many communication skills that are not generally taught in engineering school or on the job. This seminar focuses on the value and importance of good writing skills for Engineers, the need for Engineers to communicate technical ideas clearly to non-technical people, the judgement to select and present large amounts of data to clients, how to achieve improved communication as a YEA and beyond.
2 ASHRAE Operations & Maintenance Management Perspective
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Mina Agarabi, P.E., Agarabi Engineering PLLC |
Successful Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Management relies on engineers to practice effective two-way communication with clients, building operators, as well as other stakeholders. Learn why listening is essential for effective communication in O&M. Asking the right questions can help you gather better information and helps others learn too. Writing is also important in O&M management: procedures, protocols and user guides. Effective communication can help facilities staff transition from reactive to proactive maintenance.
8:00 AM-9:00 AM
Seminar 2
Results of RP-1651 Development of Maximum Technically Achievable Energy Targets for Ultra-Low Energy Use Commercial Buildings
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Don Brandt, Trane, Inc. (Retired)
Technical Committee: MTG.ET Energy Targets
Now that the research and final report are complete for RP-1651, this seminar presents an overall summary of the research results and the most promising future technically. The results include a comprehensive suite of advanced technologies packaged to achieve the maximum technically achievable energy efficiency levels across a wide range of commercial building types.
1 Results of RP-1651: Development of Maximum Technically Achievable Energy Targets for Ultra-Low Energy Use Buildings
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Jason Glazer, P.E., GARD Analytics, Inc.
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How energy efficient can commercial and multifamily buildings become in the near future if first cost is
not considered? This presentation describes how building energy simulation modeling was used to try to answer this question. The RP-1651 project involves; identifying advanced technologies to include in modeling of ultra-low energy targets, simulating maximum commercial building energy efficiency levels that are technically achievable now or in the near future by modeling using the DOE reference building models, simulating alternative scenarios examining the relative impact of groups of measures and finally, the energy savings results for the reference buildings and climates will be discussed.
not considered? This presentation describes how building energy simulation modeling was used to try to answer this question. The RP-1651 project involves; identifying advanced technologies to include in modeling of ultra-low energy targets, simulating maximum commercial building energy efficiency levels that are technically achievable now or in the near future by modeling using the DOE reference building models, simulating alternative scenarios examining the relative impact of groups of measures and finally, the energy savings results for the reference buildings and climates will be discussed.
2 Background on Energy Targets MTG Scope and the Reference Buildings Used in RP-1651
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Drury Crawley, Ph.D., Bentley Systems, Inc.
|
This presentation provides an overview of the scope for RP-1651 and the reference building models that will be used in the analysis performed for RP-1651. The reference buildings cover more than 80% of the commercial building stock including offices, retail, warehouse, healthcare, restaurant, apartments and schools. Reference building models are based on Standard 90.1 and have been used to analyses the energy impacts of new versions of that standard. The models were developed for all 17 climate zones throughout the United States.
8:00 AM-9:00 AM
Seminar 3
U.S. EPA Guidance for Protecting Indoor Air Quality during School Building Upgrades
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Dawen Lu, P.E., Lu + Smith ENGINEERS, PLLC
Technical Committee: 09.07 Educational Facilities
A school’s indoor environment can have significant impacts on health and learning. It is important to protect IAQ during school building upgrades, including energy-efficiency upgrades. There can be a mistaken impression that energy efficiency and IAQ are at odds with each other. When energy efficiency and IAQ protection goals are integrated, schools can achieve strong results in both areas. Alternatively, if careful attention is not paid to the interaction between energy management and IAQ, occupant health can suffer. The U.S. EPA recently released Energy Savings Plus Health: IAQ Guidelines for School Building Upgrades, and this new guidance is presented.
1 Energy Savings Plus Health: IAQ Guidelines for School Building Upgrades
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Gregory Brunner, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
EPA developed “Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades” to help school officials protect and improve indoor air quality (IAQ) during building upgrades, including energy efficiency upgrades. This presentation will provide background on why EPA developed this Guide, how the Guide is structured, and an overview of 23 priority IAQ issues that should be addressed during school building upgrades. The Guide includes assessment protocols, and recommended actions to be followed for each priority issue during the school building upgrade process.
2 Energy Savings Plus Health: School Building Checklist Generator
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Gregory Brunner, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
The “Energy Saving Plus Health – School Building Upgrade Checklist Generator” is a tool for use with EPA’s new Energy Savings Plus Health Guide. The Checklist Generator can be used to create customized checklists for each individual project. Users can select from a menu of typical building upgrade activities, as applicable to their project. It helps verify that the assessments and recommended actions have been performed to protect/enhance IAQ during the building upgrade. This presentation will provide an overview of the Checklist Generator tool, and identify other resources available to users of EPA’s new guidance for school building upgrades.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 4
Energy Use Index (EUI): Breakdown of Energy Components of Tall, Supertall and Megatall Buildings Both Domestic and International
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Peter Simmonds, Ph.D., Building and Systems Analytics LLC
Technical Committee: 09.12 Tall Buildings
Based on a very successful seminar held in Orlando, this session provides a breakdown of energy components for the buildings being presented. This seminar illuminates energy components of tall, supertall and megatall buildings which can be optimized to reduce energy consumption and provide opportunities for net zero buildings.
1.00 EUI Breakdown for Tall Buildings in Chicago and Internationally
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Mehdi Jalayerian, P.E., ESD |
Specifics of EUI for buildings in Chicago were presented in Orlando. This presentation provides information on the energy components of the buildings.
2.00 Specifics of EUI for Selected Buildings Around the World
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Stephen Ray, Ph.D., P.E., North Park University |
Details of the Energy Use index from some selected buildings were presented in Orlando. This presentation will provide a more detailed breakdown of the buildings energy components.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 5
Innovative Absorption System Applications for Both Heating and Cooling
HVAC Systems and Equipment
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Ersin Gercek, P.E., Real Engineering Services LLC
Technical Committee: 08.03 Absorption and Heat Operated Machines
Absorption systems can be used in a variety of cooling and heating applications often simultaneously to improve overall system efficiency. This session introduces dual and triple lift (not stage) absorption systems with a case study. The session also covers modern absorption systems on district heating and cooling commercial water heating applications.
1 Practical Application of an Absorption Heat Pump to Commercial Water Heating
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Patrick Geoghegan, Ph.D., ORNL |
Commercial hot water heating in the US accounts for 780 Trillion Btu/year of primary energy use, with over half of this amount from natural gas fired heaters. A commercial absorption heat pump could achieve a level of savings much higher than possible by conversion to the best available non-heat-pump gas fired alternatives (instantaneous condensing). The ammonia-water system has the added advantage of zero Global Warming Potential and Ozone Depletion Potential. This seminar presents the development of a practical absorption heat pump cycle with laboratory-measured performance metrics, outlines potential installation layouts, and presents the economic case for adoption in commercial buildings.
2 Using Double and Triple Lift Single Stage Absorption to Save Energy
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Doug Davis, Broad USA |
Utilizing low grade thermal energy and hot water for cooling is a great application for Double and Triple Lift absorbers. This presentation will cover a new Tire Plant in Tennessee that will use 185-131 F hot water to produce 300 tons of cooling. Currently there is a dearth of general understanding of what a double or triple lift unit is and therefore not many applications to date in North America. Traditional and well know single stage absorber cannot use hot water below 190F typically.
3 Absorption Heat Pumps for District Heating Applications
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Rajesh Dixit, Johnson Controls, Inc. |
Absorption heat pumps can be used for generating medium temp hot water (up to 195F) for district heating applications using a low grade waste heat source and a high grade heat source. With about 40% of heat coming from a very low grade source, which otherwise would be rejected to atmosphere, the coefficient of performance is about 1.7 and the economics becomes quite attractive. This source could be geothermal heat or process heat or even a condenser water loop by bypassing a cooling tower. Heat pumps have also been successfully utilized in waste to energy plants.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 6
Latest Technologies in Air-to-Air Energy Recovery
Fundamentals and Applications
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Ronnie Moffitt, P.E., Trane
Technical Committee: 05.05 Air-to-Air Energy Recovery
Total energy recovery devices transfer both temperature and moisture between the airstreams. Two types of these newer technologies are membrane exchangers and liquid desiccant systems. This session covers the science of membrane exchangers and how they transfer water vapor and heat. It also reviews a liquid desiccant system and how this too can be used to transfer water vapor and heat between exhaust and outside airstreams.
1 Science of Polymeric Membranes Used in Energy Recovery
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Ryan Huizing, P.Eng., dPoint Technologies |
Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) is an emerging and growing application for polymeric membranes used in energy efficient building ventilation systems. In these enthalpy exchange devices, heat and moisture are transported through a membrane which separates fresh supply air streams and building exhaust air streams. Membranes for these devices must have high water vapor permeance and good selectivity of water vapour over indoor air contaminants. They must be robust to withstand temperature and humidity cycling, condensation, and freezing. This presentation will discuss the current state of membranes for sensible and latent transfer as well as ongoing membrane research, development and testing.
2 Liquid Desiccant Total Enthalpy Recovery
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Mark Piegay, Alfa Laval - Kathabar |
Liquid desiccant energy recovery systems exchange temperature and humidity between the building exhaust air and the outside makeup air via an energy transfer solution. Liquid desiccant energy recovery systems have many features that building owners will find attractive. In addition to energy savings, the system features include a flexible design, winter humidification, no microbiological cross contamination, and improved IAQ via the biocidal desiccant solution.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 7
Building Water Systems: Issues and Insights from Outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Joshua Ince, P.Eng., Eldon Water Inc
Technical Committee: 03.06 Water Treatment
This session delves into understanding issues that are associated with recent and past outbreaks. It dispels popular myths of Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires' Disease, while introducing insights to aid system designers, facility managers and public health inspectors to collectively lower the risk of Legionella amplification within building water systems. Improved understanding of this disease's root causes will allow the usage of appropriate legislation that is effective in reducing human exposure to Legionella. The expert panel answers questions regarding lessons learned from first-hand outbreak investigation experience, issues with conflicting code requirements and actions required to minimize incidence of Legionnaires' disease.
1 Why Legionella Is a Problem in Building Water Systems: Keys to Prevention
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Janet Stout, Ph.D., Special Pathogens Laboratory
|
A short presentation on why Legionella is a problem in building water systems, from a microbiological point of view, and what specific actions prevent the bacteria from amplifying.
2 Lessons Learned from Potable Water Outbreak Investigations: Issues with Public Health and Plumbing Codes
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Tim Keane, Legionella Risk Management Inc. |
This presentation will review past outbreak situations and what the investigations revealed. Understanding how current plumbing codes and inspection/enforcement affects the success of controlling the problem.
3 Policy Consequences of Outbreaks: Who Got It Right?
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Sarah Ferrari, Evapco Inc |
A large outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Bronx in 2015 prompted NYC to enact law and
NYS to propose emergency regulations on the registration and maintenance of cooling towers.
This paper describes the fundamental characteristics of airborne vs. waterborne outbreaks and
discusses the Bronx outbreak from those perspectives. Ultimately a case is made that these new
regulations will not have a measurable impact on reducing the incidence of Legionellosis.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 8
Comfort Challenges in Commercial Kitchens
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Russell Robison, Gaylord Industries
Technical Committee: 05.10 Kitchen Ventilation
CoSponsor: 04.01 Load Calculation Data and Procedures
With today’s intense focus on energy efficiency in our commercial buildings, kitchens present perhaps the greatest challenge of all. Balancing the most energy intense segment of our buildings with the oftentimes overlooked comfort of our kitchens must be a focus moving forward. This seminar presents the findings illustrating some of the current obstacles in this area and what our community is doing to bring back the balance.
1 Thermal Comfort in Commercial Kitchens: a Real-World Perspective!
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Donald Fisher, P.Eng., Fisher Consultants |
The restaurant industry in the United States is the second largest private-sector employer with a workforce of nearly 13 million. And while engineers designing HVAC systems for foodservice facilities recognize the importance of thermal comfort, the extent to which this design goal has been compromised has not been well documented by ASHRAE. This information gap became the catalyst for RP-1469, “Thermal Comfort in Commercial Kitchens.” The study focused on documenting the thermal environment, both winter and summer, in 100 food service facilities. Key findings of this study are presented in context with the author’s 40-year experience in commercial foodservice.
2 Latent and Sensible Loads in Commercial Kitchens and Dishrooms
 |
Richard Swierczyna, Frontier Energy / Food Service Technology Center |
Commercial kitchens and dishrooms house the equipment that generate the most intensive concentrations of sensible, latent and moisture loads in the commercial foodservice sector. This presentation will include recent ASHRAE and industry data, and design recommendations for the the sensible, latent and moisture loads from kitchen equipment such as dishwashers, griddles, fryers, ovens and countertop appliances.
3 Considering Additional Loads Associated with Un-Tempered Kitchen Makeup Air
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Jimmy Sandusky, Halton Company |
Balancing energy efficiency, hood performance and thermal comfort is a difficult task for the commercial kitchen HVAC designer. The need for makeup air in a commercial kitchen is well understood, but delivery strategies can vary widely. Supplying un-tempered air at or near the kitchen hood is a common strategy and is a prescriptive option for California Title 24 compliance. Although sometimes suitable in mild climates, un-tempered air can add loads that must be accounted for in the HVAC design. This seminar presents this information for a variety of climate zones and best practice strategies for makeup air delivery.
4 Dew Point Designs for Commercial Kitchens
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Greg DuChane, Oregon State University |
ASHRAE 1449 RP reported that the majority of commercial kitchens are uncomfortable. Operating temperatures of 85⁰ to 90 ⁰F were reported for many kitchens. At these temperatures control of space humidity is critical to staff comfort. Kitchen HVAC designs must include consideration of the water used in many cooking and cleaning operations and consider the additional moisture that may be supplied thru unconditioned MUA systems in order to properly address kitchen comfort. This presentation will evaluate how HVAC designers may use dew point designs to improve staff comfort and safety in commercial kitchens.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 9
Gender Diversity: Will ASHRAE Lead or Lag?
Professional Skills Beyond Engineering
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Chris Gray, Ph.D., P.E., Georgia Power Company
Technical Committee: 01.07 Business, Management & General Legal Education
Sponsor: Women in ASHRAE, YEA
While the demographics of our industry are changing, there are still many groups of people that are underrepresented in ASHRAE. This seminar looks into how unconscious bias has affected our decision-making process over the years and how that has caused our industry to develop to its current make-up. A data analysis of ASHRAE’s membership is discussed and compared to membership data from our partner organizations in the built environment. The seminar discusses the significant benefits of changing these demographics and including personal accounts of diversity issues and successes in the workplace.
1 Beyond the Comfort Zone: Unconscious Bias for the Analytical Mind
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Erin McConahey, P.E., Arup |
Understanding why unconscious bias exists and how it affects our decision-making process is a key element of many successful Diversity and Inclusion programs. Recent research allows us to see how unconscious bias is “wired” into our brains. Each of us has some personal collection of unconscious biases; and as leaders it is important that we become aware of our own biases so that we can choose to make well-considered decisions. Come learn about the most common biases present in technical fields in the culture of North America and some of the best practices in building an inclusive environment in your workplace.
2 Women in ASHRAE, By the Numbers
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Jessica Mangler, P.E., Affiliated Engineers, Inc. |
The Women in ASHRAE affinity group is a small but vocal group and they are starting a movement to encourage the retention of women in the built environment. This presentation will analyze ASHRAE membership data and examine the percentage of women involved in standing committees, technical committees, and ASHRAE as a whole with feedback from a survey of ASHRAE’s female members. Then presentation will take the analysis a step further and compare ASHRAE’s female membership to the female membership in other partner organizations. Conclusions will be drawn about how to increase female participation numbers and benefits of encouraging this movement.
3 Personal Experiences of Diversity in the Workplace and in Your ASHRAE Chapter
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Jennifer E. Leach, P.E., Cummins-Wagner Co, Inc. |
Personal stories are always the most touching because they are “personal”. This presentation will be highlighting some real life stories, good and bad, and then some initiative that can be implemented in your workplace and in your ASHRAE home chapter.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 10
Performance Monitoring and Systems Testing Per ASHRAE Standards 184, 30 and the 41 Series
Fundamentals and Applications
221 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Fred Betz, P.E., Hall Consultants, LLC
Technical Committee: 08.02 Centrifugal Machines
In order to be able to evaluate and maintain the efficiency of a chilled water system, you must know how to measure the many variables for comparing the operation. ASHRAE has developed standard methods of testing field performance and test stand performance of liquid chilling equipment and systems. These Standards are Standard 184 and 30. The 41 Series of Standards describes methods for testing system variables such as liquid and airflow, temperature and humidity. The presenters in this seminar describe these Standards and their development and use.
1 ASHRAE Standard 30
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Phillip Johnson, P.E., McQuay International |
Publication of Standard 30, Method of Testing for Liquid Chilling Packages, is pending a second public review period. Significant changes have been made to this method of test (MOT) for chillers that was last published in 1995. A summary overview will guide users through the testing requirements.
2 ASHRAE Standard 184
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Robert Blanton, P.E., Johnson Controls Inc |
ASHRAE Standard 184 is the Method of Test for Field Performance of Liquid-Chilling Systems. It has been under development and is now in the final stages and public review before being published later this year. This Standard differs from Standard 30 in that it applies to chillers in their actual field installation and operation rather than the "bench" testing done under Standard 30. This speaker will present an overview of this Standard that will be valuable to system Owners, Engineers, and Designers.
3 41 Series Standards
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Richard Hall, Hall Consultants, LLC |
Most ASHRAE members may not be aware of ten basic measurement standards beginning with Standard 41.1, Standard for Temperature Measurement, and including 41.2 through 41.11 standards for measuring pressure, airflow, air velocity, humidity, gas flow, liquid flow, refrigerant flow, and power. This presenter describes the utility of each of these standards for application to product testing and for incorporating into other ASHRAE testing standards. Revised versions of all of these standards have been published since 2013 and are current and useful.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 11
Smart Grid in the Heartland: See What Happens Next
Smart Building Systems/Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Richard Hackner, P.E., GDS Associates
Technical Committee: 07.05 Smart Building Systems
This seminar introduces ASHRAE members to the rapidly developing world of smart grid implementation by utilities and others in the Midwest. Building owners, operators and designers will need to know what options and opportunities they will have in the not too distant future to manage and control their energy use and costs. The seminar also discusses what resources will be available for them in the future.
1.00 Ameren Smart Grid Implementation
 |
Bruno Stopka |
As an energy delivery public utility, Ameren is responsible for the grid components that carry power to your business. We've been incorporating smart grid improvements into the distribution system for years - with a focus on improving reliability and reducing outages. As part of our infrastructure improvements, we will be implementing even more projects, including: advanced customer meters, automated switches and controls, and training for our employees to ensure that electric and gas service is there when needed. The presentation will highlight where Ameren stands in the deployment of smart grid technology and what that means for building owners, operators and designers.
2.00 Demand Response through Advanced Lighting Controls
 |
Scott Schuetter, P.E., Seventhwave |
Task tuning is an innovative approach to lighting control in commercial buildings that is growing in popularity. It has the potential to save energy without decreasing occupant satisfaction because many commercial spaces are over lit. More widespread adoption of dimmable ballasts and LED lighting would create more opportunities to apply this simple control strategy that may help satisfy a client’s efficiency goals. In addition, the combination of smart grids and increasingly sophisticated lighting controls opens up the possibilities of using this strategy for demand response and energy cost management. We will define proper task tuning techniques and other best practices.
3.00 Smart Grid Implementation in Michigan
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Glenn Remington, CMS Energy |
Consumers Energy’s Smart Energy Program will allow for an enhanced and exciting level of communication between our company and our customers. Installations for residential customers began in late 2012 and commercial and industrial customer smart meter upgrades began in early 2015 and continue through 2017. In the future, customers will also have the ability to sign up for money saving programs. This presentation highlights opportunities and next steps for the utility and its customers through smart grid implementation.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 12
The ABCs of UVC
HVAC Systems and Equipment
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Sam Guzman, American Ultraviolet Company
Technical Committee: 02.09 Ultraviolet Air and Surface Treatment
This session covers the following UVC related topics: Why use UVC and how does UVC work? Designing/engineering a proper UVC system for your HVAC unit (understanding the levels of UVC dose necessary for different Pathogens), installation and commissioning a UVC system, and Operation & Maintenance.
1 Design Understanding the Levels of UVC Dose Necessary for Different Pathogens
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Ashish Mathur, Ph.D., UVDI |
The section will be a discussion of the different UVC applications (static and dynamic) in an HVAC unit and a review of the current "K" values or required UVC dosages associated with the various pathogens one may target in an HVAC application.
2 Operation and Maintenance of a UVC System
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Scott Sherwood, Eco Care Corporation |
This section will cover the proper operation and maintenance associated with a UVC system installed in an HVAC unit. Some of the information that will be shared includes: lamp life, intensity monitoring, safety considerations, contact plate and swab testing, and UV lamp array positioning.
3 Commissioning a UVC System in an HVAC Unit
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David Skelton, EvergreenUV |
The section discusses the extra steps involved when commissioning a UVC system designed for use in an HVAC system. The speaker will discuss the benefits of the commissioning process, the necessary steps in commissioning a system, and who should perform the commissioning process.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Seminar 13
Advancements in Compressor Design, Testing and Performance Modeling for New Efficiency Standards and Alternative Refrigerants
Advances in Refrigeration Systems and Alternative Refrigerants
221 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Georgi Kazachki, Ph.D., Dayton Phoenix Group, Inc.
Technical Committee: 08.01 Positive Displacement Compressors
CoSponsor: Refrigeration Committee
The industry is driving toward lowering the carbon footprint of air-conditioning and refrigeration systems through more stringent efficiency standards and lower GWP refrigerants. This is creating a strong demand from compressor manufactures to produce more data regarding the operation of the compressors without sacrificing accuracy. Adapting compressor standards and more economical test methods are needed for developing compressor performance maps. The proper assessment of the actual compressor performance in a system or unit derived from the compressor performance maps that are developed at standardized rating conditions is a key prerequisite for a successful system design and operation.
1 Analysis of the Performance Rating Standards of Positive Displacement Refrigerant Compressors
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Joe Sanchez, Bitzer US, Inc. |
This presentation provides an introduction and overview of the current standards for rating positive displacement compressors. It reviews the industry standard polynomial equation used for presenting ratings and the basis for the reference rating conditions. It also explains the uncertainty limits associated with the standards and what they mean as they apply to a single compressor versus a batch/rack of compressors. It explains the limitation of most compressor ratings and provides suggestions on how these ratings should be applied with zeotropic refrigerants as well as how to perform superheat corrections.
2 Representation of a Positive Displacement Compressor Map with Vapor Injection
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Gordon Powell |
Positive displacement compressors with vapor injection are commonly used in the vapor compression cycle to increase the refrigeration effect of evaporators or the heat rejection of a condenser. It is important to characterize injection flow just like the suction flow in order to allow system designer to size the components of HVAC equipment. This seminar presents a method to characterize compressors with vapor injection. The method is based on the AHRI 10-coefficient model with the addition of another independent and dependent variable. The accuracy of the method will be presented and its effect on the number of test points required.
3 A Study of Methods to Represent Compressor Performance Data over an Operating Envelope Based on a Finite Set of Test Data
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Vikrant Aute, University of Maryland |
This presentation demonstrates determining the optimal method to predict compressor performance over the application envelope maximizing accuracy for a given number of test points. The uncertainty in each method is estimated as a function of measurement reproducibility and/or product-to-product variation, especially at the typical rating points given in the performance rating standard. The AHRI standard 540 was evaluated using three sets of compressor test data, and showed small uncertainty within the operating envelope. The study included uncertainty analysis in power and mass flow rate extrapolation outside the envelope. The presentation also covers a study on the effect of superheat.
4 Sizing Low and High Compression Stages of Reciprocating Compressor for Optimum Vapor Injection Performance in Economized Cycle
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Alex Lifson, P.E., Carrier Corp. |
Vapor injection in conjunction with economized cycle is becoming more wide-spread as the unit efficiency requirements become more stringent and more difficult to meet with the new low-GWP refrigerants. Economized cycle substantially boosts both efficiency and cooling/heating capacity. A two-stage design is used in reciprocating compressors with vapor injected between the low and high compression stages. One of the most difficult tasks is to properly size the displacement of low and high pressure stages. This paper examines what controls this sizing to optimize vapor injected compressor performance with respect to operating conditions, refrigerant properties, and unit capacity and efficiency goals.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Seminar 14
Ammonia and CO2: Advances in Application
Advances in Refrigeration Systems and Alternative Refrigerants
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Tom Wolgamot, P.E., DC Engineering
Technical Committee: 10.01 Custom Engineered Refrigeration Systems
CoSponsor: 10.05 Refrigerated Distribution and Storage Facilities
Ammonia and CO2 are considered alternative refrigerants in some sectors. This seminar presents the background behind the movement to natural refrigerants, successful design approaches employed in Europe and North America using ammonia. An end-user's perspective, experience and decision-making parameters that affect the choice of refrigerants, including the use of low-charge ammonia systems is presented. Lessons learned about the design, installation and operation of a transcritical CO2 system in a Refrigerated Distribution Center are also discussed. The overall objective of this session is to demonstrate the benefits of natural refrigerants and ways to employ them cost effectively.
1 The Transition to Natural Refrigerants
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Randal Peterson, P.E. |
This session covers the background behind the movement to Low GWP and Natural Refrigerants, discussing regulations and phase-out dates, both nationally and internationally. The case is made that owners need to begin reviewing alternatives, and why both Ammonia and CO2 are very viable alternatives.
2 Low Charge Ammonia Case Studies
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Caleb Nelson, P.E., Azane, Inc. |
This session presents several case studies in which low-charge ammonia systems were employed both in the US and Europe. The case studies include details about the specific project constraints, and how low-charge ammonia systems were designed to fit within those constraints in an overall cost-effective manner.
3 An Owner's Perspective: Electronic Refrigerant Injection Control (ERIC) Ammonia Applications
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John Scherer |
The overall objective of any design engineer is to provide a cost-effective system that meets the owner's long-term needs. This session reviews the issues and concerns of a refrigeration system from an owner's perspective, and the lessons learned from the deployment of low-charge ammonia systems.
4 Transcritical CO2 in a Refrigerated Warehouse
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John Gallaher, Hill Phoenix |
There is a tremendous amount of activity using CO2 in addition to ammonia. This case study reviews a refrigeranted storage and processing warehouse that was constructed using an existing building shell in the greater Chicago area. Transcritical CO2 was used to serve multiple temperature areas as well as a portion of the facility that was dedicated to retail sales. This seminar covers the design, installation, and operation stages of the project and provide lessons learned through the process.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Seminar 15
Energy Guideline for Historical Buildings
Fundamentals and Applications
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Constantinos A. Balaras, Ph.D., Group Energy Conservation (IERSD-NOA)
Sponsor: GPC 34
Historic building retrofit projects offer unique challenges to improving energy performance while preserving the historic nature of the building. This seminar introduces the new ASHRAE Guideline 34 "Energy Guideline for Historical buildings," which is in the final stages of development. Presentations provide an overview of relevant guidance and regulations published around the world, summarize the new Guideline 34 and provide insight into specific technical issues that should be considered during historic building retrofit projects.
1 Energy Guidelines for Historic Buildings: Reviewing the Regulatory Context and Recent Trends
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Amanda L. Webb, Department of Architectural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University |
Historic buildings have traditionally been granted exemptions in energy codes in both the US and EU. This talk reviews existing guidance on energy efficiency and retrofits in historic buildings, in order to provide context for ASHRAE’s recent work. The defining features of historic buildings and special considerations for their retrofit are introduced, along with the basic tenets of historic preservation. The nature of code exemptions is explored in some ASHRAE’s standards (e.g. 90.1, 100) and from the EU. The contents, approach, and key recommendations in a number of existing guidance documents (CIBSE, AiCARR) are reviewed, highlighting similar trends and major differences.
2 An Introduction to ASHRAE's New Energy Guideline for Historical Buildings
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Janice Means, P.E., Lawrence Technological University |
This presentation gives an overview of the contents in the new ASHRAE GPC 34 Guideline which provides direction on addressing the unique issues associated with making historic buildings more energy efficient. Work on the guideline was initiated in late fall of 2012 by a relatively small, but internationally- and discipline-diverse ASHRAE committee. Seminar attendees will be educated on the structure and general recommendations in the guideline. This document is intended to advise design teams. The developers went to great lengths to respect and preserve historic architecture and associated artifacts while striving to optimize the buildings’ energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
3 Key Historic Building Recommendations in ASHRAE Guideline 34
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Michael C. Henry, P.E., Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, School fo Design, University of Pennsylvania x |
Energy efficiency is critical for the continued utility and function of a historic building, but energy efficiency measures (EEMs) should not diminish the building’s durability or its character-defining features. Historic buildings vary greatly in envelope construction, condition, spatial configuration, climatic context, use and occupancy. These variations preclude broad prescriptive EEMs since some EEMs may have unintended negative impacts on a specific building. ASHRAE Guideline 34 addresses this concern by identifying EEMs with high benefit and low risk and EEMs which may have negative impacts and require study. Attendees will learn how to apply ASHRAE Guideline 34 to this important issue.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Seminar 16
Energy Saving and Thermal Comfort Comparison of Different Heating Distribution Systems in Commercial and Residential Buildings
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Reza Ghias, Ph.D., Southland Industries
Technical Committee: 04.10 Indoor Environmental Modeling
The air distribution systems play an important role in thermal comfort and energy consumption in commercial and residential buildings. The flow rate, temperature and location of the supply air affect the thermal comfort, temperature stratification and particle transportation in a room. Owners and engineers are more encouraged to improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) as its impact on human performances and energy saving is getting more important for the companies. The speakers compare different types of the heating distribution systems and show how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can address their design challenges and efficiencies.
1.00 Air Distribution and Ventilation Effectiveness with All-Air Heating Systems
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Atila Novoselac, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin |
The room air distribution in the occupied zone affects pollutant transport, temperature field, and draft risks. With all-air heating systems, buoyancy of a hot supply air from a celling diffuser often prevents proper air distribution in the room causing large temperature stratification and stagnant zones. This presentation shows velocity and temperature distribution in the room with all-air heating system, when considering different flow rates and supply air diffuser types. The study compares temperature stratification, air diffusion performance index (ADPI), and ventilation defectiveness (VE). It identifies types of diffusers and operation conditions that are suitable for all air-heating systems.
2.00 Using Stratified Air Systems for Heating Mode
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Mikhail Koupriyanov, P.Eng., Price Industries Limited |
Stratified air systems such as displacement ventilation and underfloor technologies have seen increased usage in North America in many types of installations. Both types of systems are driven by thermal buoyancy and are primarily used for cooling where they can potentially decrease energy consumption and improve indoor air quality. Although there is plenty of guidance on proper design of these systems for cooling their use in climates where heating is also required is not as straightforward. Design guidance is provided through project examples in several climate zones. CFD is used to assess the predicted performance of the presented design options.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Seminar 17
Plumbing System Design Criteria to Minimize the Potential for Legionella Growth
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Tim Keane, Legionella Risk Management Inc.
Technical Committee: 06.06 Service Water Heating Systems
CoSponsor: 03.06 Water Treatment
ASHRAE 188-2015 provides legionella risk management requirements for the design and operation of plumbing systems. ASHRAE Guideline 12, being updated, provides direction on how to accomplish them. Legionnaires' disease, a disease of plumbing systems, is frequently caused by issues related to plumbing system design. Misperceptions are all too common and many think it is an accident that can't be avoided. This seminar focuses on the design, construction and commissioning of building potable water systems. A discussion from three different perspectives, the key factors impacting Legionella growth in piping systems: velocity, turnover, temperature, materials and complexity of components is held.
1 Are Energy Efficiency and Legionella Risk Mitigation at Odds?
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Gary Klein, Gary Klein and Associates, Inc. |
The rules for plumbing design were codified shortly after World War II. Since then, flow rates and fill volumes of plumbing fixtures and appliances, have been reduced. However, the math for sizing pipe has not yet been revised to account for these reductions. This effect is very noticeable in hot water distribution systems, where lowering flow rates increases the time for hot water to arrive, resulting in much less energy savings than would have been expected. This presentation will discuss this and other unintended consequences of water use efficiency measures and provide practical means of mitigating the negative impacts.
2 The Role Materials Can Play in Legionella Risk Mitigation
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Jeff Ramey, United Technologies, Carrier Corporation |
Risk minimization strategies for biofilm and bacteria prevention need to include consideration of piping system materials. Research and real-world experience shows that piping material affects biofilm growth rates and chlorine consumption in water, while common disinfectants used to prevent bacterial growth have significant impacts on piping system integrity. Best-in-class materials should possess resistance to bacteria and biofilm growth, and to all forms of chlorine disinfection. Attendees will see evidence of why chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) possesses both of these forms of resistance, and should be strongly considered by designers as part of their risk minimization strategy.
3 Lessons Learned from Failure Analysis
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Tim Keane, Legionella Risk Management Inc. |
Henry Ford said “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” Legionnaires' disease outbreaks are worst-case failures typically resulting in multiple illnesses and deaths. The subsequent costs associated with investigation, remediation, control and frequently litigation can be from the hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars. This presentation will provide lessons learned from engineering analysis of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks investigations in varying building types across the US.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Seminar 18
Water Treatment Programs: Designing for Asset Management and Long-Term Efficiency
HVAC Systems and Equipment
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
William E. Pearson II, Southeastern Laboratories
Technical Committee: 03.06 Water Treatment
CoSponsor: 08.06 Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers
Designing a cooling water system to provide proper water treatment is a fundamental aspect of design to provide long term asset management and maintaining efficiency over the life of the system. Current system design for energy efficiency and commissioning for proper operation must be maintained over the life of the equipment and designing and operating the water treatment program to enhance these efforts is necessary. This session provides the engineer, commissioning agent and owner the tools necessary to accomplish these goals.
1 Water Treatment Fundamentals and Performance Metrics
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Jon Cohen, ChemTreat |
A basic understanding of cooling water treatment fundamentals, treatment strategies and key performance metrics is necessary for designing and operating cooling towers. This presentation provides an overview of water treatment for asset protection for cooling systems and why it's necessary. A brief outline of what tools are available to use by design engineers and owners will be provided, along with key performance metrics that can be incorporated into commissioning documents and operating manuals. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of fundamental aspects of water treatment and what should be expected of a good water treatment program.
2 Control and Monitoring Equipment for Cooling Tower Water Treatment
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Patrick Racine, P.Eng., Klenzoid Canada - a DuBois Company |
Owners of evaporative cooling equipment must maintain their equipment to minimize risk, while reducing operating costs and reducing water and energy consumption. Having the proper water treatment control and feed program is a critical part of achieving these goals. This seminar provides an overview of the current industry best practices and look at emerging control and feed opportunities. An easy to use water treatment equipment selection matrix will be reviewed. The content is tailored to engineers and facilities managers involved in designing, retrofitting and operating evaporative cooling systems.
3 Water Treatment for HVAC Specifications
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Jeff Boldt, P.E., KJWW Engineering Consultants |
Consulting engineers are often unsure about how prescriptive vs. how performance-based their specifications should be. This presentation describes how one firm approaches this, mainly from a prescriptive standpoint, and what they specify. It covers water analysis and how it relates to both domestic and hydronic systems. Other topics covered are cleaning of piping systems, water treatment for corrosion reduction in hydronic systems, best practices for glycol systems, and a brief synopsis of Legionella suggestions based on ASHRAE Standard 188.
3:15 PM-4:45 PM
Seminar 19
Energy Management for Multi-Building Portfolios from the Owner-Operator and the Consultant Perspectives
Fundamentals and Applications
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Annie Smith, P.E., Ross & Baruzzini
Technical Committee: 07.06 Building Energy Performance
When it comes to energy management of large commercial and institutional multi-building portfolios, owner-operators have a lot of questions to answer: Where to start with energy upgrades? What energy projects should be implemented and which buildings should they be implemented in? What goes in an energy master plan and why is one necessary? How valuable are energy audits and how many should be paid for? How can a central plant be optimized? This seminar focuses on answering these questions, using case studies and providing insights into successful energy management through the experiences of both consultants and owner-operators.
1 Implementing an Integrated Sustainability Energy Master Plan
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Darryl Boyce, P.Eng., Carleton University |
Understanding the long term requirements of the campus facilities is a key element in developing an Integrated Sustainability and Energy Master Plan. This involved evaluating Carleton’s long-term needs and then the APPA Energy and Sustainability Assessment Tool,(ESAT) to assess our current energy infrastructure, prioritize the opportunities, and develop a comprehensive plan of upgrades for individual buildings as well as the Campus Infrastructure to: save energy and operational costs, fund renewal and indoor environment upgrades through energy savings, improve facilities for our students, faculty and staff and demonstrate environmental leadership to our key stakeholders and the community.
2 8760 Hours of Campus Energy Data
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Ryan Corrigan, P.E., 8760 Engineering |
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Eric Utterson, P.E., 8760 Engineering |
The process of energy metering a campus served by central plants always begins with a simple plan, to determine the energy consumption of each building. In practice, however, this strategy can take several years and millions of dollars to execute, with no guarantee that the data is accurate. Successful campus energy metering projects require an in-depth analysis of not just each utility serving a building but also the campus control system, utility distribution layout, and campus network infrastructure. 8760 Engineering has used a simple process to help our clients design, install, maintain and ultimately use accurate meter data.
3 Phased Implementation for Reducing Energy Consumption on a Commercial Campus
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Gwenn Ivester, Cushman & Wakefield |
Large, multi-building portfolios can contain buildings of many different ages and use types. However, they all require monitoring and continuous or retro-commissioning to maintain their optimum energy efficiency. The reality of value engineering and expedited timelines to occupancy often renders even new commercial buildings less energy efficient than intended. This can leave the owner with a need to perform formal energy audits and retro-commissioning within the early life of the building. Cushman & Wakefield has implemented a phased and multi-pronged process to optimizing and maintaining energy performance of the client's home office campuses in St. Louis, MO and Tempe, AZ.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 20
Computer Aided Renewable Energy System Design with Case Studies
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Wangda Zuo, Ph.D., University of Miami
Technical Committee: 04.10 Indoor Environmental Modeling
CoSponsor: 06.07 Solar Energy Utilization
Renewable energy is essential for the realization of net zero buildings. This seminar invites researchers from both architecture and engineering disciplines to demonstrate how to use modeling technologies such as computational fluid dynamics to improve the design of the renewable energy systems in buildings. The researchers introduce the applications of modeling technologies in the design of building envelopes and building systems such as the heating system with various renewable energy sources. The impacts of the renewable energy on the building energy performance, CO2 emission, and the indoor thermal comfort are also discussed.
1 Zero Coal and Low Emission Heating in Rural Houses: What Does It Mean to Energy and Environment in China?
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Xudong Yang, Ph.D., Tsinghua University |
The speaker introduces current situations and trends of energy use in Chinese rural buildings, followed by setting up a goal to achieve zero coal and low emission heating. He then addresses a subset of problems that are important to low emission heating in Chinese rural housing. These are the need to: improve the thermal integrity of rural housing; develop biomass utilization technologies for heating and cooking; develop solar energy utilization technologies for heating and hot water supply. Strategies for reducing the use of coal and CO2 emissions in rural communities are discussed with demonstration projects.
2 Utilizing CFD for Passive Solar Design Validation
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Shan He, Iowa State University |
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Ulrike Passe, AIA, Iowa State University |
While contemporary architects desire the integration of passive solar heating strategies into design concepts, energy performance is still difficult to predict due to the complexity of related physics. Few energy modeling tools provide passive solar heating because the selection of CFD turbulence models for buoyancy low velocity phenomena and solar radiation models remain a challenge. Utilizing the Interlock House, a 2009 US DOE Solar Decathlon home and Iowa NSF EPSCoR community lab our team conducted refined measurements of passive solar heating effects on a sunny day (March 8th, 2015) in order to validate new approaches to CFD model selection.
3 Semitransparent PV Glazed Second Façade in Building’s Refurbishment: Indoor and Outdoor CFD Analysis
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Marija Todorovic, Ph.D., P.E., Dubai Electricity and Water Authority |
BPS aimed to minimize final energy loads has been done as a prerequisite to conduct deep energy refurbishment leading to the effective integration of solar energy. Identified moisture penetration in building envelope directed envelope structure to be changed to ventilated façade within refurbishment works (PV glazed second façade as the most appropriate concerning construction works and existing building structure statics). New façade cooling and heating loads and their dynamics for different levels of PV glazing’s transparency and different designs, regimes and uses of ventilation air are studied (encompassing Indoor space comfort, and outdoor air-wind influence CFD and co-simulation analysis).
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 21
Evolving Research on Embedded Tube Radiant Applications
Research Summit
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Devin Abellon, P.E., Uponor
Technical Committee: 06.05 Radiant Heating and Cooling
As engineers and building owners look to embedded-tube radiant heating and cooling applications to maximize energy efficiency while providing optimum occupant comfort, additional research is underway to prove the system's effectiveness and provide better understanding. This seminar covers three different studies that help provide deeper insight into how radiant systems can be applied on both residential and commercial buildings.
1 The System-Wide Effects of Heating System Cost in High Bay Spaces
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Omar Hawit, P.E., Westlake Reed Leskosky |
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Trevor Jaffe, P.E., Westlake Reed Leskosky |
The session investigates the system-wide effects of heating system cost in high bay spaces. Heating system type, space temperature set points, and infiltration rates were considered while weighing the first cost of system components against the energy cost of the system operation. The three system types analyzed were forced-air unit heaters, radiant heating slab, and overhead infrared heating. The impact of combustion efficiency, heating effectiveness, parasitic losses, and occupant comfort were analyzed. Parametric energy simulations compare system selection, energy cost, and initial costs for various climate zones.
2 Phase Change Materials in Radiant Heating and Cooling Applications
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Eleftherios Bourdakis, Technical University of Denmark |
The majority of the buildings that will exist by the year 2050 in the developed countries have already been built. Therefore, in order to achieve significant reduction in the energy use in the buildings sector, vast changes have to be implemented in the existing buildings. Installing radiant panels with Phase Change Material (PCM) is a solution that could contribute in achieving this goal. This presentation summarizes the fundamentals of PCMs, the advantages and drawbacks of implementing them in radiant systems and an experimental setup in which radiant ceiling panels with embedded PCM are installed and tested in a climate chamber.
3 Application of Radiant Heating and Cooling in Plus-Energy Houses
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Ongun B. Kazanci, Technical University of Denmark |
Radiant heating and cooling systems present several advantages over other heating and cooling systems in terms of thermal indoor environment and energy. One of the benefits of radiant systems is that they enable integration of renewable energy resources (ground, night-time radiative cooling, etc.) into the heating and cooling systems in buildings. These advantages of radiant systems make them particularly attractive to be used in plus-energy houses. This presentation summarizes the design, simulation and year-round measured performance of two plus-energy houses equipped with radiant systems. Different performance aspects of the houses will be covered and improvement suggestions will be provided.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 22
Large-Scale Computing
Fundamentals and Applications
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Chris Balbach, P.E., Performance Systems Development
Technical Committee: 04.07 Energy Calculations
Although building energy modeling has been common for many years, tools that support large-scale modeling analysis by leveraging vast cloud computing power are now both affordable and accessible. While these approaches make it easy to analyze tens of thousands of model variants, they may not take the shortest path to lead users to the answers they seek. In this session, presenters share case studies involving large scale modeling and results analysis. Attendees learn how to effectively efficiently design a large scale simulation study.
1 Design of Experiments: Statistical Confidence with Fewer Simulations
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New Joshua, Ph.D., Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
The increasing use of parametric ensembles with building energy models to study sensitivity and accommodate uncertainty has the potential to greatly inform energy studies, but can be mitigated by low statistical confidence from poor experimental design. In this talk, we present the tradeoffs between common statistical approaches to design of experiments and how they can be used in cloud or supercomputing resources.
2 Exercising Occam's Razor: Sensitivity Screening Methods as Applied to Building Energy Models
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David Bosworth, BUILDlab, LLC |
Building Energy Models are complex and have a lot of inputs, and a minority of the inputs them have a significant effect on a result. Sensitivity screening tools are designed to be computationally cheap (requiring a relatively small number of simulations) as they rank the model inputs in order of their influence on a particular output. The goal is to identify which model inputs require the modelers attention, and which can be ignored. Speakers in this session discuss and demonstrate the use of the Morris Method, a commonly used sensitivity screening algorithm.
3 How to Do Energy Model Uncertainty Analysis with Correlated Input Variables
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Ralph Muehleisen, Ph.D., P.E., Argonne National Laboratory
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Joshua Bergerson, Ph.D., Argonne National Laboratory |
Energy modelers are starting to try to quantify the uncertainty in their energy models. The methods for estimating uncertainty when inputs are independent are fairly well known. However, in the case of buildings, many inputs are not independent. In particular, occupant related loads such as plug loads, lighting loads, and occupant heat loads are known to be well correlated. Uncertainties of correlated variables can be propagated if joint probability distributions are used and the joint distributions are properly sampled. In this paper, the selection and sampling of joint distributions for uncertainty with correlated inputs is discussed.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 23
Parting the Clouds to See the Future of Residential Load Calculations
Fundamentals and Applications
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Glenn Friedman, P.E., Taylor Engineering
Technical Committee: 04.01 Load Calculation Data and Procedures
No one can afford the risk of getting load calculations wrong. If load calculations are too fat you lose the job, and if too skinny you have a liability you don’t want. This session presents important information about residential loads calculations including their science, the art, their code requirements and their state of the art. The session also presents information about residential load calculation methods in wide use today, explores the impact of technology on how these methods are applied and speculates on the techniques that may underlie “next generation” procedures.
1 Code Requirements for Residential Load Calculations and Manual J
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Luis Escobar |
The International Code Council (ICC) and International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) both promulgate mechanical codes that have required residential load calculations for years. Manual J is the only ANSI-recognized consensus standard for residential load calcs, and is referenced specifically by both code organizations. This portion of the presentation will review the specific code requirements in the International Residential Code (IRC) and the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), and then go on to explain the CLTD method for residential load calculations contained in Manual J.
2 Residential Load Calculations Using the Heat Balance Method
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Charles S. Barnaby, CSB Consulting |
Most residential cooling load calculations rely on CLTD methods that use single-point calculations for at most a few design days. CLTD procedures make implicit assumptions about the time profiles of heat gains and the moderation of cooling loads by building thermal mass. The heat balance method has the advantage of first-principles 24 hour calculations – gains are combined following their actual profiles. It handles subtle interactions that occur in low energy houses and evaluates the effect of temperature swing that is typical of residential systems. The presentation describes the heat balance method and shows comparisons to CLTD results.
3 How New Technologies Are Changing the Way HVAC Residential Load Calcs Are Performed
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Stephen Roth, P.E., Carmel Software Corp. |
Stephen discusses how HVAC technicians are using mobile devices to perform residential HVAC load calculations. So much processing power is now packed into mobile devices that complex software such as this that once could only run on desktop computers can easily run on these mobile devices. HVAC technicians have quickly embraced these devices to perform all manner of field-based work. Some of the benefits include: Saving time by entering all information onsite and emailing required reports to code officials and clients and calculating more accurate HVAC cooling and heating loads so that equipment is sized correctly.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 24
Using ASHRAE Performance Measurement Protocols for Measuring and Benchmarking Commercial Building Performance
Fundamentals and Applications
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Bruce Hunn, Ph.D., Hunn Building Energy
Technical Committee: 07.06 Building Energy Performance
ASHRAE published the Performance Measurement Protocols for Commercial Buildings (PMP) for building operators, facility managers, engineers and architects with respect to measuring and benchmarking commercial building performance. The PMP aims to provide a standardized set of protocols for a range of cost/accuracy (i.e., Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels), to facilitate the appropriate comparison of measured energy, water and indoor environmental quality (thermal comfort, indoor air quality, lighting and acoustics) performance. This seminar introduces the PMP and their use with example case studies that show the various applications of the protocols to real buildings.
1 PMP Energy Protocols
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Jeff S. Haberl, Ph.D., Texas A&M University |
This presentation covers the PMP Energy Protocols, including Basic, Intermediate and Advanced methods for characterizing building energy performance. For the Basic protocols the required information includes: building characteristics and annual whole-building energy use of all fuels to calculate indices. At the Intermediate level, monthly or weekly data are used to calculate regression models of the building’s energy use versus the influencing variables. At the Advanced level the protocols utilize daily, hourly or sub-hourly data to refine the regression models and/or apply diagnostic measures using regression models or calibrated simulation. Examples of all three levels are provided.
2 Measurement and Conservation of Water Use
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Jim Bochat, Commissioning Concepts |
This presentation reviews the ASHRAE Performance Measurement Protocols for water and how these protocol and calculations can be used to properly calculate water use reductions with typical examples of savings.
3 PMP Indoor Environmental Quality Protocols: Overall Application
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Hyojin Kim, Ph.D., New Jersey Institute of Technology
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This presentation covers the PMP Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) protocols which includes thermal comfort, indoor air quality, lighting, and acoustics and provides a demonstration of how to apply the ASHRAE PMP IEQ protocols in a holistic way in order to evaluate a building’s overall IEQ performance. A case study is presented, including a comprehensive IEQ monitoring cart which was developed to collect continuous IEQ data based on ASHRAE PMP.
4 Thermal Comfort Measurement, Evaluation and Practical Applications Using PMP
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David Heinzerling, Taylor Engineering |
Building Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) measurements are often complex, time consuming, expensive, and not easily conducted in a manner that covers all commercial building types, therefore evaluating IEQ is not standard practice. This presentation will cover the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of thermal comfort measurement techniques prescribed in ASHRAE's Performance Measurement Protocols (PMP), which provides users with clear measurement methods and reference standards for evaluation. In addition to a review of the PMP measurement and evaluation procedures, a detailed case study will be presented, including an open-source software tool that helps users collect, analyze, and present measured IEQ data.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 25
Designing for a Net-Zero 1740ft (530m) Super High Rise Building
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Sergio Sadaba, P.E., Skidmore Owings & Merrill
This seminar explains the various methods high performance designers follow during the high performance design process. It particularly focuses on the design methodology used in a 1740-ft (530m) supertall net zero building on a 3,450,000-ft² campus in the heart of Jakarta, Indonesia. Pertamina’s new headquarters and campus are a mixed use development for the more than 20,000 employees and visitors expected to work daily on the campus. Low enthalpy geothermal system in a combined heat and power scheme using binary cycle technology as a primary source of energy will make Pertamina’s Energy Tower the tallest net-zero building in the world.
1 Designing for a Net-Zero 1740ft (530m) Super High Rise Building
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Sergio Sadaba, P.E., Skidmore Owings & Merrill |
This presentation explains the various methods high performance designers follow during high performance design process. It particularly focuses on the design methodology used in a 1740-ft (530m) supertall net zero building on a 3,450,000-ft² campus in the heart of Jakarta, Indonesia. Pertamina’s new headquarters and campus are a mixed use development for the 20,000 plus employees and visitors expected to work daily on the campus. Low enthalpy geothermal system in a combined heat and power scheme using binary cycle technology as primary source of energy will make Pertamina’s Energy Tower the tallest net-zero building in the world.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 26
Dos and Don'ts for Residential Radiant Systems for Heating and Cooling
HVAC Systems and Equipment
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Devin Abellon, P.E., Uponor
Technical Committee: 06.05 Radiant Heating and Cooling
Sponsor: Residential Building Committee, SSPC 55
Radiant heating and cooling systems are being installed in many residences as a way of improving occupant comfort. But how do these systems respond to owners' expectations and even more important do contractors understand the complexities of installing and operating radiant systems?
1 Residential Case Study: Project Lessons Learned from Designing a Hybrid Radiant Based HVAC System.
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Robert Bean, GENIVAR |
Home owners are seeking out radiant cooling and heating systems due to demonstrated benefits of comfort and efficiency. Designers unfamiliar with these hybrid systems need not break new ground. This seminar discusses the mistakes and lessons learned in client engagement, budgeting, load calculations, design and tendering a hybrid radiant based HVAC system for a private home located in the great lakes region.
2 Dos and Don'ts for Residential Radiant Heating and Cooling Systems
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Peter Simmonds, Ph.D., Building and Systems Analytics LLC |
Many Developers and Architects are introducing radiant systems into modern day residential designs, but is the integration a smooth integration or are there certain problems that arise. This presentation provides an honest and practical overview of what has happened and what can happen when installing and operating residential radiant systems.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 27
Energy Savings via ASHRAE Level III Auditing, Retrofit and Recommissioning: A Case Study at Hameetman Science Center, Occidental College I
Fundamentals and Applications
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Robyn Ellis, City of Hamilton - Public Works
Technical Committee: 07.03 Operation and Maintenance Management
An HVAC systems assessment was required and completed on a science building just 13 years old. Using ASHRAE Level III Auditing combined with a new field test method that scores the installed HVAC system performance, a surgical approach to improving building efficiency was created. This data was then used to diagnose the systems and create a scope of work for the project enabling confident decision making and the realization of energy savings by facility managers. Past ASHRAE fellow Bob Baker contributed guidance for this project.
1 Utilities Perspective
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Melvin Johnson Jr., National Comfort Institute |
An HVAC systems assessment and HVAC retrofit was required and completed on a science building just 10 years old. A unique approach to assessing the needed system upgrades was undertaken. The project approach included an ASHRAE Level III audit plus gathering additional field test data to score the operating efficiency of the HVAC systems. This data was then used to diagnose the systems and create a scope of work for the project.
2 Energy Perspective
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Rob Falke, National Comfort Institute |
Upon completion of the audit and retrofit work, testing was completed to measure, document, quantify and verify the energy and water savings produced by the system upgrades.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 28
Engineering Licensure in the U.S.
Professional Skills Beyond Engineering
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Richard Hayter, Ph.D., P.E., Kansas State University Retired
Sponsor: Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA)
In the U.S. engineering licensure is required in each state or territory in which an engineer is providing design services. This seminar provides insight as well as details of the licensure process.
1 Personal Experience in Becoming Licensed
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Jacob Taylor, P.E., Heapy Engineering |
This seminar discusses personal experiences and recommendations in becoming licensed as a Professional Engineer in the U.S.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 29
Why Be Concerned with Indoor Carbon Dioxide Concentration?
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Hoy Bohanon, P.E., Hoy Bohanon Engineering PLLC
Sponsor: SSPC 62.1
Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) has long been discussed in the context of ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ), focusing on the impacts of CO2 on building occupants, how CO2 concentrations relate to perception of bioeffluents, the use of indoor CO2 to estimate ventilation rates and demand control ventilation. While measured indoor CO2 concentrations are rarely close to health guidelines, much confusion has resulted regarding CO2 in ventilation and IAQ standards. Is there anything in recent research that indicates that we should revise ASHRAE's approach to CO2 in standards and guidelines?
1 Indoor Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Standards
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Andrew Persily, Ph.D., National Institute of Standards and Technology |
Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) has long been discussed in the context of ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ), focusing on the impacts of CO2 on building occupants, how CO2 concentrations relate to perception of bioeffluents, the use of indoor CO2 to estimate ventilation rates, and demand control ventilation. While measured indoor CO2 concentrations are rarely close to health guidelines, much confusion has resulted regarding CO2 in ventilation and IAQ standards. This presentation addresses the relevance of CO2 concentrations to these standards based on their relation to indoor bioeffluent levels and odors and to ventilation rates per person.
2 Indoor Carbon Dioxide Concentration: Effects on Subjective and Physiological Responses and Mental Work
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Pawel Wargocki, PhD, Technical University of Denmark
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The archival literature was reviewed to examine whether exposures to carbon dioxide (CO2) at the concentrations typically occurring indoors would create the risks for building occupants as regards their comfort, health and cognitive performance. Laboratory experiments were performed with human subjects exposed to different levels of CO2 lower than the occupational 8-hour limit of 5,000 ppm to further examine whether CO2 should be considered a toxic pollutant at the levels typically occurring indoors. Should the role of CO2 in the context of ventilation and indoor air quality change? This presentation shows the results.
11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Seminar 30
It’s Official: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy Is for Residential Buildings
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Devin A. Abellon, P.E., Uponor
Technical Committee: 06.05 Radiant Heating and Cooling
Sponsor: Residential Building Committee, SSPC 55
CoSponsor: 02.01 Physiology and Human Environment
In a 2014 official interpretation ASHRAE ruled that Standard 55 is applicable to houses. It has been referenced in ASHRAE 62.2 for many years and is listed as a residential resource at the ASHRAE website. Thermal comfort is becoming a front and center issue in residential buildings. Leading the way in research and Standard develop is ASHRAE SSPC 55 and cognizant committee T.C. 2.1. This seminar gives those interested in using Standard 55, a background in its development, current available modelling tools and how to use it for housing projects.
1 A Practitioner's Guide to ASHRAE Standard 55 in Residential Buildings
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Abhijeet Pande, TRC Solutions |
In a 2014 official interpretation ASHRAE ruled that Standard 55 is applicable to houses. It has been referenced in ASHRAE 62.2 for many years and is also listed as a residential resource at the ASHRAE website. Thermal comfort is becoming a front and center issue in residential buildings. Leading the way in research and Standard develop is ASHRAE SSPC 55 and cognizant committee T.C. 2.1. This seminar gives those who are interested in using Standard 55 a background in its development, current available modelling tools and how to use it for housing projects.
2 Case Study: Using ASHRAE Standard 55 to Solve Potential Comfort Problems in a Cold Climate Residence
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Robert Bean, R.E.T., P.L.(Eng.), Indoor Climate Consultants Inc. |
Case study:ASHRAE Standard 55 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy can be a valuable tool for identifying potential thermal comfort problems in homes. By defining difficult zones, proactive decisions can be made to improve the enclosure in those specific areas and/or develop hybrid mechanical solutions as preventive measures. This seminar demonstrates how the Standard and on-line tool was used to solve potential problem zones in a cold climate residence.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 31
Centrifugal Chiller Design: Back to Basics
HVAC Systems and Equipment
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Rick Heiden, Trane - Ingersoll Rand
Technical Committee: 08.02 Centrifugal Machines
Centrifugal chillers are broadly employed in building air conditioning systems. Recent advances in chiller component performance have substantially reduced chiller power consumption, improved machine responsiveness and reduced footprint. This presentation provides HVAC professionals more technical insight into the chiller components along with design practices used by heat transfer, controls and systems engineers in developing state of the art equipment. This seminar builds on Seminar 21 from the 2015 ASHRAE Conference in Atlanta, “Centrifugal Compressor Design: Back to Basics.”
1 Chiller Heat Exchanger Components
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Thomas Kelly, Carrier Corporation |
The vessel used as the Evaporator of a centrifugal chiller is described for different applications ranging from Brazed-Plate, DX Shell and Tube and the more normal Flooded Shell-and-Tube type. The market is water cooled centrifugal chillers, so the Condenser described will be a shell-and–tube vessel. Other condenser sources such as a once-thru system will be discussed and a comparison of pros and cons will be shown. The impact of oil and oil free systems and metering is compared along with existing ASHRAE Research Projects. A discussion on heat transfer and tubing is also included.
2 Chiller System Operation
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Seth Gladfelter, Johnson Controls, Inc. |
This presentation discusses the system components that make up a centrifugal chiller. Operational maps of centrifugal chillers will be detailed. The presenter discusses how operating conditions affect overall system efficiency of the equipment, and also describe how centrifugal chillers react to changes in operating conditions. Also, the differences between fixed speed and variable speed chiller’s reactions to these changes in load are shown.
3 Chiller Controls
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Scott Munns, Ingersoll Rand |
This session describes the core internal controls of a centrifugal chiller, illustrating the features and functions identified in the handbook chapters. While many chiller controls are related to efficiently providing cooling, others protect the chiller from “hurting” itself. New code requirements and trends in communication protocols will be discussed. The presenter identifies variations in the add and subtract sequences for pumping and piping configurations in multiple chiller plants.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 32
HVAC Controls for Smart Grid Applications
Research Summit
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Reinhard Radermacher, Ph.D., University of Maryland
Sponsor: Publishing and Education Council
This session offers presentations based on a select group of recently published papers from the ASHRAE journal, "Science and Technology in the Built Environment," regarding the relevance of use of heat pumps in the smart grid context, and HVAC chiller control for power grid frequency regulation.
1 Smart Grid Energy Flexible Buildings through the Use of Heat Pumps in the Belgian Context
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Gabrielle Masy, Ph.D., University of Liege |
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Emeline Georges, University of Liege |
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Clara Verhelst, Ph.D., University of Liege |
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Vincent Lemort, University of Liege |
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Philippe André, Dr.Ing., University of Liège |
The management of electricity grids requires the supply and demand of electricity to be in balance at any point in time. Electricity suppliers tend to minimize their procurement costs by offering consumers time-of-use variable electricity tariffs as an incentive to shift their demand from peak to off-peak hours. Typical new residential buildings are considered, equipped with air-to-water heat pumps that supply either radiators or floor heating system. The energy market is represented through time-varying electricity price profile. Different heating control strategies are compared in terms of thermal comfort, energy use, cost and flexibility, ranging from rule-based to predictive optimized control.
2 Demonstration of HVAC Chiller Control for Power Grid Frequency Regulation
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Leo Su |
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Leslie Norford, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institution of Technology |
Stable operation of electric power systems requires power supply and demand to be matched on multiple time scales. For short time intervals of seconds to minutes, balance is generally achieved by actively controlling grid resources based on frequency deviations – hence the term frequency regulation. This presentation explores the practicality of using HVAC chillers as a demand side resource to provide frequency regulation ancillary service. Experiments were conducted on two commercial buildings in Boston. Results are discussed in the context of PJM Interconnection’s performance requirements and market structure.
3 Smart Grid Coordination in Building HVAC Systems: Computational Efficiency of Constrained Eloc
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Donald Chmielewski, Ph.D. |
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David Mendoza-Serrano, Ph.D. |
In the context of day-ahead electricity prices, the method of Economic Model Predictive Control (EMPC) has been shown to provide expenditure reduction in building HVAC systems with thermal energy storage. However, these reductions can only be achieved if the EMPC prediction horizon is sufficiently large. This work develops an alternate controller, constrained economic linear optimal control (CELOC), and shows that CELOC will yield performance similar to large-horizon EMPC but with a virtual insensitivity to horizon size. Thus, application of CELOC will require a fraction of the computational effort while yielding nearly identical economic performance.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 33
Innovation in a Commercial Refrigeration System with Natural Refrigerants and Low GWP Synthetic Refrigerants
Advances in Refrigeration Systems and Alternative Refrigerants
221 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Shitong Zha, Ph.D., HILLPHOENIX
Technical Committee: 10.07 Commercial Food and Beverage Cooling Display and Storage
Sponsor: MTG.LowGWP
This seminar presents the most recent study of commercial refrigeration system using natural refrigerants such as CO2, ammonia propane, ammonia and R600a and low GWP synthetic blends. How to successfully convert light commercial refrigeration applications originally designed for R134a to natural refrigerants? What is performance and energy consumption of a Low-charge ammonia chiller installation and a propane freezer compared to traditional HFC systems? How to improve the efficiency of stand-alone applications with low GWP synthetic refrigerants?
1 Natural, Low-GWP Refrigerants for Light Commercial Refrigeration: Examples of Successfully Converted Applications Using R290, R600a and R744
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Stefan Elbel, Ph.D., Creative Thermal Solutions and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Presented are a number of light commercial applications that were successfully converted for use with natural, low-GWP refrigerants. Among them are a chilled juice dispenser, originally designed for R134a, that was redesigned for use with transcritical carbon dioxide (R744). Another system successfully converted for use with a natural refrigerant was a platelet incubator typically used in pharmaceutical laboratories. The original R134a refrigeration system was redesigned to accommodate isobutane (R600a). Finally, several glass door merchandisers have been converted successfully to both propane (R290) and carbon dioxide. The technical challenges of each of these conversions will be presented and discussed in detail.
2 Reducing GWP with a Low Charge Ammonia/CO2 Chiller
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Scott Mitchell, Southern California Edison |
Ammonia is known to be one of the most energy efficient refrigerants, but its use has mainly been limited to large industrial system applications. Low-charge ammonia chiller technologies recently introduced to the U.S. market have the potential to improve efficiency in many commercial refrigeration applications while addressing previously-held concerns. The presentation showcases an ammonia chiller installation in Irvine, California and share preliminary performance information compared to the existing R-507A system.
3 Decreasing Environmental Impact by Using Propane in Refrigerated Display Cases
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Sean Gouw, P.E., Southern California Edison |
Shifting to low-GWP refrigerants can drastically reduce the potential for greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerant leaks while improving energy efficiency. SCE recently completed laboratory testing of commercial freezer cases with R-404a and R-290 (propane). Results, including temperature and energy performance are shared along with potential plans for energy efficiency and low-GWP refrigerant rebates in California.
4 Advanced Low-GWP Alternatives for Stand-Alone Refrigeration Systems
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Michael Petersen, Creative Thermal Solutions, Inc. |
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Gustavo Pottker, Honeywell - Buffalo Research Laboratory |
This presentation focuses on the application of low global warming potential (GWP) alternative fluids for commercial stand-alone applications. The presented non-flammable and mildly flammable molecules will cover HFO’s and HFO blends which provide lower or very low GWP (below 150). Experimental system test data as well as thermodynamic simulation and design characteristics are discussed compared to current solutions to underline the performance of these new fluid options.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 34
Low-Cost High-Performance Building Simulation: Is That Too Good to Be True?
Research Summit
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Wangda Zuo, Ph.D., University of Miami
Technical Committee: 04.07 Energy Calculations
Building simulation can be used to help achieve energy efficient buildings. However, contemporary building simulation tends to be computationally intensive, which prevents building simulation from being widely applied in the real building process such as building design and operation. This seminar invites experts from both academic and industrial field to share ideas regarding how they improve the performance of different building simulations in terms of the computing demand and cost by taking full advance of cutting-edge computing technologies.
1 Fast Answers to Complex Problems for Dummies
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Nathaniel Jones, MIT |
Generally, modelers must accept either long wait times or devise clever shortcuts or simplifications. Parallel computation allows simulations to run many times faster, which often means that less involvement is required from the modeler, and graphics processing hardware is increasingly putting parallel computation in the hands of individuals. Case studies involving radiant heat exchange will be presented showing the speedup of complex simulations on highly parallel graphics processors that reduce both human and computer hours spent on simulation. The results show how parallel simulation hardware and software lead to time and cost savings in design and to more efficient buildings.
2 Building Energy Simulation Workflows in the Age of Low Cost Computing
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David Bosworth, BUILDlab, LLC |
Until recently the infrastructure and knowledge required to employ massively parallel computing techniques for building energy simulation was restricted to national labs and the largest engineering firms. Now that cloud computing resources, and the tools to use them without needing a doctorate in computer science, are available and cheap running one simulation is just as easy as running a hundred. This seminar explores how these tools are affecting and enhancing the building energy modeler's workflow and our ability to understand ourselves and communicate to our customers how buildings behave and where the best opportunities for energy efficiency are positioned.
3 Using High Performance Computers to Improve Foundation Heat Transfer Calculations
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Neal Kruis, Ph.D., Big Ladder Software |
Foundation heat transfer calculations for annual energy simulation is a complicated three-dimensional problem that can require days or weeks to solve using traditional numerical approaches. This presentation demonstrates how high performance computing enables the exploration of the parameters that impact both computation time and accuracy. By applying new calculation approaches, the computation time can be reduced to a matter of seconds while still maintaining greater than 97% accuracy.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 35
Air Change Rates: Philosophy and Practice
Fundamentals and Applications
225 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Kishor Khankari, Ph.D., AnSight LLC
Technical Committee: 09.11 Clean Spaces
Sponsor: 9.6
CoSponsor: 09.10 Laboratory Systems
Air Change Rates (ACR) are often specified in standards, codes and design guidelines as supply airflow requirements for healthcare, cleanrooms, laboratories and other similar facilities. This legacy practice has been implemented for several decades. With increased awareness of energy efficiency and cost of HVAC operations it is essential now to review this philosophy. This seminar provides historical perspective; current practices and recommendations; and pros and cons of ACR philosophy in the three major industry sectors. In addition the importance of supply airflow path and the distribution of the supply air on effectiveness of contaminant removal will also be presented.
1 ACR Philosophy and Practice: Health-Care Facilities
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Travis R. English, P.E., Kaiser Permanente |
Health care facilities are the only spaces where an ASHRAE-authored standard uses air changes exclusively. This presentation looks at the origins of health care ACRs, their intents, and changes over time. It discusses the outcomes addressed by those ACRs, and how those same outcomes could be addressed using alternate methodologies. It also looks at some of the leading health care air quality management strategies used abroad, and how those could be adopted domestically.
2 ACR Philosophy and Practice: Laboratory Systems
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Thomas Smith, Exposure Control Technologies, Inc. |
People working in laboratories rely on proper operation of laboratory hoods and ventilation systems to prevent over exposure to hazardous airborne contaminants generated during scientific procedures. Lab safety can depend on the quantity and distribution of airflow. The OSHA Laboratory Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450 and other relevant standards recommend between 4 air changes per hour (ACH) and 12 ACH of one pass air. There is little guidance on correlating risk with ACH and assessing the effectiveness of contaminant dilution and removal. This paper explores specification of ACH for labs and the impact on lab safety and energy efficiency.
3 ACR Philosophy and Practice: Cleanrooms
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Philip Naughton, Applied Materials Inc |
Cleanrooms typically rely upon air change rates to help maintain a given cleanliness class. Air change rates can vary between 2 ACH to well over 500 ACH. There is much anecdotal data supporting a correlation between cleanroom cleanliness and the air change rates with little empirical data. Many cleanroom owners are compelled by regulating authorities to maintain high air change rates. This presentation reviews the current regulatory guidance for cleanroom air change rates as well as present data on cleanrooms that have been able to reduce their air change rates and still maintain their required cleanliness.
4 Analysis of Airflow Paths and Contaminant Removal Effectiveness
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Kishor Khankari, Ph.D., AnSight LLC |
Air Change Rates are often specified assuming well mixed conditions in the spaces to achieve overall dilution of contaminants. Actual distribution of contaminants in the space are seldom uniform and depends on several factors including the locations of air supply and returns, strengths and location of contaminant sources, and strength and locations of heat sources. The flow path of contaminants in the space play important role in determining the concentration levels and overall effectiveness of contaminant removal. This presentation demonstrates how airflow paths affect the effectiveness of contaminant removal in patient rooms, cleanrooms, and laboratories.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 36
Standard 62.2-2016 Revisions and Impacts
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Max H. Sherman, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Sponsor: Residential Building Committee
Standard 62.2 is the most used and only ANSI-approved residential ventilation standard in the country. It has continuously evolved to meet the needs of the residential market since 2003. The latest version is just hitting the streets now. It covers a larger span of the market than before, includes new flexibilities and provides a host of small improvements. This seminar teaches the new compliance requirements, discusses what has changed, examines the application of the revised standard in existing homes and describes ongoing initiatives and options being explored by the committee.
1 Standard 62.2-2016: Overview and Major New Changes
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Paul W. Francisco, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
The 2016 edition of ASHRAE Standard 62.2 – Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality for Residential Buildings – has just been released. This presentation provides an overview of the standard’s requirements, as well as a brief discussion of addenda that have been incorporated since the 2013 edition, including two significant scope changes.
2 Tips and Traps for Existing Home Ventilation Strategies Under 62.2
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Richard Karg, Residential Energy Dynamics |
Application of Standard 62.2 in existing homes can range from relatively easy to exceptionally challenging depending on age of the home, its physical characteristics, and quality of construction. This presentation provides guidance on cost-effective compliance with 62.2 in existing homes while avoiding unintended consequences.
3 Equivalence and Superposition in ASHRAE 62.2
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Iain Walker, Ph.D., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory |
Standard 62.2-2016 added a new section that includes provisions for real-time tracking of variable ventilation. Smart ventilation controls are permitted to shift ventilation from times of high energy penalty to lower energy penalty, with the potential for significant ventilation-related energy savings. An ongoing initiative within the committee is an improvement to the calculations that combine natural infiltration with mechanical ventilation. These new calculation methods are intended to account for non-linear air flow interactions. This presentation discusses the technical background behind these changes and give examples of application of the new calculations.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 37
The Impact of Net Zero Energy Buildings on the Electric Grid
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Kristen Cetin, Ph.D., P.E., Iowa State University
Technical Committee: 07.05 Smart Building Systems
In recent years there have been significant efforts to implement net zero energy (NZE) buildings throughout the United States. This seminar covers several of these recent efforts, highlighting various alternative energy systems and new design strategies to reach NZE as well as how these buildings interact with the electric grid.
1 Net Zero Energy: What Metric to Use?
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Jon McHugh, P.E., McHugh Energy Consultants Inc. |
Before we know if a building has achieved Zero Net Energy (ZNE) status, we must know which metric is being used in the ZNE evaluation. The seminar presents the various metrics and their pros and cons being used in the ZNE definition from Site energy to Time Dependent Valuation energy and everything in between as well as their impact on the building systems design and energy code compliance.
2 The Net Zero Roadmap: The Net Zero Plus Electrical Training Institute
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Brett Moss, Electrical Training Institute |
Utilizing the Net Zero Plus Electrical Training Institute facility (one of the largest net zero commercial retrofits in the United States) as a dynamic case study, this presentation provides a roadmap to achieving zero net energy (ZNE) including discussion on the research, design strategies, and engineering processes that maximize energy efficiency and reduce consumption and costs. The presenter also discusses renewable energy systems and advanced technologies including microgrid systems paired with battery energy storage and measurement and verification (M&V) systems for achieving and maintaining ZNE status. Discussions also include various ZNE financing mechanisms and rebates.
3 Reaching Net Zero Energy: Single-Family Home Retrofit Strategies
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Carlos Haiad, P.E., JCH Energy Management Solutions, Inc. |
Significant attention has been given to get residential new construction to reach zero net energy (ZNE) as already seen in many city (e.g. Austin), county (e.g., Tucson-Prima) and state (e.g., California) energy code requirements. This presentation focuses on retrofitting single-family homes to reach ZNE status. The presentation provides the results of retrofitting three blocks of homes with different levels of energy efficiency measures, demand response strategies, renewable energy systems, battery energy storage units, and electric vehicles charging stations in the quest to reach ZNE. The presentation also highlights potential electric grid impact of some of these technologies.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 38
ASHRAE Research: Airflow and Ducts
Research Summit
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Reinhard Radermacher, Ph.D., University of Maryland
Technical Committee: 01.02 Instruments and Measurements
Sponsor: Publishing and Education Council
This session offers presentations based on a select group of recently published papers from the ASHRAE journal, "Science and Technology in the Built Environment," regarding the influence of single-path and multiple-path duct disturbances on volumetric air flow rate measurements, and the development of guidelines for more accurate volumetric airflow measurements in rectangular ducts during test and balance operations of rectangular ducts during test and balance operations.
1 Effect of Fittings on Volumetric Airflow Measurements (RP-1245): Single-Path Duct Disturbances
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Craig Hickman |
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Terry Beck, Ph.D., Kansas State University |
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Bruce Babin, Highland Park High School |
The objectives of this presentation are to quantify the influence of several single-path duct disturbances on volumetric air flow rate measurements using traversing techniques, and to develop guidelines for field technicians to assist them in making more accurate volumetric airflow measurements in rectangular ducts during test and balance operations. Data are presented that attempt to quantify the error caused by the distance from single-path disturbances (straight ducts, elbows, 60º and 90º transitions) to a given airflow measurement (traverse) location, using both thermal anemometer and Pitot-static probes. The traversing algorithms used were the Log-Tchebycheff (LT) method and Equal Area (EA) method.
2 Effect of Fittings on Volumetric Airflow Measurements (RP-1245): Multiple-Path (tee) Duct Disturbances
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Terry Beck, Ph.D., Kansas State University |
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Craig Hickman, SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc. |
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Bruce Babin, Highland Park High School |
The objectives of this presentation are to quantify the influence of several multiple-path (tee) duct disturbances on volumetric air flow rate measurements using traversing techniques, and to develop guidelines for field technicians to assist them in making more accurate volumetric airflow measurements downstream of diverging tee fittings during test and balance operations. Data are presented to quantify the error caused by the distance from multiple-path disturbances (diverging tees) to a given airflow measurement (traverse) taken in the branch downstream, using both thermal anemometer and Pitot-static probes. The traversing algorithms used were the Log-Tchebycheff (LT) method and Equal Area (EA) method.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 39
Data Sources toward Urban-Scale Energy Modeling, Part 1
Smart Building Systems/Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Joshua New, Ph.D., Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Technical Committee: 01.05 Computer Applications
Development of urban-scale building energy models is becoming of increased interest for many applications including city-wide energy supply/demand strategies, urban development planning, electrical grid stability and urban resilience. This seminar has assembled several leaders in the field of urban-scale energy models to discuss an overview of the field as well as the data, algorithms, workflow and practical challenges addressed to create useful models of individual buildings at the scale of a city.
1 Improving Urban Building Energy Models (UBEM) through Building Archetype Calibration
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Carlos Davila, Ph.D. |
Significant research effort is developing urban building energy modeling (UBEM) tools, which allow evaluating city-wide energy demand and supply strategies. In order to characterize simulation data inputs for buildings, these are typically grouped into representative “archetypes” which simplify models and impact accuracy. The work presented addresses the current state of the UBEM field and presents the application for the City of Boston of an automated simulation workflow based on available GIS datasets. Then, a probabilistic calibration model for archetypes is proposed and validated for yearly and monthly energy use in districts in Kuwait and Cambridge.
2 Urban-Scale Energy Analyses of the Built Environment
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Yeonsook Heo, Ph.D., University of Cambridge |
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Ruchi Choudhary, University of Cambridge |
The use of transient computer simulations for quantifying energy use of individual buildings is now standard in both research and industry. However, their use has been computationally prohibitive at the larger scales of districts and cities. We present a new simulation platform that offers a spatially differentiated, hourly analysis of energy consumed by the built environment. The City of Westminster, within central London, was chosen for the first pilot application due to diversity of building types and high-energy demand. This seminar highlights the challenges associated with its development, as well how it supports the assessment of energy systems in cities.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 40
Facebook and Social Media: Guidelines and Best Practices for Groups
Professional Skills Beyond Engineering
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Cynthia Moreno, T&M Mechanical Sales Company
Sponsor: Electronic Communications Committee
Social media is always changing and evolving, with new sites and tools being added constantly. With so many options, how does one determine which tool or site will work best for their group or business? This presentation covers best practices of some of the most common social media forums (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube) with emphasis on social media tools for ASHRAE chapters. Learn some dos and don’ts for using social media to market your group and increase your online presence.
1 Facebook and Social Media
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Heather Schopplein, P.E., Haldeman Inc |
Social media is always changing and evolving, with new sites and tools being added constantly. With so many options, how does one determine which tool or site will work best for their group or business? This presentation covers best practices of some of the most common social media forums (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube) with emphasis on social media tools for ASHRAE chapters. Learn some do’s and don’ts for using social media to market your group and increase your online presence.
2 Facebook and Social Media: Guidelines and Best Practices for Groups
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Pamela Duffy, P.E., Lennox International |
Social media is always changing and evolving, with new sites and tools being added constantly. With so many options, how does one determine which tool or site will work best for their group or business? This presentation covers best practices of some of the most common social media forums (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube) with emphasis on social media tools for ASHRAE chapters. Learn some do’s and don’ts for using social media to market your group and increase your online presence.
10:30 AM-12:00 PM
Seminar TC
Safeguarding Critical Facility Operation: Hardening Essential Equipment to Survive Seismic Wind and Flood
HVAC Systems and Equipment
230 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Robert E. Simmons, P.E., Petra Seismic Design, LLC
Technical Committee: 02.07 Seismic and Wind Restraint Design
OPEN SESSION: no badge required; no PDHs awarded; presented during the TCs meeting. This seminar provides a practical guide in planning, testing and design considerations to help ensure equipment will meet IBC requirements to keep critical facilities up and running. Jim Carlson of Seismic-Source International presents "FEMA P-1019 Emergency Power Systems for Critical Facilities: A Best Practice Guide to Improving Survival." John Giuliano of Vibration Mountings & Controls presents "Lessons Learned From Shake Table Testing." Steve Stoyanac of Chillicothe Metal Company, Inc. presents "Certifying Your Genset Will Work after an Earthquake or Storm."
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 41
Fellows Debate: Productivity is the Measure of Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Larry Spielvogel, P.E., Consulting Engineer
Sponsor: College of Fellows, Indoor Air Quality Association
In the Fellows Debate both sides of a controversial subject are debated. Can productivity be measured? Does perception of comfort increase productivity, or is it irrelevant? The science of IAQ is implied in the requirements of standards and other guidance documents. Can the designer and commissioning engineer apply the science effectively? Are comfort, sense of well-being and of health measures of productivity? Is personal productivity a true measure in buildings such as operating theaters and data centers? Can existing science support performance-based definitions? Legally, can the designer or operator be liable for health or productivity or any other such outcome?
Fellows Debate Session Slides
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Larry Spielvogel, P.E., Consulting Engineer |
These are session slides.
1 Speaker 1
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William Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Pennsylvania State University |
Will speak 1st in the debate
2 Speaker 2
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Lawrence Schoen, P.E., Schoen Engineering Inc |
Will speak 2nd in the debate
3 Speaker 3
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Don Beaty, P.E., DLB Associates |
Will speak 3rd in the debate
4 Speaker 4
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Richard Rooley, FREng, Project Management Partnership |
Will speak 4th in the debate.
5 Speaker 5
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Derrick A. Denis, Clark Seif Clark, Inc. (CSC) |
Will speak 5th in the debate.
6 Speaker 6
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Donald Weekes, CIH, CSP, InAIR Environmental Ltd.
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Will speak 6th in the debate.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 42
Heat and Cooling with Woody Biomass for Sustainable and Resilient Buildings and Communities
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Frank Mills, Low Carbon Design Consultants
Technical Committee: 09.08 Large Building Air-Conditioning Applications
Sponsor: 6.09, 8.03 and 6.02
Combining a high capacity factor renewable heat source, thermal storage and absorption cooling expands Near-Net-Zero building and district energy opportunities. Woody biomass offers solar-derived heat on demand; implemented together, these three technologies assure comfort, with savings in power consumption, cost and emissions. Engineers add resilience potential by adapting thermal systems to support safe occupancy during and after disruptive events, like wide-area weather caused grid failure and disrupted delivery of petroleum based fuels for emergency generators and HVAC. Functional buildings data illustrates qualitative and economic value opportunities for efficient, low impact daily operation and resilience in the face of adversity.
1 Role of Thermal Storage in Solving Emissions and Building Overheat Problems with Wood-Fired HVAC
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Khaled A. Yousef, P.E., Pyramid Energy Engineering Services, PLLC |
This session presents up-to-date theory and tools important in specifying low emissions high efficiency bio-thermal HVAC systems. Hydronic distribution incorporating advanced heat storage technology and digital firing control stabilizes combustion, eliminates excess cycling, and prevents low-fire air emissions without overheating occupied spaces. Principles apply to all types of solid biomass fuel. Woody biomass is an inexpensive, widely available and renewable heat source. By learning about equipment and processes already in commercial service engineers will be able to specify wood-fired HVAC systems without the risks, delays and extra cost of “re-inventing"
2 Renewable Heat On-Demand: A Clean Source That's Too Valuable to Waste
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John Karakash, Resource Professionals Group |
Sustainable renewability of woody biomass fuel is reviewed, in the context of energy uses with the greatest thermal use efficiency and local sourcing potential. Biothermal heat and cooling systems enabling Near-Net-Zero status implement advanced equipment, technologies and methods commercially applied with success around the world, but underutilized in North America. Topics covered: fuel (quantification, preventing known handling problems, and source sustainability) and factors enhancing economic and environmental potential: (non-electric cooling driven by renewable heat, low-cost tools to evaluate single and multi-building opportunities and optimizing thermal capacity to reduce capital cost.
3 The Proof Is in the Performance: Experiences and Data from Real-World Facilities
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Jürgen Scharfe, P.E., JS Energie & Beratung GmbH |
Operating history is the most reliable tool for evaluating whether good ideas really worked in practice. This segment provides that background for risk sensitive building energy designers considering the value potential and best practices to follow in specifying these emerging technologies. Results data is presented for facilities employing biothermal HVAC as commercial practice. Functional reliability, convenience, compliance with air quality rules, electricity consumption, peak demand effects, economic performance compared with predictions and occupant satisfaction are addressed. Efforts that were employed to build awareness about the advanced systems and increase their market penetration will be described.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 43
Lubrication Effects Beyond the Compressor
Advances in Refrigeration Systems and Alternative Refrigerants
225 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Joseph A. Karnaz, CPI Fluid Engineering/Lubrizol
Technical Committee: 03.04 Lubrication
CoSponsor: 03.03 Refrigerant Contaminant Control
Lubricants are an essential component to effective operation of air conditioning and refrigeration compressors which are exhaustively studied by compressor engineers and tribology experts. But there are other aspects to lubrication effects beyond the compressor which can also be key to effective operation and performance of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. This seminar presents examples of how the lubricant circulated from the compressor into the system can affect system components, oil management and overall system performance with existing and alternate refrigerants.
1 Managing Lubricants in a Large Commercial Refrigeration System
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Danny Halel, Hussman Corporation |
Large commercial refrigeration systems have unique concerns/opportunities unlike those with a single compressor – single evaporator system. This seminar will discuss Lubricant Management from the outlet of the compressors through all components including the oil separator, receiver, valving, headers and suction and liquid lines as well as risers and back to the compressor.
2 Lubricant Management Heuristics and Impacts on System Chemistry, Valves and Other System Components
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Christopher Reeves, Sporlan Valve Division of Parker Hannifin |
Every component on the refrigerant side of a system comes into contact with the compressor’s lubricant. This lubricant plays a key role in the performance and life of thermostatic expansion, electric expansion, and solenoid valves. There are also interactions between the system lubricant and other system components such as piping, contaminant controls, and sealing surfaces. This presentation explores good lubricant management practices and the challenges this part of a refrigerant system faces when transitioning to new lower GWP refrigerants.
3 Lubricants in Heat Exchangers: A Slippery Slope
 |
Scott Wujek, Ph.D., Creative Thermal Solutions |
Once oil leaves the compressor, it circulates through all components before returning to the compressor to perform its primary lubrication objective. Oil induced wetting, foaming, and pressure drop impact heat exchanger effectiveness and pressure drop, sometimes in ways which are counterintuitive. Oil disproportionately accumulates in regions of the heat exchanger which have the greatest effect on distribution of refrigerant flow, therefore the impact of oil is much larger than its circulation ratio would suggest. Infrared photography and high speed videos are used to demonstrate changes in distribution and subsequent effect on heat exchanger and system performance.
4 Oil Separator Efficiency Rating Dilemma
 |
Kok-Hiong Kee |
When lubricant in the compressor circulates into the system, it may build up as a thin film on the internal surfaces of heat exchangers and acts as a thermal insulator. This robs the system of efficiency and increases energy consumption. In addition, refrigeration systems have a fixed volume so circulating oil competes with the refrigerant resulting in reduce cooling capacity. Oil separator technologies serve to regulate and minimize oil circulation by isolating the lubricant early in the discharge line and return it to the compressor. This study examines the performance of various oil separation technologies using controlled experiments.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 44
Optimization of Air-to-Refrigerant Heat Exchangers
HVAC Systems and Equipment
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Raymond Rite, Ph.D., Ingersoll Rand – Trane
Technical Committee: 01.03 Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow
Sponsor: TC 1.13
CoSponsor: 08.04 Air-to-Refrigerant Heat Transfer Equipment
In the quest to reduce energy consumption and the amount of refrigerant in systems, the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger is a prime area of interest. Although reducing heat exchanger cost and maximizing performance have always been of great interest to the HVAC community, recently new thoughts on tube size, materials, manufacturing processes, as well as computational analysis methodologies have been gaining traction. This program presents all of these facets of modern heat exchanger optimization.
1 Optimization and Validation of Novel Designs for Air-to-Refrigerant Heat Exchangers
 |
Vikrant Aute, University of Maryland |
This work presents a comprehensive optimization and validation of air-to-refrigerant heat exchangers based on novel shapes. The tube hydraulic diameters investigated in this work range from 0.5 to 3 mm. The designs include round as well as non-round tubes. Several optimal designs are prototyped using conventional and additive manufacturing techniques and their performance is measured and compared with the current state-of-the-art heat exchangers. It is shown that for the same performance, the novel designs exhibit significant reductions in heat exchanger size and refrigerant charge. Several manufacturing and application challenges are identified to improve the commercial viability of such novel designs.
2 Numerical Study on Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics of Water Cooled Mini-Channel Heat Exchangers
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Man-Hoe Kim, Ph.D., Kyungpook National University |
A numerical investigation of the thermal-hydraulic performance of mini-channel heat exchangers with different fin configurations is presented. Results in terms of pressure drop, base temperature, thermal resistance, and overall heat transfer coefficient were compared for different fin spacing, fin thickness and fin height. In comparison to un-finned geometry, a reduction of 44.8% in base temperature was observed with pressure drop and thermal resistance reductions of 46.5% and 30.4%, respectively. The heat exchanger geometry with the best thermal performance was also simulated for higher heat fluxes within the same operating limits. Results were validated using available correlations and experimental data.
3 Metal Foam Heat Exchanger Design Optimization for Improved Thermal-Hydraulic Performance under Dry Operating Conditions
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Kashif Nawaz, Ph.D., Johnson Controls, Inc. |
Open cell metal foams have received attention for utilization in thermal applications including electronics cooling and HVAC&R. Despite manufacturing and cost-related issues, such novel materials hold promise due to better heat transfer compared with conventional fin designs. However, one of the major issues is their higher air-side pressure drop. Four types of aluminum foam heat exchangers with different pore sizes have been built and tested under dry conditions for this study. The data have been reduced to correlate the foam geometry to air-side heat transfer and pressure drop. These correlations were used to optimize the foam geometry for thermal-hydraulic performance.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 45
Planes, Trailers and Ships: Advances in Transport Refrigeration System Technologies
Advances in Refrigeration Systems and Alternative Refrigerants
221 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Robert Chopko, Carrier Corp
Technical Committee: 10.06 Transport Refrigeration
Advances in transport refrigeration and air-conditioning systems used in "Planes, Trailers and Ships" have evolved over many years. Today's systems must incorporate the latest available technologies, taking into consideration current and future regulatory requirements for refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, food quality standards and customer expectations around total operating costs. A summary of transport refrigeration system technologies generally, along with marine air conditioning systems, are presented and includes associated technical challenges, trade-offs and potential design impacts.
4.00 Trucks,Trailers: Advances in Transport Refrigeration System Technologies
 |
Casey Briscoe, Ph.D. |
The transport refrigeration systems used in trucks and trailers are an integral component of the cold chain for perishable foods, pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive products. The technology used in these systems is continually evolving to meet food quality standards, as well as current and future regulatory requirements for greenhouse gas emissions. Additional technologies have enabled greater fleet management and control, as well as reductions in customer operating costs. The present talk provides a summary of transport refrigeration requirements, along with an overview of available technologies used to address them and a discussion of the related technical challenges and design tradeoffs.
1.00 Ships: Advances in Transport Refrigeration System Technologies
 |
Glover Kevin |
Advances in transport refrigeration and air-conditioning systems used in ships have evolved over many years. Today’s systems must incorporate the latest available technologies, taking into consideration current and future regulatory requirements for refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, food quality standards and customer expectations around total operating costs. A summary of transport refrigeration system technologies generally, along with marine air-conditioning systems, is presented and includes associated technical challenges, trade-offs and potential design impacts.
2.00 Airplanes, Part 1: Advances in Transport Refrigeration System Technologies
 |
Igor Vaisman, Ph.D., Rolls-Royce North American Technologies |
Air cycle is the traditional refrigeration technology in the aerospace industry. Moving toward “more-electric” and “all-electric” aircraft concepts calls on high efficiency refrigeration technologies. Vapor cycle technologies are more efficient than the air cycle technologies and, therefore, the number of vapor cycle systems installed in aircrafts will increase in “more-electric” vehicles. At the same time advances in transport refrigeration systems used in airplanes have evolved over many years. A summary of transport refrigeration system technologies for aerospace applications is presented, focusing on vapor cycle systems integrated with environmental control systems (ECS).
3.00 Airplanes, Part 2: Advances in Aerospace Galley Refrigeration System Technologies
 |
Qiao Lu, B.E Aerospace Inc |
Advances in transport refrigeration systems used in “Trailers” have evolved over many years. Today’s systems must incorporate the latest available technologies, taking into consideration current and future regulatory requirements for refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential, energy efficiency, food quality standards and customer expectations around total operating costs. A summary of transport refrigeration system technologies generally, along with marine air conditioning systems, are presented and includes associated technical challenges, trade-offs, and potential design impacts.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 46
Regulatory Process Overview for Smart Grid, Smart Building and Demand Response Programs as Applicable to Building Owners and Utility Tariffs
Smart Building Systems/Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Glenn Remington, Consumers Energy
Technical Committee: 07.05 Smart Building Systems
Sponsor: NA
This seminar presents a top down overview of how smart grid and demand response federal policy and laws make their way through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to the various regional transmission authorities then to the state level and how it impacts building owner/operators and electricity tariffs.
1 Overview of the Regulatory Process Related to Smart Grid and Demand Response
 |
Tom Lawrence, Ph.D., University of Georgia College of Engineering |
Speaker will provide an overview of the smart grid and demand response related regulatory process as it proceeds from laws promulgated at the federal level by Congress and associated regulations issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) including recent Supreme Court decision #745, to the Regional Transmission Authority (or Independent System Operator) and impacting state legislatures and regulatory commissions.
2 Overview of Public Utilities Regulation at the State Level and Contested Case Tariff Process
 |
Robert Schallenberg |
This speaker provides an overview of the state level regulatory process and how various utility tariffs are established by the rate case or "contested case" process.
3 The Role of Third Party Aggregators in Demand Response Programs
 |
Greg Poulos, J.D. |
This speaker provides an overview of the process of how 3rd party aggregators work with utilities and building owners to save energy and not only help manage energy cost for consumers but also produce savings in demand response programs.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 47
Update on the ASHRAE Innovative Research Grant Program and Future Plans for It
Research Summit
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Kishor Khankari, Ph.D., AnSight LLC
Sponsor: Research Administration Committee
The ASHRAE Innovative Research Grant (IRG) was established in 2011 to provide seed funding for novel research deemed to have the potential to significantly advance the state-of-the-art in HVAC&R engineering. The idea is to encourage out-of-the-box research to complement the research proposed and guided by technical committees. This session provides an update on the results from the first two and only grants awarded from the program and RAC's plans for this program in the future.
1 Irg-021: Smart Nanolubricants for HVAC&R Systems
 |
Lorenzo Cremaschi, Ph.D., Auburn University |
Nanolubricants are nanoparticles finely dispersed in a lubricant – are a potential cost-neutral technology that is able to increase the energy efficiency of HVAC&R systems. This talk focuses on the nanoparticles interaction with the working fluid during phase change processes. The speaker will provide a summary of the research conducted on smart nanolubricants with the support of the ASHRAE IRG. Nanolubricants provided augmented heat transfer rate in the heat exchangers with very small pressure drop penalization. The oil in circulation with the refrigerant in air conditioning system components was transformed from an unwanted contaminant to an effective energy efficiency promoter.
2 Irg-024, Biowall Research
 |
William Hutzel, P.E., Purdue University |
This talk focuses on how a new innovative technology - Biofiltration - can improve air quality in residential buildings by explaining how the clean air delivery rate is computed for a botanical filter and then will explain how a biowall was implemented in a research home.
3 Future Plans for the ASHRAE Irg Program
 |
Kishor Khankari, Ph.D., AnSight LLC |
The ASHRAE Innovative Research Grant (IRG) program was established in 2011, but the first two, and only grants issued to date, were awarded in 2012. After 2012, RAC chose to suspend the program and allow first two IRGs to run their full three course and then reevaluate the program before soliciting new grant proposals. RAC has now completed their review of the IRG program and they will annouce through this talk what are the future plans for this program.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Seminar 48
The Philosophy and Ethics of the Different Building Industry Professionals
Professional Skills Beyond Engineering
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Richard Rooley, FREng, Project Management Partnership
Technical Committee: 01.07 Business, Management & General Legal Education
Great buildings are created by constructive confrontation. Each commercial company in the process enters into a contract for its part of the work. Theoretically there is consistency among the many contracts. In the real world a lack of consistency combined with misunderstandings can create conflict. The team of building industry professionals people are drawn together for the project with different education, training, method of working, communication skills and membership of professional bodies who each have codes of ethics. In the education of each, a different philosophy is taught or implied. The audience has their own individual background.
1 The Philosophy and Ethics of the Architect
 |
Leonard Sciarra, AIA, Gentler |
The architect within a construction project works within a philosophy and ethics of their own company, the AIA and the specific contract for the project. The architect also has a philosophy and ethic based on the culture of the architectural profession.
2 The Philosophy and Ethics of the Design Engineer
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Ginger Scoggins, P.E., Engineering Designs |
The Design Engineer within a construction project works within a philosophy and ethics of their own company, the NSPE where appropriate and the specific contract for the project. The Designer also has a philosophy and ethic based on the culture of the contracting profession.
3 The Philosophy and Ethics of the Contractor
 |
Michael Cooper, P.E., MCC |
The contractor within a construction project works within a philosophy and ethics of their own company, the NSPE where appropriate and the specific contract for the project. The contractor also has a philosophy and ethic based on the culture of the contracting profession.
4 The Philosophy and Ethics of the Manufacturer
 |
Tom Watson, P.E., Daikon McQuay |
The manufacturer within a construction project works within a philosophy and ethics of their own company, the NSPE where appropriate and the specific contract for the project. The manufacturer also has a philosophy and ethic based on the culture of the manufacturing profession.
3:15 PM-4:45 PM
Seminar 49
Bringing a New Look and Energy to a Federal Building in Houston
HVAC Systems and Equipment
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Alonzo Blalock, P.E., Jacobs Engineering
Technical Committee: 09.01 Large Building Air-Conditioning Systems
This program explains the multi-year project to provide new ‘skin’ to the existing 22 story Federal Office building in Downtown Houston – and the process of renovation of complete interior HVAC and lighting systems; working thru two floors per cycle, while all other aspects of the building remained in use for occupants. The project includes: use of VAV diffusers for room air distribution; use of Fan Wall in the replacement AHUs; complete new DDC control that includes overlay control to the new lighting system; large PV system installed on remote parking structure; and the enhanced performance of new envelope.
1 Designing the New Look
 |
Thomas Shelton |
The Leland Renovation Project added significant architectural value to the built environment in downtown Houston. Previously the building was a Class C office building with a leaky, poorly insulated, dated exterior, a narrow crowded lobby and very inefficient mechanical systems. The architectural challenge included completely reskinning the building with a new, insulated and laminated (blast-resistant) glass curtainwall system. The challenge was complicated by the requirement to complete the renovation project without moving building occupants out of the building. The project requirements included achieving a 30% reduction from ASHRAE 90.1 2007 baseline. This was accomplished using a high performance curtainwall system.
2 Planning Renovation of an Occupied Building
 |
James Penland |
In March of 2010 Gilbane was given the assignment to lead a Design Build effort to do a complete renovation to the twenty two story Leland Federal Office Building in Houston, Texas by the General Services Administration. The assignment included the replacement of the existing skin, a complete replacement of the air distribution system, a new lighting system, new fire suppression system, upgrades to the restrooms to comply with ADA, relocation of the cafeteria, reworking the main Lobby and a complete replacement of the site and all access points into the building.
3 Upgrades to the HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing Systems
 |
Gary Poole, P.E. |
Renovations to the Mickey Leland Federal Building (MLFB) included upgrades to the HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing and Automation systems that improved occupant comfort and conserved the energy and water associated with these systems. Overall, the scope included upgrades to the chiller plant, and replacement of the air distribution and lighting systems that served the occupied spaces. The air handling unit fans were based on the use of a fan array with variable frequency drives. Complementing the upgrades to the HVAC systems, the lighting systems were replaced with LED style light fixtures which include control systems based on both occupancy and daylighting.
Commissioning Testing of the VAV Diffusers and PV
 |
Alonzo Blalock, P.E., Jacobs Engineering |
The project included installation of VAV Diffusers for the floor spaces. The project was to
demo all ceiling and ductwork and the AHU on a 2 floor area, starting at the top floors. Then
installation of new duct and the VAV diffuser system. Multiple testing runs were made of the
initial installation to arrive at a suitable control arrangement and testing pattern.
Commissioning for the varied operations required development of a different testing regimen
than had been typical for VAV systems. Tracking of the PV output with the BAS system is available to the Regional office in Ft Worth.
demo all ceiling and ductwork and the AHU on a 2 floor area, starting at the top floors. Then
installation of new duct and the VAV diffuser system. Multiple testing runs were made of the
initial installation to arrive at a suitable control arrangement and testing pattern.
Commissioning for the varied operations required development of a different testing regimen
than had been typical for VAV systems. Tracking of the PV output with the BAS system is available to the Regional office in Ft Worth.
4 We Taught the Old Dog a New Trick
 |
Kendall Waldie, P.E. |
When the project was completed, the tenants were delighted to find the occupant comfort was significantly improved. The temperature and humidity levels are stabilized and the building holds a consistent temperature across zones. The lighting levels are much more appealing and the space is bright and welcoming even though the heat transmission is greatly reduced. With the integration of the HVAC, lighting, occupancy and potentially building access controls the energy consumption in the facility has dropped over 40% since the pre-construction survey baseline.
3:30 PM-5:00 PM
Seminar TC
Is Poor Bedroom Ventilation Affecting Your Next-Day Performance?
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
225 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Pawel Wargocki, PhD, Technical University of Denmark
Technical Committee: 02.01 Physiology and Human Environment
Sponsor: SSPC-55
OPEN SESSION: no badge required; no PDHs awarded; presented during the TC's meeting. This seminar discusses how poor air quality negatively affects sleep and reduces next-day performance. Dr. Dennis Loveday, Loughborough University presents "What's Been Happening to Thermal Conditions in UK Bedrooms over the Last Forty Years?" Chandra Sekhar, National University of Singapore, presents "Overnight Air Quality in Bedrooms in Hot and Humid Climates." Dr. Lan Li, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, presents "Sleeping Thermal Environment, Thermal Comfort and Sleep Quality." Pawel Wargocki, the Technical University of Denmark, presents "The Effects of Bedroom Air Quality on Sleep and Next-Day Performance."
5:00 PM-6:00 PM
Seminar TC
Indoor Air Quality in Underground Stations and Tunnels: Development of a New ASHRAE Standard
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Igor Maevski, Ph.D., P.E., Jacobs Engineering
Technical Committee: 05.09 Enclosed Vehicular Facilities
Sponsor: SPC 217
CoSponsor: 04.10 Indoor Environmental Modeling
OPEN SESSION: no badge required; no PDHs awarded; presented during the TC's meeting. This seminar introduces and discusses the development of a new ASHRAE Standard, "Non-Emergency Ventilation in Enclosed Road, Rail and Mass Transit Facilities." Robert Smith of Innerquest, LLC presents "Ventilation System and Equipment Selection Issues in Underground Transit Stations and Tunnels." Yuan Li of Jacobs Engineering presents "Non-Emergency Ventilation Standard for Road Tunnels." David G. Newman of Hatch Mott MacDonald presents "Non-Emergency Ventilation Standard for Rail Tunnels." Mark Colino of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. presents "Non-Emergency Ventilation Standard for Mass Transit Stations and Tunnels."
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 50
ASHRAE + STEM = ?!?
Professional Skills Beyond Engineering
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Bill Simpson, Harrison Energy Partners
Technical Committee: 01.07 Business, Management & General Legal Education
Sponsor: Student Activities Committee
What is all the hype about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)? Why should ASHRAE members care about it? How do they talk to kids about it? What is the difference in dealing with K-12 or Post-high? This session not only answers these questions but also shares what the society committee has developed for member use.
1 Why Should an Engineer Care about Talking to Kids?
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Kristin Schaefer, P.E., Schaefer Engineering |
As engineers, we are stereotyped as not good at communication. So, what is the motivation to go beyond our comfort zone and talk to kids? The simple truth that today's kids are our future employees, coworkers, and bosses drives the desire for us to help them understand engineering, and the need to study mathematics and sciences. Student audiences require different approaches to STEM topics for different ages, and we'll learn why certain ideas are appropriate for which ages. We also explore strategies for getting involved with students at various stages in our careers, from YEA to HVAC&R industry veteran.
2 What Does ASHRAE Have to Help You with Students?
 |
Joe Chin, P.E., Western Allied Mechanical, Inc.
|
ASHRAE Society along with the Student Activities Committee has developed many tools to assist with presenting STEM topics to Students. These tools include recommended STEM classroom activities, posters and handouts, student competitions, videos and "STEM Classroom Kits". A summary of these items is presented along with strategies to apply these tools to different age groups as well as tips to be sure you're prepared for a classroom visit.
3 How to Do a K-12 STEM Classroom Visit
 |
Chuck Curlin, P.E., Shultz Engineering Group |
It can be very intimidating to enter a classroom and present a STEM topic and perform an interactive STEM activity. In this session we perform a simulated classroom visit where we will walk through a STEM activity. This is an interactive session where the audience will actually perform the STEM activity being presented.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 51
Passive Buildings and VRF: How Low Can You Go?
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Christopher R. Laughman, Ph.D., Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories
Technical Committee: 08.07 Variable Refrigerant Flow
Passive buildings have attracted a great deal of interest because of their promise of reducing energy consumption and operating cost while maintaining occupant comfort. VRF is well suited to cooling and heating in these applications because of its high efficiency at the part-load conditions at which these buildings usually operate. This seminar includes presentations from manufacturers, mechanical engineers and architects on strategies and methods for designing and installing these systems in these buildings with their accompanying energy efficiency and ventilation requirements.
1 HVAC Design Considerations for Passive Buildings
 |
Michael Ingui, AIA, Baxt/Ingui Architects, P.C. |
Passive buildings must be designed with a number of specialized considerations on HVAC systems, including acoustic constraints, the use of ERVs, and the use of smaller amounts of ductwork. This talk describes how these considerations are taken into account in practical building designs.
2 VRF Systems for Passive Buildings
 |
Paul Doppel, Mitsubishi Electric |
VRF systems are ideally suited to application in passive buildings and homes, due to their high part-load energy efficiency, low fan noise, and flexibility in installation. This presentation provides new information about the application of these systems to ultra-low-energy buildings, as well as measured data on performance of these systems in the field.
3 System Specification for Passive Buildings
 |
Cramer Silkworth, P.E. |
This presentation reviews the load calculation process for ultra-low energy buildings, the selection of equipment and design of systems, and (hopefully!) present monitored energy & comfort data.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 52
Residential Building Smart Devices and Data: Improving Energy Use Insights and Performance Evaluation
Smart Building Systems/Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Kristen Cetin, Ph.D., P.E., Iowa State University
Technical Committee: 07.05 Smart Building Systems
The number of smart, connected technologies available and implemented in buildings has increased significantly in recent years, as have the number of types of devices and their capabilities to collect data on building performance, energy use and demand. This seminar presents opportunities to utilize these devices and data collected to more intelligently assess current building performance and more intelligently operate building systems. This seminar covers various advances in the collection and use of residential building energy and performance data for more smart assessment and operation of buildings.
1 Energy Use Insights from Inverse Thermodyanmic-Based Modeling of Residential Buildings
 |
Kristen Cetin, Ph.D., P.E., Iowa State University |
This presentation investigates the use of utility billing data for residential buildings, combined with highly granular weather data to disaggregate energy data into end uses, determine the type of HVAC system in use, and predict future months’ disaggregated energy use. This is accomplished through the use of an inverse thermodynamic-based model that uses binned temperature values. This methodology was verified using a dataset of several hundred homes. The resulting information can provide insights to residential building customers to motivate energy savings behaviors.
2 Demand Prediction Using Connected Thermostat Residential Building Energy Models
 |
Ratnesh Tiwari, Ph.D., University of Maryland |
A simple gray box model has been developed for residential buildings to predict the future HVAC energy use given the weather forecast. The model is based on thermostat data (temperature, setpoint, and HVAC on/off information) and the outside weather conditions (outdoor temperature, solar irradiation and wind speed). The accuracy of the future HVAC energy use for over 1000 houses across the United States predicted by the models was compared with the actual data. Predicted energy use from the model is within +/- 10% of the actual HVAC used. The temperature prediction error was within +/- 0.3C.
3 Cornell Temperature Datalogger Project
 |
Weili Xu, Carnegie Mellon University |
The Cornell Temperature Datalogger Project placed temperature dataloggers into 200 people’s homes for two weeks at a low-cost of $5. With 3-minute time scale, we observe temperature setbacks and the rate of thermal decay to reach those setbacks. Using this data, we are able to create a histogram of thermal decay and thermal setpoints for benchmarking the community. Compared to utility-meter-based approaches, temperature analysis more directly isolates shell performance. This helps identify community energy “hot spots” (80/20 rule) where shell retrofits would make the most impact. Correlations with building age, size, and heating fuel type will also be presented.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 53
Smart Equipment: the Intelligent Buildings Revolution Is Happening in the Edge
Smart Building Systems/Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Marcelo Acosta, P.E., Armstrong Fluid Technology
Technical Committee: 01.04 Control Theory and Application
CoSponsor: 06.01 Hydronic and Steam Equipment and Systems
Will highly efficient buildings intelligence reside in the Cloud or in the Edge? This session presents three examples of Smart Equipment already in the market, showing how in depth manufacturer knowledge of the equipment embedded in distributed intelligence surpasses generic and distant intelligence in energy savings, diagnostics, auto-commissioning, redundancy and reliability. The session also shows how full systems optimization and really useful user interfaces can be achieved with the addition of lightweight integration.
1 Smart Pumps Keep Your HVAC System Running High
 |
David Lee, P.Eng., Armstrong Fluid Technology |
Advances in drives and controls have made HVAC pumping smarter than ever. Pumps with on-board intelligence are capable of controlling themselves without remotely-mounted sensors, and delivering energy savings that can easily exceed today’s standards. This session also explores how commissioning can be simplified while the pump monitoring data can be used by facility managers to quickly respond to pump and system issues that could lead to higher operating costs, comfort issues, shorter equipment life or unexpected failures.
2 Smart Valves: the Cool New Kids Are Doing Flow Balancing and Control
 |
Jeffrey Flannery, Danfoss LLC |
We can’t blame those who thought all was said and done in flow balancing and control, but this session will definitely prove them wrong. Smart Valves come with a repertoire of control modes, data points and flexibility that were unthinkable just a few years ago. This session explores the new possibilities and shows the energy savings, extended operation and stability now achievable.
3 Smart Compressors: Are They Magic? No ... But They Are Amazing!
 |
Jose Alvares |
Compressors floating on magnetic bearings can do much more than levitation tricks. This session shows how new levels of energy efficiency, operational flexibility, and robustness are now possible with high speed and precise embedded controls.
4 Integrating Smart Equipment Made Easy
 |
Marcelo Acosta, P.E., Armstrong Fluid Technology |
While smart equipment can bury the integrator in a deluge of data, smart integrators know how to KISS. This presentation shows how to use the smart equipment data to effortlessly optimize entire systems. It also provides guidelines to consolidate the data into insightful info for the operators and engineers.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 54
Standard 100-2015 Overview and the Potential of Its High-Performance Existing Building Metrics
Fundamentals and Applications
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Wayne H. Stoppelmoor Jr., Schneider Electric
Technical Committee: 07.06 Building Energy Performance
Sponsor: SSPC 100
CoSponsor: 02.08 Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability
Existing building renovations comprise 86% of annual construction cost in the United States. Improving the energy performance of existing buildings represents one of our greatest opportunities for a more sustainable future. This seminar provides information on new provisions in Standard 100-2015. The revised standard provides comprehensive and detailed descriptions of the processes and procedures for the retrofit of existing residential and commercial buildings to achieve greater energy efficiency. Development and application of newly developed energy targets for compliance will be described, along with detailed energy audit procedures included in the standard.
1 Key Objectives and Provisions of a Major Revision to ASHRAE's Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Standard
 |
Gordon V. R. Holness, P.E., Consulting Engineer |
Standard 100-2015 includes significant revisions to the 2006 version with the objective of becoming impactful and relevant as a code intended standard. The 2015 version provides greater guidance and a more comprehensive approach to the retrofit of existing buildings for increased energy efficiency. It sets specific Energy Targets based on performance compared to the 25th or 40th percentile of CBECS or RECS data by building type, climate zone, and building occupancy. It also includes an energy audit path for buildings without energy targets. This presentation summarizes the objectives and options for compliance with the updated requirements.
2 Development and Application of Target Tables in Standard 100
 |
Terry Sharp, P.E., Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
EUI energy targets in Standard 100-2015 were derived from the 2003 CBECS and 2005 RECS databases, supplemented by energy modeling as necessary, for 53 building types in 16 U.S. climate zones. An analysis of CBECS data to investigate the impact of operating schedule by building type enabled development of “shift multipliers” that could be used to adjust building energy use intensities in commercial buildings. This presentation provides details on the development of the standard's energy target tables and shift multipliers, along with options for updating the tables based on the new CBECS database scheduled for publication in 2016.
3 The Energy Audit Path in Standard 100
 |
Jim Kelsey, P.E., kW Engineering |
Standard 100-2015 includes energy audit requirements for buildings without targets and energy audit requirements for buildings that don’t meet their energy use intensity targets. The Standard also includes requirements for an Energy Management Plan, an Operation & Maintenance Plan, and addresses requirements for ongoing commissioning. This presentation will provide details on compliance with the Standard via the energy audit paths as well as helpful information for users in several informative annexes of the standard.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 55
System Efficiency Impacts of Low-GWP Refrigerants: Is This Our Fall from Grace?
Advances in Refrigeration Systems and Alternative Refrigerants
221 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Christopher Seeton, Ph.D., Shrieve
Technical Committee: 03.01 Refrigerants and Secondary Coolants
This session investigates the energy efficiency of several alternative Low Global Warming Potential refrigerant blends. The presentations address the thermodynamics of the blends, including the associated temperature glide in the heat exchangers. They also focus on the types of application whether the blend is intended for drop-in or near drop-in service or whether intensive changes are required to capture the best performance. Comparisons from the recent AHRI alternative refrigerants program are also presented to show the most recent developments and state of the art.
1 The Thermodynamic Efficiency of Refrigerants: a History of a Downhill Slide?
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Kenneth Schultz, Ph.D., Ingersoll Rand |
The thermodynamic properties of refrigerants modeled in a simple single-stage vapor compression cycle can provide insight into the potential benefits or challenges associated with new generations of refrigerants. This presentation outlines a simple thermodynamic cycle model and discuss various aspects important to system performance, including the impact of temperature glide when using zeotropic blends. The thermodynamic performance of a range of next generation low GWP refrigerants will be reviewed, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges in front of us as we transition yet again. Maybe not everything is going downhill?
2 A Total System Analysis of Air and Water Cooled Lower GWP Refrigerants
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Richard Lord, United Technologies Carrier Corp |
The total environmental impact of leading lower GWP replacement refrigerants for R410A and R134a based chillers must be considered. There are several alternate refrigerants with lower GWP’s than R410A and R134a, but the direct emissions are only one contributor to the total global warming impact. The impact on efficiency must also be considered. Chillers are very high efficiency and low leak products so the impact from direct emissions is low compared to indirect. Results on annualized analysis of the efficiency including the impact of refrigerant cycle performance changes and heat transfer changes across all 19 climate zones will be presented.
3 Low GWP (A2L) Refrigerant Evaluation on a 10-Ton Rooftop Air-Conditioner
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Matthew Clark, Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc. |
With environmental concerns on high global warning potential (GWP) refrigerants used in HVACR industry, Carrier Commercial Engineering participated in the AHRI Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program (AREP). This study is to understand the Low GWP refrigerant options available to replace R-410A. A 10 ton Rooftop air conditioning unit was tested evaluating four Low GWP refrigerant candidates. The test consisted of EER and high ambient conditions. The refrigerants evaluated were R-32, R-454B, R-446A and R-447A as well as baseline refrigerant R-410A. The current and future regulations for Low GWP refrigerants, energy efficiency, and operation envelop were considered in the investigation.
4 Evaluation of a Lower GWP Refrigerant Option for R404A in Commercial Refrigeration Applications
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Brian Fricke, Ph.D., Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
A lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant blend, R448A, composed of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) refrigerants, has been proposed as an alternative to R404A. An evaluation of these two refrigerants in a laboratory-scale commercial refrigeration system is presented in this session. The system COP when operating with R448A was found to be up to 7% higher than that of R404A, while compressor power decreased by up to 6% when operating with R448A versus R404A. Given that R448A exhibits lower GWP than R404A, with similar operating characteristics and no energy penalty, R448A is a suitable lower GWP replacement for R404A.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 56
Data Sources toward Urban-Scale Energy Modeling, Part 2
Smart Building Systems/Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Joshua New, Ph.D., Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Technical Committee: 01.05 Computer Applications
Development of urban-scale building energy models is becoming of increased interest for many applications including city-wide energy supply/demand strategies, urban development planning, electrical grid stability and urban resilience. This seminar assembles several leaders in the field of urban-scale energy models to discuss an overview of the field as well as the data, algorithms, workflow and practical challenges addressed to create useful models of individual buildings at the scale of a city.
1 Integration of Reduced Order Energy Model with Geographical Information for Urban-Scale Building Energy Modelling under Urban Context
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Jason Brown, School of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology |
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Qi Li, School of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology |
This study demonstrates a newly proposed methodology that handles building energy modeling at urban scale using a reduced-order energy calculation engine with geographical information system (GIS). GIS provides general building information that either directly serves as model parameters, or links to the specific prototype building models for more detailed building and system specifications. Actual urban environment was considered by quantifying the micro environment boundary conditions in terms of mutual shading and urban heat island (UHI) effect through urban morphology. A case study of Manhattan, New York was presented to demonstrate the process. The calculation result and future extensions were discussed.
2 Urban Microclimate for Building Energy Models
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Melissa Allen, Ph.D., Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
In anticipation of both climate change and global urbanization, we conduct research of microclimate impacts on energy systems. We analyze and quantify the relationships among modeled and measured climatic conditions, urban morphology, land cover and energy use; and use these relationships to inform energy-efficient urban development and planning. We apply: neighborhood resolution modeling and simulation of urban micrometeorological processes; projections informed by microclimate for future energy use under different urbanization and climate change scenarios; to produce analysis and visualization tools to help planners optimally use these projections to identify best strategies for energy-efficient urban morphological development.
3 Techniques for Rapid Generation of Urban-Scale Energy Models
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David Scheer, Autodesk |
City governments, NGOs, portfolio managers, and owners are looking better ways to reduce energy use in their existing building stock. Traditional methods rely on costly and time consuming audits, or on benchmarking tools with limited ability to identify retrofit measures. A more effective approach utilizes urban scale 3D models to perform virtual energy assessments. This workflow relies on building a 3D model from multiple types of GIS data, annual hourly energy simulations, geospatial analysis techniques, and statistical benchmarking. The following presentation outlines this workflow, and provides a case study for reducing the time and money needed to identify retrofit strategies.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 57
Energy Savings via ASHRAE Level III Auditing, Retrofit and Recommissioning: A Case Study at Hameetman Science Center, Occidental College II
Fundamentals and Applications
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Robyn Ellis, City of Hamilton - Public Works
Technical Committee: 07.03 Operation and Maintenance Management
A previous related session presented the initial ASHRAE Level III Audit and the gap between the results of that assessment and action being taken. This session focuses on a new field test method and diagnostics used to develop an actionable scope of work.
To support the scope of work, several Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are used to score the actual installed performance of the systems included. Mr. Lipscomb discusses the development of these KPI, including measurements, calculations, and anticipated changes in performance that will result upon completion of the project. Past ASHRAE fellow Bob Baker contributed guidance for this project.
1 Occidental College Hameetman Science Building HVAC Retrofit and Recommissioning
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Rob Falke, National Comfort Institute |
The measurement and test methods used to diagnose and score the efficiency of these HVAC systems before and after this project was completed will be discussed. Many ten year old systems in the building were operating at less than 50% of rated capacity. Insight into emerging technologies used to identify and surgically repair the specific causes of these deficiencies will be presented.
2 Increases to Energy Efficiency, Reliability and Comfort
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Ben Lipscomb, P.E., NCI |
An analysis of the impact of the completed scope of work on the energy, comfort and increased reliability of the buildings will be offered in this segment of the seminar. The bearing of the improvements on peak load will also be discussed. The process of using commissioning data to benchmark and maintain the improved level system performance will also be spotlighted.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 58
Improved Modeling Characteristics of a Data Center without Compromising Physics or Breaking The Bank
Fundamentals and Applications
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Nick Gangemi, Northern Air Systems
Technical Committee: 09.09 Mission Critical Facilities, Technology Spaces and Electronic Equipment
CoSponsor: 04.10 Indoor Environmental Modeling
CFD modeling is a powerful tool to simulate and analyze an existing data center or explore the multiple design parameters of a new data center. The challenge is the extreme run time required. Often times this necessitates making choices on what to leave in and what to take out. This session explores several ways to speed up run time for multiple options while preserving accuracy and not sacrificing the physics.The session also takes a look at stanchions and why they should not be excluded in any raised floor model and validated from actual measurements.
1.00 Improving Model Calculation Time without Sacrificing Physics
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Mark Seymour, CEng, Future Facilities Ltd |
Data center CFD is often criticized for being too slow. In practice the speed rarely causes an issue since construction and hardware changes are normally planned in advance. However the common approach is to simplify the physics or excessively simplify the geometry resulting inaccurate or, perhaps worse still, uncertainty in whether the results are representative. This discusses two options for increasing productivity while retaining the full physics: Unstructured grid to reduce solution time while retaining the ability to model details where they are important and localized simulations to analyze the impact of small operational changes without a full simulation
2.00 The Compact Modeling of Raised-Floor Stanchions
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Zachary Pardey, Schneider Electric |
Stanchions (also referred to as jacks, posts, or pedestals) support the raised floor system common to most data centers. These small-scale objects are often omitted from CFD models of data centers because they are thought to have negligible impact on airflow or because of the increased computational effort required to model them explicitly. This presentation discusses how and why stanchions should be included in data center simulations. A compact modeling approach is proposed which is based on a combination of experimental data and a new analytical model. The model is validated by detailed CFD simulation and actual data center measurements.
3.00 Data Center Modeling Using Response Surface Methodology
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Cheng-Xian Lin, Ph.D., Florida International University |
In the early design of new data centers or modification of existing ones, the need for an optimal solution of many design parameters such as inlet air flow rate, inlet temperature, and server heat load is of paramount importance. The traditional way using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to create alternative designs options can be problematic because of their intensive running time. This presentation introduces the Response Surface Methodology (RSM), which is based on CFD data but allows the study of many design parameters in data centers more feasible and economical in terms of modeling time while preserving reasonable accuracy.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Seminar 59
Solar Decathlon 2015: Lessons Learned from the Largest Student-Led Solar Powered Housing Competition
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Joshua Rhodes, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Technical Committee: 07.05 Smart Building Systems
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, net-zero and attractive. This seminar hosts two teams, including the overall winners as they talk about what worked and what didn't in the competition. Many teams tried moon-shot ideas including residential hydronic TES HVAC systems and fully connected, occupant-responding homes. This seminar gives the audience a deep look at some of the submissions to the competition.
1 The Nest Home: Successes, Failures and Lessons Learned
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Steve Rusakiewicz |
Winner of the 2015 US Dept of Energy Solar Decathlon, The Stevens Institute of Technology's SURE HOUSE is a residential prototype for a truly sustainable and resilient home for the New Jersey shore. This student-designed and -built home uses 90% less energy than a typical New Jersey home through Passive House measures, is flood-proofed using a high-performance plastic and fiber-composite protective shell, and is fully solar powered. These measures combine to create a home which seeks to reduce its contribution to global climate change while also bracing for the effects of rising sea levels and increasingly severe storms.
2 Nexushaus: A Net-Zero Energy and Water Urban Infill Home
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Charles Upshaw, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin |
Nexushaus is a new residential housing prototype that is responsive to the challenges of the energy-water “nexus” in the context of growth in the United States from Texas all the way west to California. Nexushaus offers residents the following features: A modular design system that can change as residents’ needs change over time, smaller, well designed interior spaces combined with generous outdoor living spaces, a photovoltaic array designed for maximum efficiency and flexibility, a hydronic air conditioning and heating system, a potable rainwater collection system with integrated thermal storage and a greywater garden irrigation system.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 60
BIM and HVAC System Design
Fundamentals and Applications
222 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Stephen Roth, P.E., Carmel Software Corp.
Technical Committee: 01.05 Computer Applications
CoSponsor: MTG.BIM Building Information Modeling
This seminar discusses how Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools are changing the way engineers perform HVAC system design including duct design, hot and cold water piping design, plumbing and fabrication. One speaker discusses how BIM authoring tools are helping to: Coordinate duct design, calculate duct/piping pressure drop, perform design validation and more. A second speaker discusses how conceptual HVAC design schematic tools work with BIM authoring tools. A third speaker discusses how these various tools from different vendors are able to communicate with one another using open source interoperability languages.
1 BIM Software and HVAC System Design
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Martin Schmid, P.E., Autodesk |
Martin discusses how BIM authoring tools perform the following: Coordinating duct design, sizing calculations, pressure drop calculations, design validation – visualize areas of high velocity / pressure drop and pressure loss reporting. Martin uses an example from the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals that will show near apples-to-apples comparison of the results from the BIM software vs. the results from hand calcs.
2 HVAC Schematic System Design
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Joe Simmons, P.E., HVAC Solution |
Joe discusses software used for schematic modeling of HVAC systems and why it is so important for initial conceptual design. Such tools are important for automatically modeling simple and complex air, hydronic and steam systems in new or existing buildings. They are also used to calculate ASHRAE 62.1 loads. Through use of interop schemas like gbXML, HVAC schematic tools can import HVAC load information and export HVAC system information to and from BIM authoring and analysis software tools.
3 Sharing Information between BIM and HVAC Design Software Tools
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Stephen Roth, P.E., Carmel Software Corp. |
Stephen gives an overview of various interoperability schemes like the open-source Green Building XML that allow building information modeling (BIM) authoring tools to transfer information to HVAC analysis tools. As BIM becomes more accepted, it is vital that information be shared between various HVAC design tools. For example, HVAC engineers are able to extract the mechanical and building property information to perform duct and pipe design, and HVAC load calculations. As software becomes more available in the "cloud", interoperability schemas become much more important since information needs to be transferred in a structured format from mobile and desktop devices.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 61
How Deep Can We Go? Designing and Drilling Deeper Geothermal Systems
HVAC Systems and Equipment
223 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Scott Hackel, P.E., Seventhwave
Technical Committee: 06.08 Geothermal Heat Pumps and Energy Recovery Applications
Space limitations and other constraints are forcing engineers to design deeper boreholes for ground-source heat pump systems in buildings. There are advantages and disadvantages to doing deeper than typical boreholes, and there are specific limitations on depth in some circumstances. This seminar covers these considerations, both through calculation and design examples, as well as practical lessons learned from the field. The new, deep/ultradeep borehole, hydrostatic differential calculations from the 2015 ASHRAE Applications Handbook are also presented. The latest developments in non-cementatious grouts are introduced to help designers avoid pipe collapse in deeper boreholes without sacrificing performance.
1 Installation Practices and Hydrostatics of Deep Boreholes
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Ryan Carda, P.E., Geo-Connections Inc |
Space limitations and other factors are forcing engineers to utilize deep boreholes to meet design requirements for GSHP systems. Hydrostatic pressures must be considered to safely complete deep, grouted borehole installation. Proper installation methods along with the necessary calculations will be presented. This session includes calculation examples using the procedures that were introduced in Chapter 34 of the 2015 ASHRAE Applications Handbook.
2 Swedish Practices and Experience with Deep Boreholes
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Jose Acuna, Ph.D., KTH Royal Institute of Technology |
This presentation covers a number of Swedish design and practical experiences and challenges when installing GSHP systems in densely populated areas. Deep borehole heat exchangers are a primary solution in these scenarios, and are the focus of this presenation. The presentation includes economic, technical and practical aspects. It also highlights ongoing research projects dealing with deep borehole heat exchangers.
3 Evolution of High and Low Density Geothermal Grouts
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Charles P Remund, Ph.D., GeoPro, Inc. |
Grouting is a critical part of closed-loop ground heat exchanger installation. It is needed for environmental protection, borehole integrity, as well as thermal system performance. This session covers the important aspects of grout properties, selection and installation, with a focus on the additional challenges that occur when boreholes are drilled deeper. This session also introduces the latest developments in bentonite-based grouts that are available to help the designer avoid pipe collapse in deeper boreholes, without sacrificing thermal performance.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 62
Is It My Home or Is It Me? Latest Knowledge about IAQ in Homes
Indoor Environment: Health, Comfort, Productivity
226 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Kevin Kennedy, MPH, CIEC, MS, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Technical Committee: Environmental Health Committee
With increasing interest by homeowners in the role environmental exposure in their home might play in the health and well-being of themselves and their families, how much do we know about the role indoor environmental exposure from the building sources serves in causing chronic health conditions vs. the role human activity plays in indoor exposure? Which is more important? This seminar includes experts on different aspects of this discussion. Come and learn about the significant and complicated role both play in health.
1 It Is Definitely You: The Role of Human Activities
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Jeffrey Siegel, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
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Dr. Jacobs presents information about studies of indoor environmental quality and health outcomes during weatherization and rehabilitation. The focus will be on building interventions and retrofits that result in reduced air contaminants, reduced moisture balance and improved self-reported health outcomes.
2 It’s You and Me Both: Lessons From IAQ Studies in Multifamily Housing
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Gary Adamkiewicz, Ph.D., Harvard School of Public Health |
Dr. Adamkiewicz presents evidence from studies of environmental exposures and health in multifamily housing to show how environmental problems cluster by site, reinforcing the roles of structure and ‘systems’ in shaping poor indoor environmental quality and health. He offers suggestions on where residents can make the biggest changes, and where ‘top down’ intervention is necessary.
3 Ventilation, Indoor Air and Health Outcomes
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Dave Jacobs |
Occupants are the cause of, and solution to, most residential indoor air quality problems. Thus any comprehensive approach to reduce exposure indoors has to address occupant activities and provide information for occupants to make good decisions. This presentation describes some of the major sources in US homes, including cooking, smoking and e-cigarettes, convenience combustion (e.g., candles), cleaning activities, use of consumer products, resuspension, and outdoor air. Each source is paired with strategies for mitigating exposure from that source. Data from field studies in single family and multifamily residences is used to provide context and specific examples of concentrations and emissions.
4 Ventilation, Indoor Air Quality and Where the CO Comes from
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Paul W. Francisco, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
This presentation provides results from several recent field studies on indoor air quality in residential retrofit. One focus of the session will be to examine the impact of newer ventilation standards on indoor concentrations of several contaminants indoors, including carbon dioxide, humidity, formaldehyde, radon, and VOCs. The second focus will be to review results from three studies that included an assessment of the source of elevated carbon monoxide in homes.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 63
Moving Beyond Typical Year Weather Data
Research Summit
228 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Didier Thevenard, Ph.D., P.E., Numerical Logics Inc.
Technical Committee: 04.02 Climatic Information
The common practice in building performance modeling is to use ‘Typical Year’ weather data. Such data is statistically selected from the long-term record based on representative statistics for solar radiation and dry bulb temperature. However, although the use of a single typical year is convenient, it often leads to severe inaccuracies in the estimation of building loads and energy consumption. It is time to rethink alternatives to the use of Typical Year files. This seminar provides a deeper understanding of the problems linked to the use of Typical Years and walks the audience through several alternatives.
1 How Much Does Energy Use Vary with 'Actual' Weather from Year to Year?
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Drury Crawley, Ph.D., Bentley Systems, Inc. |
Historically, building simulation users have used ‘typical’ year weather data to represent climatic conditions for a location or region. With advent of increasingly powerful computers, using a single year of data is no longer necessary. Prior studies have shown that a single year of data often does not well represent the range of climate conditions over a period. We demonstrate how several sets of international typical meteorological data sets compare to the actual period of record that they represent, and demonstrate the inter-annual variability of energy use due to real weather data in comparison to TMY-type data.
2 How Much Do HVAC Loads Change Due to the Variability of Year-to-Year Weather?
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Yu Joe Huang, White Box Technologies |
Typical year weather files give a convenient snapshot of the likely weather conditions in a location. However, they provide no information of the year-to-year variability of the weather, which can have a dramatic impact on a building's heating and cooling energy use. This presentation shows a procedure using the variable-base degree day method to determine from the period of record which years would produce the highest heating or cooling loads and calculate the standard deviation in loads from the typical year. These results are building-specific, depending on how sensitive is the building to conduction, convection, or radiation heat flows.
3 Understanding the Temporal and Spatial Variability of New Generation Gridded Tmys
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Anthony Lopez |
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Aron Habte, NREL |
Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data sets provide industry standard resource information for building designers and the solar industry. Historically, TMY data sets were only available for certain locations, but current TMY data sets are available on the same grid as the new 4-km by 4-km gridded National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) data and are referred to as the gridded TMY. In this presentation, we analyze the temporal and spatial variability of the typical year data sets, thereby providing insight into the representativeness of a particular TMY data set for use in building performance modeling.
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Seminar 64
Net Zero from Foundation to Financing: Residential Buildings
Renewable Energy Systems and Net Zero Buildings
227 (America's Center Convention Complex)
Chair:
Janice Means, P.E., Lawrence Technological University
Technical Committee: 06.07 Solar Energy Utilization
This session discusses the strategies that can be implemented which will lead a home to become a near/net zero energy building (NZEB). Also, financing models for the U.S. residential PV market are explored, including third-party power purchase agreements (PPAs) and lease-based financing. In addition, review of The European Directive on the Energy Performance in Buildings (EPBD) that mandates nearly-zero energy new buildings by 2020 is discussed, including characteristics and benchmarks of NZEBs from within existing building stock.
1 NZEB Multidisciplinary Project Development to Reach a Zero CO2 Emission Sustainable Eco-Settlement: Technical, Physical, Legal, Financial and Regulatory Issues
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Marija Todorovic, Ph.D., P.E., Dubai Electricity and Water Authority |
This paper presents methodology of study of the synergetic energy/environment’s constrains relevant to the residential buildings settlement’s sustainability. Presented are results of the design of a sustainable Net Zero Energy Buildings Settlement. Implementing integrated building design building’s dynamic behavior and energy efficiency have been optimized by the BPS resulting in crucial reduction of loads of the initial designs. Further multidisciplinary engineering optimization lead to the settlement of NZEB status (HVAC system’s heat pumps using sea water, and other building’s technical systems powered exclusively by RES (solar thermal, PV, wind and biomass), and water recycling bio-aquatic water treatment are closing the village eco-sustainability.
2 NZEB Characteristics of European Residential Buildings and Assessment of Refurbishment Scenarios Using Building Typologies
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Constantinos Balaras, Ph.D., Group Energy Conservation (IERSD-NOA) |
The European Directive on the Energy Performance in Buildings (EPBD) mandates nearly-zero energy new buildings by 2020. This presentation reviews characteristics and benchmarks of NZEBs from within existing building stock. A European-developed framework for assessing residential building refurbishment is presented based on regional/national building typologies for large building portfolios. This procedure enables key experts/non-experts to ensure high-quality retrofits, check regulatory compliance, track/steer refurbishment processes and quantify energy savings. The presentation concludes with results of future EU Member State refurbishment strategies to make realistic projections of residential heating energy use and support efforts for meeting energy savings or emissions targets.
3 What Does It Take for a Residential Home to be NZEB?
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Khalid Nagidi, Energy Management Consulting Group |
It all starts with a holistic approach from the ground up with the aim to first, reduce our home energy consumption by installing high performance building envelope, including but not limited to double glazed windows with low emissivity, better insulation that exceeds minimum building energy code, use of high efficiency appliances and HVAC equipment. And second, install solar electric (PV) and thermal systems to handle the remaining annual energy requirement. High performance building envelope combined with high efficiency appliances and equipment, and integration of solar energy systems can lead our homes to become NZEB. A case study is discussed.
4 Options, Trends and Regulatory Challenges in Residential Solar PV Finance and Ownership
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James Leidel, Oakland University
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To achieve zero net energy in residential dwellings, a roof mounted PV system is typically the enabling technology at the center of the energy design. This presentation explores financing models and trends for the U.S. residential PV market. Third-party power purchase agreements (PPAs) and lease based financing in the solar industry is less than a decade old, but they are rapidly becoming the dominant PV system delivery methods. The PPA model faces regulatory and legislative challenges in some states. These issues are presented and discussed with a look forward toward future developments.