ASHRAE Journal - October 2010 - 55

Research Projects
Standard 155P

(The Research Strategic Plan is available at www.ashrae.org/technology/page/39.)

1196-RP	 of Commercial Space Heating Boiler Systems Based on ASHRAE
September	2000	–	June	2012 (Project completion tied to development of Standard 155P); Iowa State University; Principal	Investigator, Ron Nelson; TC	6.1, Hydronic and Steam Equipment and Systems

Develop Software to Calculate the Application Seasonal Efficiency

Boilers are estimated to account for 42% of space heating energy use in the commercial and multifamily sectors in the U.S. Significant energy savings could be achieved in commercial and multifamily buildings by optimizing the selection of commercial boiler systems in new buildings and at the time of boiler replacement. Currently, however, commercial boilers and all other types of commercial heating equipment are rated only in terms of steady-state efficiency at full load, which does not provide a meaningful indication of relative operating costs. The objective of this research project is to develop user-friendly windows-based software that will greatly accelerate adoption of seasonal efficiency analysis for commercial boiler systems. A significant obstacle to the use of any new standard is the learning curve for users to become familiar with the new terminology and inputs and learn how to do the computations. With this software, the level of effort required of new users of the standard will be dramatically reduced, and can be focused on the more important tasks of evaluating outputs and developing an intuitive sense of the factors that affect the seasonal efficiency of commercial boiler systems. Project completion tied to and paced by the development of Standard 155P – Method of Testing for Rating Commercial Space Heating Boiler Systems

2. Measure and characterize contaminants in cabin air that are not introduced via ECS. Ventilation rates shall be assessed. 3. Quantify the effect of aircraft type, maintenance, auxiliary power unit (APU), engine age and operations-related parameters on cabin and bleed air quality 4. Investigate relationship of the measured cabin air contaminants, ventilation rates and other factors with reported symptoms among passengers and flight crew. of an ASHRAE Design Manual for District Heating 1267-RP	 DevelopmentSystems and Cooling
April	2008	–	June	2011; GWA Research, LLC; Principal	Investigator, Gary Phetteplace; TC	6.2, District Energy; Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation, Dubai (Empower) $110,000 co-funder

The objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive design guide for district heating and cooling (DHC) systems and a separate design guide with additional information dedicated to district cooling (DC) only. The emphasis would be on community-wide planning, thermal distribution and consumer interconnect. Guidance is generally less accessible in these areas and familiarity in the engineering community is much less prevalent. Users of the guides will be better able to assess the applicability of DHC and DC systems and prepare feasibility studies to support their DHC and DC evaluations. Installation Effects on Forward Curved Centrifugal Fans, Air 1272-RP	 InletSound and
April	2007	–	January	2011	(P); AMCA International, Inc.; Principal	Investigator, Mark Stevens; TC	5.1, Fans

1216-RP	

Inlet Installation Effects on Bi/Airfoil Centrifugal Fans, Air & Sound

September	2008	–	January	2011	(P); AMCA International, Inc.; Principal	Investigator, Mark Stevens; TC	 5.1, Fans;

The objective of this project is to obtain a body of measured inlet system effects for both air and sound for one typical size (30”) of airfoil bladed centrifugal fans. The test fan is to be AF single width single inlet (SWSI) centrifugal fan. The aerodynamic and acoustic investigations will be made with carefully selected and controlled inlet appurtenances. Tests shall also be in accordance with ASHRAE 51/AMCA 210 air performance testing standard and AMCA 300 reverberant room sound testing standard with the resulting relationships cataloged as to show the relationship between aerodynamic and acoustic parameters with respect to geometric parameters. Significance 1235-RP	 The Nature,Wall Systems and Control of Solar Driven Vapor Diffusion in
April	2005	–	September	2010; Concordia University; Principal	Investigator,	Dominique Derome; TC	 4.4,	Building Materials & Building Envelope Performance

The objective of this study is to develop a better understanding of the nature and significance of solar-driven inward vapor diffusion in order to develop appropriate design guidelines to predict and manage this phenomenon as a function of climate. The knowledge generated from this research project will be directly transferred to the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals.

Little information exists for accurately predicting the aerodynamic and acoustical response of centrifugal fans with forward curved (FC) blades to common appurtenances at the fan inlet. Some of these appurtenances are pillow block bearings, bearing supports, inlet guide vanes at various angular positions, inlet boxes, inlet duct elbows at various angles and distances from the inlet, inlet duct contractions, walls perpendicular to the fan axis at various distances from the inlet, cabinet enclosures of various configurations, flex duct connections, inlet and belt guards and bird screens. The existing information for these system effects on air performance is limited. No experimental data exists for system effects on sound. The objective of this project is to obtain a body of measured inlet system effects for both air and sound for one typical size (12 in.) of FC centrifugal fans. The test fan is to be FC single width single inlet (SWSI) centrifugal fan. The aerodynamic and acoustic investigations should be made with carefully selected and controlled inlet appurtenances. Tests shall be in accordance with ASHRAE 51/AMCA 210 air performance testing standard and AMCA 300 reverberant room sound testing standard with the resulting relationships cataloged as to show the relationship between aerodynamic and acoustic parameters with respect to geometric parameters.

1274-RP	 the Benefits of Proper Service and Determine the Long Term Need
April	2004	–	September	2010	(P); ADM Associates, Inc.; Principal	Investigator, Taghi Alereza; TC	7.5, Smart Building Systems; Bellsouth $500 co-funder

Field Performance Assessment of Package Equipment to Qualify for Monitoring, FDD and Continuous Commissioning Technology

1245-RP	

Determine the Effects of Duct Fittings on Air Velocity Measurements

April	2005	–	June	2011; Kansas State University; Principal	Investigator, Terry Beck; TC	1.2, Instruments and Measurements; NEBB $10,000 co-funder; SMACNA $10,000 co-funder

There are two projects within this single research proposal. Each has its own justification of need. As to the issue of the equal area method or the log-Tchebycheff method, there is uncertainty in the ventilation measuring community as to which method is suitable for performing duct traverses under field conditions. This uncertainty has caused disagreements between the building owner or engineer and the TAB engineer, as well as between different TAB engineers. Information in the ASHRAE Handbooks and Standards concerning these measurement methods has been less than forceful due to the lack of evidence for either of the methods. This research will quantify the differences between the two methods and lead towards more accurate field measurements. Proper methods for validating the flow performance in systems, is critical for the comfort, safety and health of our buildings. Testing in the past has not quantified the differences between the two methods nor has it given an indication of the type of errors balancers will encounter when they have to make a measurement at less than ideal conditions. This result will give engineers an idea on what is the achievable accuracy of the test and balancing of systems and translate into more definitive data for design engineers to properly apply in HVAC system design.

The motivation for this research arises from recent ASHRAE-sponsored research projects to study commissioning and fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) technology for HVAC equipment including RP-1020, RP-1043, and RP-1139. These research projects primarily focus on air handling units and large chiller plants used in larger facilities. This study deals with field performance assessments of packaged HVAC equipment for small and medium size commercial buildings. The objective of this project is to quantify the benefits of proper service in this type of equipment by assessing the equipment’s current performance level in the field and documenting how the performance improves when equipment is properly serviced. This establishes a baseline for the maximum possible benefits. The project’s outcome should help establish the need for automated FDD and continuous commissioning tools. Standard for Testing and Stating the Efficiency of 1284-RP	 Develop a Pulse Cleaned Dust Collectors Industrial
April	2006	–	January	2011	(P); Blue Heaven Technologies, LLC; Principal	Investigator, Robert Burkhead; TC	5.4, Industrial Process Air Cleaning

1262-RP	 Symptoms Reported by Passengers and Crew on Commercial
Transport Aircraft (Part 2)
January	2007	–	December	2010; Battelle Memorial; Principal	Investigator, Ann Louise Sumner; TC	 9.3, Transportation Air Conditioning

Relate Air Quality and Other Factors to Comfort and Health Related

The principal aim of this research project is to relate perceptions of discomfort or health related symptoms of flight attendants and passengers to possible causal factors, including cabin and bleed air quality and other factors such as reduced air pressure, jet lag, inactivity, humidity, flight attendant duty schedule and fatigue, circadian rhythm, stress and noise. In particular, the following specific objectives are to be addressed in Part 2 of this project: 1. Measure and characterize contaminants in cabin air that are introduced via environmental control system (ECS) in a variety of airplane types.

Although ASHRAE Standard 52 and RP-671 deal with test methods for evaluation of general ventilation air cleaners, their particulate loading rates are so low that they are not practical to evaluate industrial air cleaning equipment. Further, these test methods do not take into account the automatic cleaning methods that are usually in industrial air cleaners to keep a steady pressure drop, yet the cleaning action can result in increased emissions. As a result, there is a great need for a performance test procedure that addresses the higher particulate loading, and the wide variety of particulate contaminant types to permit measurement and reporting of the mass emissions and fractional collection of efficiency of industrial air cleaning devices. with Filter 1287-RP	 Particle Counter Specification for Use52.2-1999 Performance Test Standard ANSI/ASHRAE Standard
September	2007	–	September	2010; RTI International; Principal	Investigator, James Hanley; TC	2.4, Particulate Air Contaminants and Particulate Air Contaminant Removal Equipment

This project will advance the state-of-the-art by providing a scientific and technical basis for specifying those particle counter properties that are necessary and sufficient to

October 2010

ASHRAE Journal

55
ASHRAE Journal - October 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - October 2010
