ASHRAE Journal - October 2012 - 76

and to verify the robustness of these procedures by testing them for several actual and synthetic data from the appropriate case study sites. Key climatic variables of interest include (but are not limited to): dry-bulb temperature, dew-point and wet-bulb temperature, wind speed and direction, total, diffuse, and direct normal solar radiation. It is further anticipated that different procedures will be needed depending on the type of missing climatic data (e.g., temperature, humidity, wind, solar). For example, the interpolation of missing temperature data might be best performed with one method, whereas the interpolation of missing wind speed or solar data would need another. Thermal 1415-RP Devices and Lighting Performance Metrics of Tubular Daylighting
May 2010 – January 2013 (P); National Research Council Canada; Principal Investigator, Aziz Laouadi; TC 4.5, Fenestration

phase will include developing comprehensive optimized control sequences for the following common air distribution and terminal subsystems: Generic thermal zones, Single zone systems, Variable air volume terminal units, and Variable air volume systems. Logic diagrams will be developed for the sequences so that the logic is not vague, as is inherent in any written sequence. Sequences will be tested and debugged using simulation. Future research projects will be implemented to test the sequences in real buildings. Once the research project is complete, the sequences and flow diagrams will be proposed as appendices to Guideline 13 via the addenda process. This will allow them to be publicly reviewed. Including the sequences in Guideline 13 will also allow them to be maintained over time, such as fixing bugs and incorporating new energy saving or diagnostic sequences via addenda, and also provides a good way for them to be disseminated − control sequences and control specifications go hand in hand.

This research is intended to provide computational algorithms to support the development of fenestration rating standards, the ASHRAE load toolkit, and building-energy and lighting simulation software. Building designers (lighting designers, architects and engineers) will be better able to specify energy-efficient tubular daylighting devices (TDD) in commercial and residential buildings with more confidence, and to show compliance with existing building energy codes and energy efficiency standards. To speed up technology transfer to the building/fenestration design community, this research will develop a simple design guide for generic types of TDDs, which will be included in the Fenestration Chapter of a future edition of the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals. The guide will also provide useful information to include in the Daylighting Chapter of a future edition of the IESNA handbook. The validated algorithms will be more likely to be adopted in fenestration rating standards since the latter do not currently provide any simulation procedure to rate TDDs. Manufacturers of TDDs will then benefit from a significant cost reduction to rate their products. Inlet and Discharge Installation Effects on Airfoil (AF) 1420-RP Plenum Plug Fans for Air and Sound Performance Centrifugal
April 2010 – September 2013; AMCA International, Inc.; Principal Investigator, Mark Stevens; TC 5.1, Fans

1457-RP

By-product Production from Photocatalytic Oxidation Associated with Indoor Air Cleaning Devices

September 2007 – January 2013 (P); University of Wisconsin; Principal Investigator, Dean Tompkins & Marc Ramsey; TC 2.3, Gaseous Air Contaminants and Gas Contaminant Removal Equipment

Very little information exists for accurately predicting the aerodynamic and acoustical response of centrifugal plenum fans to common appurtenances at the fan inlet and discharge. The existing information for these system effects on air performance is limited to housed centrifugal fans. No experimental data exists for system effects on sound. The significance of system effects on plenum fans due to inlet and discharge appurtenances is widely accepted. Reports of installed performance indicate reductions in total efficiency of over 25% and sound power (Lw) increases of over 10 dB when compared to catalog ratings. The wasted energy was estimated in millions of megawatts per year. The estimated capital expenditures necessary to resolve the comfort and noise problems are over several million dollars. Improved knowledge of the precise values for these system effects could greatly reduce both the amount of wasted energy and unanticipated capital expenditures. The objective of this project is to obtain a body of measured inlet and discharge system effects for both air and sound for two typical sizes (12 in., 27 in. ) AF. Cost Assessment of 1449-RP Energy Efficiency andand Small CommercialHumidity Control Options for Residential Buildings
September 2008 – September 2012; Building Energy Corporation; Principal Investigator, Armin Rudd; TC 6.3, Central Forced Air Heating and Cooling Systems; AHRTI $50,000 co-funder

Over the past 3-5 years, there is increasing commercial interest and available products that treat indoor air contaminants with technology that employs photocatalytic oxidation. Photocatalysis is becoming a widely used method for the purification and deodorization of indoor air and industrial exhaust. The process is being incorporated into room air cleaners, in-duct cleaning devices, and in-vehicle ventilation cleaning devices. Photocatalysis typically uses titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) and an ultraviolet (UV) light source to drive the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) reaction. Research has shown that photocatalysis oxidizes the pollutants introduced into a variety of breakdown products. Research has shown that simple volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) like ethylene are oxidized to carbon dioxide and water, but the fates of the more complex larger VOCs typically found in an indoor air environment are unknown. It is important to determine whether they are also reduced to non-threatening carbon dioxide and water, or whether they react to form irritating products like aldehydes which could deteriorate the indoor air rather than improve it. This research is precompetitive because it will expand the understanding of PCO technology and ensure that air cleaners based on this technology improve indoor air quality. The overall objective of the project is to establish a method for the analysis of byproducts from photocatalytic oxidation indoor air cleaning devices. In so doing, the investigators will characterize (measure and report) the by-product production from the photocatalytic oxidation associated with indoor air cleaning devices.

1458-RP

Modeling Person-to-Person Contaminant Transport in a Mechanical Ventilation Space

December 2011 – November 2013; Building Energy and Environmental Engineering, L.L.P Principal .; Investigator, Zheng Jiang & Qingyan Chen; TC 4.10, Indoor Environmental Modeling

This project will have four parts; 1) The project team will develop a list of equipment types and system approaches that can provide humidity control in residential buildings, with emphasis on all types of humid climates. Project team will examine field data from Building America and other sources to identify promising approaches to humidity control. 2) The project team will perform limited model development in areas where gaps remain in the ability to model latent performance of some systems. 3) The project team will perform computer simulation studies of humidity control approaches and system options in small buildings as a function of system type, building load characteristics, and ventilation rates for a range of climates in IECC/DOE climate zones 1 through 6 in the Moist (A) portion of the climate zone map. A range of occupancy loads will be simulated. Results will be normalized to weather conditions. 4) Efficiency and cost analysis will be performed as part of this project in order to provide clear ranking of the ability and effectiveness of various approaches and technologies to achieve indoor RH control. The results will help design engineers specify the most cost-effective means of providing humidity control in homes. Understanding the most critical factors influencing the performance will help manufacturers provide contractors with the installation requirements necessary to achieve high performance. Developers of codes and standards will be able to utilize the results to specify systems appropriate to their locations. Due to the current high level of interest in humidity control, especially for the purpose of preventing mold growth, it is expected that manufacturers will respond to the results quickly, developing and marketing the most effective technologies to contractors and residents. Code and standard developers in locations with widespread humidity concerns should also be able to respond to the results quickly, allowing for the pace typical of code and standard development. Advanced Control Sequences for 1455-RP Distribution and Terminal Systems HVAC Systems – Phase I Air
April 2009 – February 2013; Taylor Engineering, LLC.; Principal Investigator, Mark Hydeman; TC 1.4, Control Theory and Application

The transport of potential infectious agents from human bodies under the impact of ventilation airflow is not well understood. Existing studies are largely based on simple scenarios and thus the conclusions have limitations. For general health requirement as well as protecting susceptible individuals when there may be infected persons as contaminant sources, it is important to design the ventilation system carefully to avoid the spread of infectious agents. Besides, the SARS epidemic in 2003 and current concerns about the risk of an avian influenza (H5N1) pandemic, have made this study timely. The results can help ASHRAE members and other professionals to better analyze and design healthier and safer indoor environments, especially for ventilation design. The commonly used ventilation modes in actual engineering are evaluated for their performances on inter-personal contaminant transport control. Results derived from this study would provide useful information to better understand the possible link between ventilation and contaminant transmission. The efficiency on controlling person-to-person contaminant transport and economical energy using should be balanced for actual application. Thus a guide on proper ventilation design would also benefit engineering practice.

1467-RP

Balancing Latent Heat Load Between Display Cases and Store Comfort Cooling

September 2009 – January 2013 (P); University of Colorado; Principal Investigator, Michael Brandemuehl; TC 10.7, Commercial Food and Beverage Cooling Display and Storage; AHRTI $84,000 co-funder

This research project is intended to be the first of two phases: Phase I: Air Distribution and Terminal Systems and Phase II: Central Plants and Hydronic Systems. This first

Supermarket energy costs for heating, cooling, dehumidification, and refrigeration are a major store operating cost and often exceed store profits. While most of this cost is associated with maintaining refrigerated conditions for products, much is also spent to maintain suitable environmental conditions in the supermarket sales area. Each of these requirements is inexorably linked to the other. Failure to control store temperature and humidity can cause excessive energy consumption by refrigeration equipment and hamper product marketing due to frost build-up on frozen products and fogging of display cases. Conversely, most of the energy used to operate the refrigeration equipment serves to reduce the building cooling and dehumidification requirements. The overall objective of this project is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the potential for energy savings in supermarkets by optimized design and operation of the combined HVAC and refrigeration systems. The assessment will include the effects of climate, space temperature and humidity set-point controls, HVAC system type and characteristics, and the design and operation of the refrigerated cases. Furthermore, the project will address the overall layout of HVAC and refrigeration system components in supermarkets, including HVAC zoning, the location of supply and return air, and the overall air distribution patterns in the supermarket.

ASHRAE Journal

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October 2012

ASHRAE Journal - October 2012

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