ASHRAE Journal - October 2013 - 74

ReseaRch RepoRt

information. Prior to the work performed under the ASHRAE funded research project
RP-1356, there was no procedure for determining the thermal performance of pipe
insulation systems below ambient conditions. Moisture ingress into piping can lead to
degraded service life and lower performance of the systems, corrosion of the pipes, and
mold growth on the surfaces inside the buildings. These are major issues that comprise
the energy efficiency of chiller water piping, whose industry alone makes-up 15 to 25% of
the piping in the United States. The findings from the proposed research could assist in
the development of sustainable designs, installation procedures, and moisture condensate
management in insulation systems of cold pipes.
Development of Maximum Technically Achievable Energy Targets for
1651-RP Commercial Buildings (Ultra Low Energy Use Building Set)

1674-RP

January 2013 – July 2014; Energy Information Services, Principal Investigator, Steve Kavanaugh TC 6.8, Geothermal Heat Pump
and Energy Recovery Applications

The objective of this project is to gather updated information from recent ASHRAE
research, conduct research in critical areas not adequately addressed (detailed field studies and cost optimization methods), integrate revised industry standards, and identify
equipment and technology advances so that the updated GSHP text will be relevant and
useful to the industry. Eight existing chapters and eight appendices will be revised. A
new chapter on site characterization and an appendix, “Hydro -geological primer for
engineers” will be added as requested by ASHRAE Special Publications.

April 2012 – March 2014; GARD Analytics, Inc.; Principal Investigator, Jason Glazer; MTG.ET, Energy Targets

This research will provide information that can be considered by relevant ASHRAE
standard project committees (PCs) in planning advancements to Standard 90.1, Standard
189 and the Advanced Energy Design Guides. ASHRAE Standard 90.1 is referenced in
the U.S. Energy Policy Act and sets a minimum efficiency level for state energy codes.
Standard 189.1 provides a benchmark for design of high performance green buildings.
The Advanced Energy Design Guides enjoy wide distribution and provide a prescriptive
path to low energy buildings.

1665-RP R-40 Stability with HVAC&R System Materials

April 2013 – February 2014; McCampbell Analytical, Inc., Principal Investigator, Jennifer Lagerbom; TC 3.2, Refrigerant System
Chemistry; Co-sponsoring Committee: TC 3.3, Refrigerant Contaminant Control; AHRTI $23,750 co-funder

The following objectives are proposed to develop the understanding of the impacts
of R-40 contamination on the safety and reliability of HVAC&R equipment. Outcomes of
this research will be immediate adoption of safe contaminant limits by refrigerant purity
specifications for SAE, AHRI standards and by HVAC&R manufacturers and users. This
important information will be added to ASHRAE Handbook Refrigeration Chapter 6,
ASHRAE HVAC Applications Chapter 10, ASHRAE Handbook Fundamentals Chapter 29
and ASHRAE Guideline 6 to guide systems designers.

Research to Support the Revision to Ground Source Heat Pumps: Design
of Geothermal Systems for Commercial and Institutional Buildings
(ASHRAE, 1997)

1677-RP

Measurement and Prediction of Waterside Fouling Performance
of Internally Enhanced Condenser Tubes Used in Cooling Tower
Applications

September 2013 – December 2016; University of Illinois - Urbana, Principal Investigator, Xinlei Wang TC 8.5, Liquid-toRefrigerant Heat Exchangers

The objective of this research project will be to: 1) Experimentally determine the
fouling resistance on smooth and enhanced tubes using water representative of cooling
tower applications. Experiments should make use of water having varying levels of fouling potential. In addition to a baseline test using a smooth tube, fouling tests of at least
5 internally enhanced tubes shall be conducted. 2) Using the results of the experimental
study, as well as additional data from previous ASHRAE research and other published
works, a model of the fouling resistance shall be confirmed, modified, or developed. The
model shall not preclude application to non-cooling tower applications, such as might occur
in enhanced tubes applied to evaporators. 3) Propose a generalized calculation procedure
or approach to determining an appropriate fouling resistance for a “typical” application of
enhanced tubes in a cooling-tower water heat exchanger application. Such a procedure
should be suitable for publication as part of ASHRAE or AHRI standards, such as AHRI
Guideline E or AHRI Standard 550/590. A method that represents an improvement in
accuracy over the current method of specifying a specific, constant fouling resistance
regardless of application conditions or enhanced geometry characteristics is desired.

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ASHRAE Journal - October 2013

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