FloridaEngineering
SOCIETYJOURNAL • NOVEMBER2006
13www.fleng.org
Figure 2 - Effects of PositivePressurization
An important consideration in achieving positive pressurization is that interior building partitions not adversely affect the distribution of air.
The way buildings operate today isas a multitude of pressure vessels:interstitial spaces in an exterior wall;plenums; dropped ceilings; rooms thattypically have doors closed betweenthem. These different pressurerelationships—some of which are very well connected to the supply air, somethat are not—include pressure-starvedareas and some pressure-excessiveareas.
Ventilation
Most building codes establishminimum ventilation requirementsin relation to occupancy or spacefunction. These requirements areusually based on ASHRAE Standard62-1989, “Ventilation for AcceptableIndoor Air Quality.” This standardspecifies the minimum acceptableoutdoor air requirements for occupiedspaces.Providing conditioned outside air notonly helps pressurize a building butalso dilutes chemicals or particulatepollutants generated in the space.Outside air can also be induced inthe space by the HVAC system asventilation air. If the HVAC systemintroduces air into the space, thesystem must continuously dehumidify the air. Of course, adequatedehumidification should not besacrificed for adequate ventilation.If the air is not continuously andadequately dehumidified, the moistureadded to the space might be greaterthan the HVAC system’s ability toremove it. This moisture sourcenormally results in moisture-relatedmildew problems on the interiorsurfaces of the building (that is,interior finishes and the surface of furnishings).
Airflow Dehumidification
To provide proper dehumidification,an HVAC system must:•Fully dehumidify the air that flowsacross the cooling coil.•Provide sufficient run time toremove moisture from the interiorair despite the satisfaction of interior temperatures.To fully dehumidify the airflow across the coil, cooling coils must besized properly to meet the sensibleload (load associated with dry-bulb temperature) and latent load(moisture in air associated with wet-bulb temperature). This includes thecombination of both outside air andreturn air. This air must be broughtto a temperature that causes themoisture in the air to condense forlatent heat (or latent energy) removal.Simultaneously, the cooling coil isreducing the sensible temperature of the air to offset the sensible energy generated in the space (lights, solar,people, equipment, etc.). A commonrange of temperature for the coolingof this air is between 50°F and 55°F. At this temperature, most HVACsystem airflows will be at 100%relative humidity (RH) and willeffectively condense moisture fromthe air. Air provided to a space underthese conditions has the best chanceof maintaining interior conditions of 75°F dry-bulb (°Fdb) and 60% RH.
Dehumidification Run Time
If the system cannot provide sufficientdehumidification while it reacts totemperature control alone, it mustcontinue moisture removal withoutaffecting interior temperatures andoccupant comfort. This can beaccomplished by reheating—a form of simultaneously cooling and heating tocontinue dehumidification while notovercooling the occupants.Methods of reheating include director indirect gas-fired heating; hot- water heating; hot-gas reheating forrefrigeration-based units; and for partsof the country that allow it—electric.Devices added to the equipment, suchas wraparound coils, can also providea means of reheating. Wraparoundcoils simply transfer energy from theincoming cooling coil air stream tothe exiting cooling coil air stream.These coils are available in a passiverefrigeration-based unit or as a water-based system that uses pumps to movethe water through the system.In conventional HVAC systems, twodehumidification methods are used.The first is a cooling-based systemcooling air below its dewpoint.Moisture condenses on the coolingsurface and is removed from the air.For example, a cooling-based systemcan cool an outside air stream from95°Fdb (55% RH) to 77°Fdb. At77°Fdb the air is at 100 percentRH. If it is cooled below 77°Fdb to55°Fdb, 68 grains of moisture perpound of dry air are condensed out of the air and onto the cooling coil.The second method involves the useof a desiccant that attracts moisture toits surface by introducing a low vaporpressure at the desiccant surface. Thevapor pressure of the moisture in theair is higher, so moisture travels from
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Interaction Between the Building Envelope and the HVAC Systems
A/E Interaction Positive Building PressurizationNegative Building Pressurization
Correct Wall Mildew/moisture problems unlikely in wall systemsPossible mildew/moisture problems in wall systemConstruction*and occupied spaceand occupied spaceIncorrect Wall Possible mildew/moisture unlikely problems in Probable mildew/moisture problems in wall systemConstructionproblems in wall system; occupied space and occupied space
*Wall construction refers to vapor retarders and air and rainwater barriers. Building envelope and HVAC system design must interact to reduce thepotential of moisture and mildew formation.
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