The Fundamentals of HVAC: What

Shapes the Storage Environment

Sustainable Preservation Practices for

Managing Storage Environments
Webinar: April 3, 2013
 Introduction
•  Presenter
–  Jeremy Linden,
Preservation
Environment Specialist
Image Permanence
Institute, RIT
 Technical Support and
Questions
•  Shae Trewin – IPI Preservation
Environment Specialist

•  Lauren Parish – IPI Web

Designer
 Technical Information
•  Cable internet preferred rather than wireless or dial-up
•  Participants can use their computer’s speakers (VoIP) or
telephone.
•  United States
Toll: +1 (909) 259-0026
Access Code: 630-859-458
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the webinar
•  Need Help? Contact Lauren Parish at lmppph@rit.edu or
(585) 475-7175
 Questions?
Submit questions using the Question Box
located in the Go To Webinar control panel
Sustainable Preservation Practices for
Managing Storage Environments
About this project
•  An Education and
Training Grant from
the National
Endowment for the
Humanities, Division
of Preservation and
Access
 Outline of Webinar
•  Influence of regional/local climate
•  Importance of the building envelope
•  Basics of HVAC systems: “The
Loop”
–  Heating/Cooling systems
–  Subcool/Reheat systems
–  Desiccant systems
–  Evaporative cooling
•  Where the energy goes
•  Working as a team
 The Goal: An Optimal
Preservation Environment

An optimal preservation environment is one

that achieves the best possible
preservation of collections at the least
possible consumption of energy, and is
sustainable over time.
Understanding
HVAC
Defined:
•  HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
•  Mechanical intervention to condition air to a
preferred temperature and relative humidity
HVAC Systems are a Circular Stream
of Moving Air: “The Loop”
Along Which:
Temperature can be Raised or Lowered
Humidity can be Raised or Lowered
Filtration can Occur
Outside Air can be Added and Removed
HVAC System Components
• Air Handling Unit
• Supply Air Ducts
• Spaces Served
• Terminal Equipment
• Return Air Path
Buildings Commonly Have Multiple Systems;
Systems Commonly Serve Multiple Spaces
The Local Climate
What do you have?
Remember: Basic Thermodynamics
•  Dew Point temperature is a representation
of the actual moisture content of air
(absolute humidity)
–  Higher the dew point, more moisture is
present
–  Lower the dew point, less moisture is present
Local Climate
Local Climate
Local Climate
Local Climate
The Building Envelope
Class One and Two
Building Envelope
Unheated Free-Standing Garage
Class Three and Four
Building Envelope
 Class Five Building
Storage Area Envelopes
 Class Six Building
Storage Area Envelopes
What HVAC Systems
Are Designed to Do
Spaces with Exterior Exposure
What HVAC Systems are Designed to Do
Remove Perimeter Heat Gain
What HVAC Systems are Designed to Do
Supplement Perimeter Heat Loss
What HVAC Systems are Designed to Do
Remove Heat Gain from Interior Zones
Spaces with no Exterior Exposure
What HVAC Systems are Designed to Do
Remove Heat Gain from Interior Zones
What HVAC Systems are Designed to Do
Provide Ventilation
What HVAC Systems are Designed to Do
Correct Humidity Gains or Losses
Basics of HVAC
Systems
Boiler – Hot Water or Steam
Energy Input:

•  Fuel
Forced Air Furnace
with Cooling
Energy Input:
•  Fuel
•  Fan Electricity
•  Compressor Electricity
•  Condenser Fan Elec.
 Basic Components of
Direct Expansion (DX) Refrigeration
Systems
Window or Thru-the-Wall
Air Conditioner
Energy Input:

•  Fan Electricity
•  Compressor Electricity
Condensing Units
Basic Components of HVAC Systems
Cooling Mode
Basic Components of HVAC Systems
Heating Mode
 Air Handling Unit
(AHU) Components
 Air Handling Unit (AHU)
Components
Fans, Ducts, Dampers
 Air Handling Unit (AHU)
Components
Filter(s)
 Air Handling Unit (AHU)
Components
Heating Coils
 Air Handling Unit (AHU)
Components
Humidifier
 Air Handling Unit (AHU)
Components
Cooling Coil/Dehumidifier
 Fundamentals of Air Temperature,
Relative Humidity and Absolute Humidity
Dehumidification by sub-cooling and reheating
Cooling Coil Dehumidification
Sources of Cooling/Heating/
Humidification
 Desiccant
Dehumidification
Desiccant Dehumidification at AHU
Desiccant Dehumidification at AHU
Desiccant Dehumidification
at Outside Air
Evaporative Cooling
Evaporative Cooling
 Evaporative Cooling
•  Uses latent heat of vaporization to cool and moisten
outside air that is warm and dry
•  Often energy efficient compared to standard air
conditioning, practical choice for hot, arid climates
•  However:
–  No dehumidification in system
–  Cooling can be reduced if moist outside air
–  Humidification is a by-product – cooling is the
primary purpose
Terminal Devices
Variable Air Volume Boxes
Reheat Coils
Perimeter Radiation
Controlling the System
 How does it all work together?

•  Set points drive the system

operation
•  Based on sensors in the space or
in the AHU
•  Control signal can be digital
or pneumatic to valves, fan
controls, damper actuators
etc.

•  Most systems are controlled

from either a single sensor or
an average group for
temperature and RH

•  Other sensor points are

reference to check system
operation
 Controls typically run:
•  Operating schedule
•  Set points
•  OA intake
•  Fan speed
•  Coil valves
•  Damper positions
•  All the moving parts!
Working As A Team
What is the Goal?
Improving communication
between Collections and
Facilities staff:
•  Helps define
preservation and
energy/operation goals
•  Facilitates optimization
process
Collective Effort
•  Requires
participation of:
–  Collections
–  Administration
–  Facilities
•  Process – not a
project
 Project Web Site
•  Visit www.ipisustainability.org
– Information on upcoming webinars
– Recordings of past webinars
– Webinar and Workshop power point
presentations
 Reference Guidebook
•  Project publication
•  Has bibliography of relevant
articles, guidelines and
standards
•  $25 – available from
www.imagepermanence.org
 Upcoming Webinars
•  May 1: Best Practices for Collecting and Analyzing Environmental Data
•  June 5: Dealing with Summer Heat & Humidity
•  July 10: Investigate Your HVAC System & Identify Potential Energy Savings –
Guest Speaker Peter Herzog, Herzog/Wheeler & Associates, Energy
Management Consultant
•  August 7: Practical Approaches to Environmental Control for Small Institutions
– Guest speaker Richard Kerschner, Director of Preservation and Conservation,
Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vermont
•  September 4: Sustainable Preservation Practices

Webinars from Jan-April are available for viewing on ipisustainability.org

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