BUILDING ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEMS

(15CVP306)
January 2016 Three hours

Answer FOUR Questions.

All Questions carry equal marks.
Candidates may use any Loughborough University approved calculator.

1 a) Explain why it is important to have fuses and circuit breakers (generically

called “protective devices”) within electrical distribution systems. Discuss
their differences in operation. [4 marks]

b) Explain the terms: Overload current; Short circuit current. Earth fault
current; Discrimination between protective devices. [4 marks]

c) For a 6600/400V 1250kVA power transformer, calculate:

i) Primary full load current [2 marks]
ii) Secondary full load current [2 marks]

d) Two identical single phase circuits using PVCPVC + CPC (twin & earth)
cables are routed together within a ceiling void clipped on the roof trusses.
The cables are touching (Cg=0.8). In summer the ceiling void temperature
could be 40oC (Ca=0.87). Both circuits are protected by 32amp (In=32A)
fuses to BS 88.
Calculate the minimum current rating (Iz) of the live conductors. [4 marks]

e) The Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR) defines some regulations for

“Absolute” compliance and others as “Reasonably Practical” compliance.
Explain the terms Absolute and Reasonably Practical as applied to the
EAWR. [4 marks]

2 a) Analyse and describe the operation of Lithium Bromide/water absorption

systems using the most common system diagram. [8 marks]

Question 2 continues/…

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b) A Refrigerant R134a refrigeration plant has a constant condenser

pressure of 10 bar and a constant evaporator pressure of 2 bar to meet a
cooling load of 45 kW. The vapour leaving the evaporator is superheated
by 10 oC and the liquid leaving the condenser is sub-cooled by 5 oC. If the
compressor has an isentropic efficiency of 90%, determine:

i) The rate at which heat is rejected at the condenser [4 marks]

ii) The mass flow rate of the refrigerant [2 marks]
iii) The actual COP [2 marks]
iv) The Carnot COP [2 marks]

Compare the two COP results for (iii) and (iv) and comment on the above
results. [2 marks]

You may use the pressure-enthalpy chart given in Figure Q2.

3 a) Considering a domestic boiler, or boiler for a small commercial building,

discuss the factors affecting the seasonal operation and efficiency. Use
diagrams to illustrate how the heat output might vary with time in response
to different loads. [5 marks]

b) On a larger boiler installation, discuss the use of multiple boilers as a

strategy to maximise part load efficiency while delivering a required
capacity of 800kW. [5 marks]

c) State the primary function of the boiler plant and discuss the tasks facing
the designer when selecting a suitable boiler plant for a building. Comment
on the key factors affecting boiler selection. [10 marks]

4 a) Solar selective surfaces have been developed to allow solar thermal

systems to operate at higher temperatures with improved efficiency. With
reference to short and long wave radiation characteristics explain how
they work. [4 marks]

Question 4 continues/…

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b) A new flat plate solar collector system in which the space between the
absorber plate and collector cover is evacuated to a pressure of less than
0.1Pa to suppress gaseous conduction and convection is proposed. The
heat transfer between the absorber and cover for this solar collector is
essentially only comprised of radiation. Calculate the top loss coefficient
for this system. Other parameters are provided below.
 Plate to cover spacing 6mm
 Plate emittance 0.05
 Ambient air and sky temperature 10°C
 Wind speed 2m/s
 Mean plate temperature 80°C
 Collector inclination 45˚
 Glass emittance 0.9

(Hint: use an iterative method and guess the cover temperature to be

30°C) [12 marks]

c) Three solar collector systems have been shortlisted for a new solar
collector installation. The collector performance characteristics are
summarised in Table Q4c.

FR τα UL
Collector A 0.95 0.7 3.4
Collector B 0.90 0.89 6.5
Collector C 0.78 0.6 1.1
Table Q4c: Collector performance characteristics

Determine which system will have the highest efficiency when the incident
radiation is 600Wm-2, the ambient temperature is 20°C and
i) the inlet temperature is 50°C,
ii) the inlet temperature is 100°C.

Indicate which collector should be selected for each inlet temperature

[4 marks]

The following equations and values are provided

hr   ( T p + T c )( T 2p + T c2 )/(1/  p + 1/  g - 1)  ( - )
 = F R (  . ) - U L T i T a 
 I 
hr =  g  ( T c + T sky )( T c + T sky )
2 2
h = 5.7 + 3.8V
Ut(T p -T a )
σ=5.67 x 10-8 Tc=T p -
hc , p  c + h r , p  c

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5 a) Give a full description of ground and air source heat pump systems. Explain
the advantages and disadvantages between the two technologies. Include a
discussion on the factors affecting the coefficient of performance in each
system. [7 marks]

b) Explain why an electric heat pump installation for space heating may result in
similar CO2 emissions to a gas-fired boiler installation. Include approximate
numerical values and calculations where appropriate in your answer.
[3 marks]

c) What is the definition of coefficient of performance of a heat pump and state

the standard COP values for a ground source heat pump and an air source
heat pump as used in the SAP procedure? [4 marks]

d) What is the preferred heating system distribution system for a house with a
ground-source heat pump installed and why? [4 marks]

e) Why is a manufacturer’s stated coefficient of performance unlikely to be

realised in practice? [2 marks]

6 a) List three of the main changes and targets introduced by each Part L
regulation in England from 2006 to the present day for new buildings.
[9 marks]

b) i) List the five criteria in Part L2A 2013. [2.5 marks]

ii) Describe briefly the simplest way of complying with Part L Criterion 1.
[1 mark]
iii) Which is the last parameter to be known in a Part L2A as-built
calculation? [1 mark]
iv) Explain why the use of the limiting U-values in criterion 2 is not
recommended for overall Part L2A 2013 compliance. [1 mark]
v) List and describe briefly two of the main factors that influence
compliance with the ‘Limiting the effects of heat gains in summer’
criterion. [1 mark]
vi) Explain when an extension is evaluated using Part L2A or Part L2B.
[1 mark]
vii) Explain briefly when Consequential Improvements apply to works in
existing buildings and what compliance with them requires. [1.5 marks]
viii) Indicate the two main differences that the new Part L2A in Wales
has introduced compared to that in England. [1 mark]
ix) Indicate if the following statement is correct or not: “Part L2A 2013
requires that in the Part L compliance calculations a specific building
emits at least 9% less CO2 emissions than what was required by Part
L2A 2010”. Or alternatively explain why the following statement is
incorrect. [1 mark]

J. Woodward, S. Firth, P. Eames, R. Buswell, M. Eftekhari, J. Hernandez

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Figure Q2 P-H chart for R134

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