Energy Credit 2: Natural Ventilation Examples

Natural Ventilation (1 to 4 points)

1 point 2.1. Install HVAC interlocks to turn off HVAC systems if operable
„ No air conditioning
windows or doors are opened. – Cesar Chavez Elementary, Oakland
– Ross School, Ross, Marin County

„ San Diego USD Policy

3 points 2.2. Design 90% of permanent classrooms without air
conditioning. – No AC unless indoor T > 78°F for >10% of
school hours

Ross School Cesar Chavez

Ventilation 49 Ventilation 50

HVAC System Selection Decision Tree

Can natural ventilation meet all cooling needs?

Yes No

HVAC and Can natural ventilation meet

outdoor air ventilation
Can evaporative cooling
meet cooling requirements?
See Page 298
Building Envelope
requirement?

No Yes No Yes Volume II

Heating only hydronic systems Evaporative cooling system
Radiant floor Indirect
Baseboard Direct
or Indirect/Direct
Heating only air systems
Gas furnace
Unit ventilator

HVAC
Is natural ventilation
accessible and beneficial
for a significant portion of
Heating only air systems the school year?
Gas furnace
Unit ventilator No Yes

System
or
Heating only hydronic +
separate air ventilation system Mixed mode HVAC system
Radiant floor (allow simple occupant control
Baseboard of HVAC and operable openings)
- Packaged rooftop
- Gas/electric split

Selection
- Ductless split
- Ceiling panel
- Unit ventilator (2-pipe or 4-pipe)
- Air or water cooled chiller (if appl.)
HEATING ONLY
Cooling and heating system

and Design
(Ensure efficient duct and fan design)
- VAV reheat
- Packaged rooftop
- Gas/electric split
- Unit ventilator (2-pipe or 4-pipe)
- Air or water cooled chiller (if appl.)

HEATING AND COOLING

HVAC System Design 52

Which is Best? (Hint: it’s not always clear) Which is Best? (continued)

Packaged
PackagedRooftop
Rooftop Packaged
PackagedRooftop
Rooftop
„ Can run individual
Packaged
PackagedSplit
SplitSystem
System Packaged
PackagedSplit
SplitSystem
System systems for after-
2-pipe
2-pipefan
fancoils
coils hour activities
Packaged
PackagedVariable
VariableAir
AirVolume
Volume Packaged
PackagedVariable
VariableAir
AirVolume
Volume
•Air-cooled 4-pipe
4-pipefan
fancoils
coils •Air-cooled
•Air-cooled •Air-cooled
•Evap.-cooled
•Evap.-cooled •Evap.-cooled
•Evap.-cooled
Variable
VariableAir
AirVolume
Volume
•Single
•Singleduct
duct
•Dual
•Dualduct
duct
Water-Source
Water-SourceHeat
HeatPumps
Pumps
•Cooling
•Coolingtower
tower
•Ground
•Groundloop
loop Central plant options

53 54

9
Which is Best? (continued) Which is Best? (continued)

Packaged
PackagedRooftop
Rooftop „ Greater comfort potential due
to more steady temperature
Packaged
PackagedSplit
SplitSystem
System control

„ Compressor failure
affects only a single Packaged
PackagedVariable
VariableAir
AirVolume
Volume
•Air-cooled 4-pipe
4-pipefan
fancoils
coils
classroom •Air-cooled
•Evap.-cooled
•Evap.-cooled
Variable
VariableAir
AirVolume
Volume
•Single
•Singleduct
duct
•Dual duct
•Dual duct
Water-Source
Water-SourceHeat
HeatPumps
Pumps
•Cooling
•Coolingtower
tower
•Ground
•Groundloop
loop

55 56

Which is Best? (continued) Which is Best? (continued)

„ Fewer compressors to 2-pipe

2-pipefan
fancoils
coils 2-pipe
2-pipefan
fancoils
coils
maintain
4-pipe
4-pipefan
fancoils
coils „ Potential for lower 4-pipe
4-pipefan
fancoils
coils
„ Potential for lower operating cost
maintenance cost
Variable
VariableAir
AirVolume
Volume Variable
VariableAir
AirVolume
Volume
•Single
•Singleduct
duct •Single
•Singleduct
duct
•Dual
•Dualduct
duct •Dual
•Dualduct
duct
Water-Source
Water-SourceHeat
HeatPumps
Pumps
•Cooling
•Coolingtower
tower
Central plant options… •Ground
•Groundloop
loop Central plant options…

57 58

System Selection Considerations The Good News…

Set
Setupupaascoring
scoringmatrix
matrix
„ Initial cost
to
tocompare
comparesystem
system Any of these system types can be designed
„ Noise and vibration alternatives
alternatives to be relatively efficient given careful attention to
„ Thermal comfort performance (It’s
(It’sworth
worthspending
spendingaafewfew specifications and design details
„ Operating costs and energy efficiency hours
hoursearly
earlyin
inthe
thedesign
design
„ Maintenance costs and needs process)
process) (and usually with a little extra up front investment)
„ Space requirements (in the classroom, on the roof or in mechanical rooms)

„ Electrical service requirements

„ Gas service requirements

„ Durability and longevity

„ Indoor air quality ventilation performance

„ The ability to provide individual control for classrooms and other spaces

„ The type of refrigerant used and its ozone-depleting potential

HVAC System Design 59 HVAC System Design 60

10
HVAC Guidelines HVAC Guidelines (cont’d)

„ TC1: Cross Ventilation
„ TC2: Stack Ventilation
„ TC3: Ceiling Fans
„ TC4: Gas/Electric Split System
„ TC5: Packaged Rooftop System
„ TC6: Displacement Ventilation
System
„ TC7: Hydronic Ceiling Panel
System
„ TC9: Ductless Split System
„ TC10: Evaporative Cooling System
„ TC11: VAV Reheat System
„ TC12: Radiant Slab System
„ TC13: Baseboard Heating System
„ TC14: Gas-Fired Radiant Heating
System
„ TC15: Ground Source Heat Pump
System
„ TC17: Dedicated Outside Air „ TC23: Hot Water Supply
Systems
„ TC24: Adjustable Thermostats
„ TC18: Economizers
„ TC25: EMS/DDC
„ TC19: Air Distribution Design
Guidelines „ TC26: Demand Controlled
Ventilation
„ TC20: Duct Sealing and Insulation
„ TC27: CO Sensors for Garage
„ TC21: Hydronic Distribution Exhaust Fans
„ TC21: Chilled Water Plants

„ TC8: Unit Ventilator System „ TC16: Evaporatively Precooled

Condenser

HVAC System Design 61 HVAC System Design 62

Design Case: Packaged Rooftop System Impact of Cooling Compressor Cycling

„ Minimize cooling loads (envelope and lighting)
„ Avoid conservative load calculations (and don’t rely on rules-of-thumb)
„ Avoid over sizing (design conditions occur relatively few hours per year)
„ Economizer – factory installed and run tested, direct drive preferred
„ Thermostatic expansion valve
„ High efficiency, SEER 12 or better
„ Design ducts for low air velocity

Standard Efficiency High Efficiency

Image Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003 Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003
HVAC System Design 63 HVAC System Design 64

Impact of Cycling on Efficiency Equipment Sizing

„ Bigger is not always better! Avoid oversizing for:

– AC/heat pump compressors.
– Furnaces.
– Boilers.
– Chillers.

„ Sometimes bigger is better!

– Ducts.
– Fans (if they have speed control).
– Cooling towers.
– Pipes.

Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003
HVAC System Design 65 HVAC System Design 66

11
Economizer Energy Savings Packaged System Problems

Economizers
100.0%

90.0%
Refrigerant charge
80.0%

70.0% Low airflow

Annual Energy Savings

60.0%
Cycling fans during
50.0% occupied period

40.0%
Fans run during
unoccupied period
30.0%

20.0%
Simultaneous heating
and cooling
10.0%
No outside air intake at
0.0% unit
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Climate Zone
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Non-integrated Economizer Integrated Economizer
Problem Frequency

Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003 Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003
HVAC System Design 67 HVAC System Design 68

Economizer Actuator Types Economizer Specifications

„ Factory-installed and run-tested economizers

„ Direct-drive actuators

„ Differential (dual) changeover logic

„ Low leakage dampers

Linkage Driven Drive Drive

Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003 Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003
HVAC System Design 69 HVAC System Design 70

Thermostatic Expansion Valve Impact Design Case: Packaged Rooftop System Costs
1.2

TXV 1000 ft2 classroom, 4 ton AC, SEER 10

1
100%
Increase SEER 10 to 12 ($100 per ton) $400
Economizer $300
Efficiency

0.8

Thermostatic expansion valve $75

Normalized Efficiency

Fixed Expansion Device

0.6
TXV Total $775 ($0.78 per ft2)
Normalized

Short orifice
Reduce from 4 tons to 3 tons ($500 per ton) - $500

0.4
Net Cost $275 ($0.28 per ft2)

Savings (~1,600 kWh/yr, @ $0.12/kWh) $190 per year

0.2
Simple payback period
With downsizing credit 1.4 years
0
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 110% 120% 130% 140%
Without downsizing credit 4.1 years
% Factory Charge
% Factory Charge
Source: Small HVAC System Design Guide, CEC PIER Program, 2003
HVAC System Design 71 72

12
Additional Packaged Rooftop Measures

HVAC and
„ Higher efficiency, SEER >12 (add $350 per ton for SEER 16)

„ Multiple compressors or variable speed compressor

Building Envelope
„ Variable speed or multiple speed fan

„ CO2 ventilation control

„ Specify commissioning
Special HVAC
„ Integration with lighting motion sensor control
Systems:
„ Interlocks on windows and doors

„ Increase the air flow to extract extra sensible cooling capacity out of Displacement
Ventilation
the unit, allowing the selection of a smaller “nominal” unit.

HVAC System Design 73

Displacement Ventilation Benefits of Displacement Ventilation

„ Fresh cool air is slowly supplied „ Healthier environment; germs are not spread as easily.
near the floor.
„ 100% fresh air vs. recirculation of return air.
„ Air rises as
it warms. „ Improved acoustics.

„ Air is exhausted near the „ Energy efficient system.

ceiling.
„ Compatible with operable windows and natural ventilation.

Courtesy H. L. Turner Group

Displacement Ventilation 75 Displacement Ventilation 76

Displacement Ventilation Details Displacement Ventilation Details (cont’d)

Conventional Displacement Conventional Displacement

System System System System
Ceiling Height 8’+ 10’+ Cooling load (lights) 3,300 Btu/h x 0.13 = 430 Btu/h

Cooling load (people) 5,000 Btu/h x 0.30 = 1,500 Btu/h

Supply air flow 1,000 – 1,500 cfm 400 - 600 cfm
Cooling load (equip) 1,500 Btu/h x 0.30 = 450 Btu/h
Diffuser air velocity 600 – 800 fpm <100 fpm
Cooling load (shell) 0 – 3,000 Btu/h x 0.19 = 0 – 570 Btu/h
Cooling supply air 52° - 55° 63° – 68° Total space 9,800 – 12,800 Btu/h 2,380 – 2,960 Btu/h
temperature cooling load
Outside air flow 400 – 500 cfm (~30%) 400 – 600 cfm (100%)
Ventilation air load 14,000 Btu/h 14,000 Btu/h
(varies by climate)

Total cooling load 23,800 – 26,800 Btu/h 16,380 – 16,960 Btu/h

(2.0 – 2.2 tons) (1.4 tons)

Displacement Ventilation 77 Displacement Ventilation 78

13
Displacement Ventilation Details (cont’d) Providing the Neutral Air

Conventional Displacement
System System
AC size 3 tons 2 tons

Cooling demand 3.3 kW 2.2 kW

Fan demand 0.3 kW 0.2 kW

Total demand 3.6 kW 2.4 kW

Displacement Ventilation 79 Displacement Ventilation 80

Providing the Neutral Air (cont’d) Providing the Neutral Air (cont’d)

Displacement Ventilation 81 Displacement Ventilation 82

Providing the Neutral Air (cont’d) Integrated Thermal Energy Storage

Displacement Ventilation 83 Displacement Ventilation 84

14
More Information on Displacement Ventilation
„ Guideline TC6: Displacement Ventilation Systems.
„ Yuan, Xiaoxiong. Performance Evaluation and Design
Guidelines for Displacement Ventilation. ASHRAE
Transactions. 1999. V. 105. Pt. 1. www.ashrae.org.
„ Current research project:
– CEC PIER Indoor Environmental Quality Study, Thermal
Displacement Ventilation in Classrooms.
– Demonstration classrooms to be installed summer 2004
Displacement Ventilation
What You Should Remember
„ Minimize cooling loads through orientation and shading design.
„ Take advantage of natural ventilation where it’s feasible
to expand comfort range and save energy.
„ Perform load calculations and avoid over sizing AC equipment
„ Consider displacement ventilation for better air quality and energy
efficiency.
85 86
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