SYSTEM SELECTION

SYSTEM SELECTION
 Why Study “System
Why Study  System Selection
Selection”??
• To
To contextualize the information we will share 
contextualize the information we will share
into a process
• Because design is a process
• Because
Because this is usually where we fail as 
this is usually where we fail as
designers

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 Understanding the Owner
Understanding the Owner
The system or solution selected will only be as 
The system or solution selected will only be as
good as your understanding of the problem.
“engineers have a reputation for weaving yards 
of solutions with inches of problems…”

This may be the most 
y
important factor
in system selection: 
KNOW WHAT
O
THE OWNER WANTS
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 Owner’ss View on Sustainability
Owner View on Sustainability
• Many owners don
Many owners don’tt have a clear understanding 
have a clear understanding
of their sustainable/high performance 
objectives
• A simple definition of sustainability can help

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 Defining Sustainability
Defining Sustainability
“Sustainable
Sustainable development is development that 
development is development that
meets the needs of the present without 
compromising the ability of future generations
compromising the ability of future generations 
to meet their own needs.”

… it’s difficult to write specifications that 
capture this definition… 
hi d fi i i

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 “Everyday”
Everyday  Sustainability
Sustainability

Efficiency + Reliability
+ Reliability + Durability
+ Durability + 
+
Simplicity
p y + Health and safety + y
Maintainability = 
Everyday sustainability

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 Using the Everyday
Using the Everyday
Sustainability Definition
• Build a matrix of priorities with the owner
• This will lead into a discussion about life‐cycle 
costs and away from first‐costs
– Energy budgets
– Maintenance procedures
– Occupant issues
– Other

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 The OPR
The OPR
• The
The Owner
Owner’ss Project Requirements (OPR) will 
Project Requirements (OPR) will
be discussed further in the class on 
commissioning
• Understanding the owner’s needs is a crucial 
first step… don’t neglect it.

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CRITERIA FOR SYSTEM SELECTION

Zoning
Over/under sizing
Over/under‐sizing
Life‐cycle costs
System integration

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 Zoning
How small does an indoor zone need to be?

• 20 people?
20 people?
• 10 people?
• 2 people?
2 people?
• 1 person?

It depends…

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 Determining Size of a Zone
Determining Size of a Zone
• Similarity of occupants
y p
– Tasks
• Level of activityy
• Setpoints
– Schedules
• Predictable schedules: can be grouped (office space, 
classrooms, church)
• Irregular usage spaces: should be individually 
controlled (labs, conference rooms)
– Type of occupants (high or low tolerance)
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 Determining Size of a Zone
Determining Size of a Zone
• Type of mechanical system
Type of mechanical system
– Some systems are more flexible and can be 
adapted to various sizes of zones
adapted to various sizes of zones
– Others are more difficult to apply to various sizes 
of zones
of zones
• Location (relative to sun)
– Building orientation
B ildi i t ti

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 Building Orientation
Building Orientation

5 zones

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 Building Orientation (cont.)
Building Orientation  (cont )

2 zones

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 Warning!!!
• In
In selecting a system, creating zones, 
selecting a system creating zones
calculating loads…
• We, as designers, try our best to 
predict the future.

• DON’T speculate blindly: talk to the 
p y
owner!!!

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 Expansion
• If a space is likely to be expanded… ensure that 
If a space is likely to be expanded ensure that
the design is flexible and/or expandable.
– Office spaces
Office spaces
– Manufacturing
– Labs
– Healthcare

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 Change of Occupancy
Change of Occupancy
• If a space is likely to change occupancy… your 
If a space is likely to change occupancy your
choices should not limit future changes.
– Schools
– Labs
– Office spaces
Office spaces

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 Over/Under sizing
Over/Under‐sizing
Rule of thumb…
Rule of thumb
Undersize cooling / oversize heating

• Efficiency
• Safety
• Comfort

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 Why Oversize?
Why Oversize?
• Fear (belt and suspender approach)
Fear (belt and suspender approach)
• Expandability for future growth
– It can be achieved through proper designs that 
can be expanded
– Allow for physical space for expansion

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Example of Expandability
Example of Expandability

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 Why Undersize?
Why Undersize?
• Efficiency…
Efficiency… 
–Driving the equipment close to its most efficient 
operating point
operating point
–Part‐load efficiency
–For cooling systems: Better dehumidification 
controls 
• Financial
– Start small… grow into the building when there 
are tenants
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Cooling Systems
Cooling Systems

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Heating Systems
Heating Systems

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 Life Cycle Costs
Life Cycle Costs
• Mostly about efficiency… 
• Maintainability
• Operations costs
O ti t
• Comfort / Productivity
• Vacancy / Usage / Income
• Tenant fit‐up costs
T t fit t
• Replacement/disposal

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 Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• Costs:
– Purchase price
– Installation
– Operation
– Maintenance and upgrading 
Maintenance and upgrading
– Disposal
– Replacement
– Interest
– Inflation
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 Understanding the Owner
Understanding the Owner’ss 
Financial Goals
• Budget
– Capital
p
– O&M
• Expected return on investment
E t d t i t t
– Simple payback
• Revenue streams
– Income
– Ability to borrow
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 System Integration
System Integration
Adaptability: the ability to change (or be 
Adaptability: the ability to change (or be
changed) to fit changed circumstances (see 
also: flexibility suppleness pliability ability)
also: flexibility, suppleness, pliability, ability)

Th HVAC
The HVAC systems do not operate in isolation…
d i i l i

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 Today’ss HVAC Design Engineer
Today HVAC Design Engineer
• Must understand the other building design 
Must understand the other building design
disciplines (plumbing, electrical, structural, 
sustainable commissioning architecture
sustainable, commissioning, architecture, 
civil, etc.)
• Must be able to talk “architectese”
• Must understand issues of constructability
Must understand issues of constructability
• Must be willing to compromise

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Examples of Integrated Design
Examples of Integrated Design
• Plumbing
• Lighting
• Fire Protection
• Structural
• Architectural
• Landscape architect

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 System Integration: Plumbing
System Integration: Plumbing
• Heating hot water boilers sometimes have the 
Heating hot water boilers sometimes have the
dual‐role of also generating domestic hot 
water
– Understand the local code requirements for 
minimum dhw temperature
minimum dhw
– Understand the summer/winter operation 
c a e ges
challenges

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 System Integration: Lighting
System Integration: Lighting
• Electrical engineers should be driven (by 
Electrical engineers should be driven (by
energy modeler) to design buildings with a 
lighting power density (LPD) of < 0 6 W/ft2
lighting power density (LPD) of < 0.6 W/ft
• HVAC engineers have to appreciate the impact 
of lights on the cooling systems
– Lighting cooling load does not have to be part of 
the space load

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Lighting Load
Lighting Load

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 System Integration: Lighting
System Integration: Lighting
• Electrical engineers should be driven (by 
Electrical engineers should be driven (by
energy modeler) to design buildings with a 
lighting power density (LPD) of < 0 6 W/ft2
lighting power density (LPD) of < 0.6 W/ft
• HVAC engineers have to appreciate the impact 
of lights on the cooling systems
– Lighting cooling load does not have to be part of 
the space load
– Daylight harvesting: cannot add to the solar heat 
gain
i
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 System Integration: Lighting (cont.)
System Integration: Lighting  (cont )

• On
On‐off
off signals can be shared between HVAC 
signals can be shared between HVAC
and Lights
– Occupancy sensors 
Occupancy sensors
• Motion
• Access control
Access control
– Schedules

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 System Integration: Fire/Smoke
System Integration: Fire/Smoke
• Exhaust fans can be used to perform 
Exhaust fans can be used to perform
ventilation duties as well as smoke evacuation
• Must respect local authorities of master/slave 
relationship between fire alarm panel and BAS

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 System Integration: Structure
System Integration: Structure
• Thermal mass (understand lag time)
Thermal mass (understand lag time)
• Integrated ductwork inside structure

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 System Integration: Architecture
System Integration: Architecture
• Building envelope and fenestration: become an 
Building envelope and fenestration: become an
expert… and advise the architect on the 
choices:
– Thermal mass
– External or internal shading
External or internal shading
– Window films
– Thermal breaks
h lb k
– Window heat transfer: understand the U‐factor of 
the complete window assembly 
h l i d bl
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System Integration: Architecture (cont.)
System Integration: Architecture 
• A dollar more in insulation will likely not save a 
A dollar more in insulation will likely not save a
dollar in HVAC systems’ first‐costs… 
• BUT, do the analysis to determine how much 
insulation is optimal… 
• AND, do the analysis to determine how much 
insulation will be required
insulation will be required

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System Integration: Landscape Design
System Integration: Landscape Design
• Shading or Wind Protection from trees
Shading or Wind Protection from trees
• Eliminate irrigation systems; use rain water in 
cooling tower or toilets/urinals

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 System Integration: Summary
System Integration: Summary
• Think outside of the HVAC box
Think outside of the HVAC box
– There is only so much the HVAC engineer can do 
in isolation
in isolation
– The successful HVAC engineer of tomorrow will 
optimize the HVAC systems through Integrated
optimize the HVAC systems through Integrated 
Building Design (IBD)

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 System Selection: Conclusion
System Selection: Conclusion
First and foremost:
First and foremost: 

You must understand the owner’s needs… 
d d h ’ d
the rest will come naturally

(zoning rightsizing life cycle cost integration)

(zoning, rightsizing, life cycle cost, integration)

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Questions?

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