University of New South Wales

School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering

SOLA5017 GSOE9017: Managing Energy Efficiency
Due Date: 2 pm Friday 6th June, 2014
Week 13
Hand in SOFT COPY only via Moodle (pdf)
Include a coversheet
(http://www.pv.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/individualcoversheet.pdf)

Assignment 2

Answer all THREE questions.

Question 1: PC VS LAPTOP
1. A large public University is costing the replacement of 235 of the libraries computers.
The options are:
Base Scenario (business as usual) - OptiPlex GX280 Mini Tower and
1704FPVt Screen (Capital Cost $1400 per computer, Data Sheet provided)
Option 1 (saving option if cost effective)- Precision M20 laptop (Capital Cost
$1500 per computer, Data Sheet provided)
Questions
NOTE: For your answers, outline your method of calculation and where appropriate
present your answers in a Table.
a. Calculate the total expected yearly energy usage (kWh) and energy cost ($) of
the two systems based on the following usage pattern. The computers will be
operating 350 days per year (250 weekdays and 100 weekend days). See
provided data sheets (see Additional Information.pdf) for energy usage in
different modes of operation.
Mode of Operation

Hours Operating

On (Maximum)

10am 2pm (4 hrs per day)

Standby (Low Power Sleep Mode)

8am 10am and 2pm 7pm (7 hrs per

day)

Off

7pm 8am (13 hrs per day)

b. Calculate the NPV for Option 1 compared to the base case. Assume the systems
will last for 5 years. Apply a discount rate of 7%. Use the following energy tariffs
to calculate the energy costs of the systems:
Off peak power: $0.12per kWh.
Shoulder power: $0.21 per kWh.
Peak power: $0.27 per kWh.
The appropriate times for these tariffs (for both weekdays and weekends) are
given in Appendix A at the end of this document.
c. Which is the best option financially?
d. Which is the best option energy wise?
e. The electricity prices are expected to rise by 4% per year for the next 5 years.
Recalculate the NPV of Option 1 compared to the base case, on this basis.
f. Write a brief explanation, 1 paragraph, explaining the results and your
recommendation to the Head Librarian.
Question 2: EXHAUST SYSTEM
You are required to look at the ventilation of a carpark space in an existing building. The
exhaust duct will rise up through the building, into the plantroom on the roof of the building
where the fan will be located. The fan will then discharge the air. The air path is 75 meters
from intake to discharge including allowances for grilles, bends and dampers.
You need to consider the pressure the fan needs to produce in order to:
i) impart to the air the kinetic energy required at the output of the duct and
ii) overcome frictional losses in the duct (major and minor losses).
For the purpose of this question, the pressure drop due to frictional losses in the duct
(major and minor losses) is given by:
pressure loss per metre (Pa/m) x equivalent number of metres of duct.
There are three alternative duct sizes for the application to be considered:
Duct 1 - 600 mm x 600 mm which operates at 3 Pa/m.
Duct 2 - 750 mm x 750 mm which operates at 1 Pa/m.
Duct 3 - 1000 mm x 1000 mm which operates at 0.25 Pa/m
The pressure drops per metre are for the required volume flow rate of 5000 l/s. Average
velocities in the duct can be calculated by considering the volume flow rate and cross
sectional area of the ducts. You need to select a fan to suit each of the ducts in terms of
the pressure and flow rate requirements of the system. The performance curves of SIX fans

are provided ((see Additional Information.pdf)). We will assume that the electrical power
drawn by the fan is the same for any flow rate and pressure the fan is capable of delivering.
Therefore, the electrical power consumed by a fan is given in the section labelled Motor
Data: Rated (kW). For example the fan: LE80JL25P-4GSF, has an electrical motor with
a rated power of 3 kW.
The costs of the fans are given below as a function of their rated power. Also shown
in the table is the manufacturers recommended maximum pressure for the fan
Power (kW)
Cost ($)
Max. Press.
(Pa)

0.75
1690
80

1.1
1730
100

2.2
1840
175

3
1920
300

4
2020
500

5.5
2170
800

Assume that the cost of mounting and installing the different size fans is the same
for all fans at $5,250. The ductwork costs $64 per square metre, fabricated and
installed. This area is related to the surface area of the metal used to construct the ducts
NOT the cross sectional area of the duct for air-flow. That is you will need to use the air
path length to calculate the surface area of the duct. This includes an allowance for all the
duct and associated items including bends, grilles and dampers.
The fans will operate from 7am to 7pm, 12 hours per day, 7 days per week, 48 weeks
per year. The electricity costs are:
Off peak power: $0.12per kWh.
Shoulder power: $0.21 per kWh.
Peak power: $0.27 per kWh.
The appropriate times for these tariffs (for both weekdays and weekends) are given in
Appendix A at the end of this document.
Questions:
a. Present a table which shows for each duct:
i) the average velocity of the air to meet the required volume flow rate,
ii) the pressure a fan needs to produce to overcome the frictional losses in the duct,
iii) the pressure a fan needs to produce to supply the air with kinetic energy,
iv) the total pressure required,
v) which fans are suitable for each duct (specify fans by their power in kW). Choose
ONE fan per duct.
b. For each duct and fan combination, present in a table the electricity cost for:
i) a weekday, ii) a weekend day, ii) a week, iv) a year & v) 10 years.
c. Assuming the life of the equipment is 15 years; calculate the NPV of each solution in
comparison to the NPV for the smallest duct. Apply a discount rate of 8% per year.
Assume that the price of power will be inflated by 4% each year.

d. Which option is the most cost effective combination for the application?
Question 3: COGENERATION
You represent a consultant who has been contracted to evaluate the feasibility of a
cogeneration plant for an aquatic centre in New South Wales. You need to evaluate the
viability of supplying and installing the cogeneration plant.
Your task is to size the cogeneration plant on the current electrical demand as the facility
has had a recent upgrade and is not likely to increase its electrical demand in the
foreseeable future. There are three cogeneration units being considered, which have
maximum electrical outputs of 1200, 1600 and 2000 kW . Technical details of these units
can be found in the attached document (see Additional Information.pdf). You should
compare the results for all three units and propose the best solution for the facility and
justify your choice in a single page proposal.
Details
The aquatic centre has two pools with a total volume of 1.7 million litres. The facility is open
17 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. The pool is currently heated by two
natural gas fired boilers to a water temperature of 28oC.
Electrical load data for the aquatic centre is provided in the Excel file (Asst2Q3.xls). The
data is for a typical days operation. Assume that the data is typical for a day of operation
for both weekdays and weekends throughout the year. The data is given in 5 minute
intervals in kilowatts (kW).
Each cogen unit has THREE heat exchange opportunities with i) an exhaust gas heat
exchanger, ii) a jacket water heat exchanger and iii) an intercooler water heat exchanger.
This heat can be transferred into the pool with an efficiency of 75%. Each of these circuits
will require a secondary water pump to be operating.

The facility currently pays the following rates for its electricity:
Off peak power:
Shoulder power:
Peak power:

$0.09 per kWh.

$0.19 per kWh.
$0.25 per kWh.

The appropriate times for these tariffs (for both weekdays and weekends) are given in the
Appendix at the end of this document.
The cogeneration plant has a projected working life of 100,000 hrs. Maintenance costs for
the cogeneration plant are $0.03 per kWh (electrical) at full electrical output. For simplicity
only consider running the cogeneration systems at full capacity and only when the electrical
demand of the aquatic centre exceeds or equals the electrical output of the cogeneration
system. Also the cogeneration plant cannot continue to run if there is insufficient heat
demand. This may occur for example in summer when there is less heat demand.

THE EXISTING POOL HEATING SYSTEM

Gas consumption data is provided in the excel file (Asst2Q3.xls). The data is for the past
years operation. Accept this data as the typical annual gas consumption. The facility pays
$12.00 per gigajoule. The pool heating system (two gas fired boilers) are the only gas
appliances on the site. The boilers have a thermal efficiency of 80%.
Questions
a. Establish how much electricity the aquatic centre consumes on the typical day.
Express your answer in kWh.
b. Produce a graph showing the kWh consumption profile for the typical day at five
minute intervals. Label your graph axes appropriately.
c. Establish the current cost of the electrical power supplied to the facility from the grid.
Calculate the cost per weekday, the cost per weekend-day, the cost per week (7
days) and the cost per year (52 weeks) for electricity.
d. Establish the current total gas consumption for the year and its cost. Gas
consumption for each month of the year is given in the excel file (Asst2Q3.xls).
e. Consider the three alternative cogeneration units. From their electrical output,
subtract the power that must be supplied to the pumps which operate when the
cogeneration systems are running. This will produce the net electrical output which
you should use to select the most suitable unit.
f. For each cogeneration unit how many hours per day should they operate and at what
time? Are there months of the year when any of the cogeneration plants could be
running (due to electrical demand) but are unable to as there is limited demand for
heat? When optimising your schedule you should also consider the economics of
your proposed schedules. For example one aspect that you need to consider when
scheduling a cogeneration system is the economics of running the cogeneration
system (and the cost of gas for water heating and additional electricity) vs
purchasing electrical power and gas for heating only.
g. Calculate the yearly energy costs as well as maintenance costs for the cogeneration
systems to run the aquatic centre for each of the three cogeneration plants using the
schedules you believe are optimum in each case. (Include the cost of the gas for
both the cogeneration plant as well as for operating the gas boilers if needed,
maintenance costs for the cogeneration plant and the cost of the additional electricity
that must be purchased from the grid).

h. Calculate the total energy costs per year to run the aquatic centre for the business as
usual case. Report the electricity and gas costs as well as the total cost.
i.

Compare your yearly energy costs for each cogeneration unit to the business as
usual case. Calculate the yearly savings (if any!).

j.

Calculate the simple payback period for each cogeneration unit.

k. Develop a ONE page proposal for the facilities manager pointing out the advantages
you see for the best solution for the facility.
APPENDIX 1: FOR ALL QUESTIONS:
The appropriate times for the tariffs (for both weekdays and weekends) are:
Peak
Shoulder

2 pm to 8 pm on working weekdays
7 am to 2 pm and 8 pm to 10 pm on working weekdays

Off Peak

7 am to 10 pm on weekends and public holidays

All other times