2011

Sustainability Beyond Certification

Sept 19th 2011 Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi- UAE

HVAC Design for High Ambient Conditions

Presented by George Berbari

What Are the Key Elements of HVAC Efficient Design for High Ambient Conditions
Design Conditions Indoor Design Conditions Outdoor Design Condition Envelop Optimization beyond code compliance Roof & Wall Insulation and U factor Fenestration Light transmittance and U factor Glass to Wall Ratio Glass Shading Tightness of Envelop Ventilation (Fresh & Exhaust Air) Why some standards encourage to exceed Ashrae 62.1 by 30% or more? Heat Recovery between fresh and exhaust air. Variable speed fans operation. Double Skin Commercial Hood??

Proper Design Conditions

Design Conditions Indoor Design Conditions Ashrae Standard 55 -2010 Allows to raise the typically used DB of 23.3 to 24.4 OC in hot ambient to a range of 24.4 to 25.5 O C while Intl Energy Conservation code (ICCC 2009) specify minimum indoor design conditions of 24 O C Outdoor Design Condition DB / WB = 46.1 / 29.44 OC typically used Vs. Ashrae Design Conditions 44.9 / 23.2 OC and 35.3 / 30.6 OC lead to : Over estimation of sensible load. Under estimation of latent load. Over estimation of Total load where dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures peak at different time. Wrong selection of Fresh Air Handling unit Coil which should be selected at 35.3 / 30.6 OC. Current design conditions is leading to HVAC system and plant oversizing by more then 10% while other safety factors compile the problem to typically of 30% oversizing leading to larger HVAC system and inefficient system operation.

Proper Design Conditions

(Extracted from previous Ashrae Presentation Given in Dubai on 22-3-2005)

Internal Load (TR)

Indoor Conditions 74F (23.3C) / 50% rh 76F (24.4C) / 50% rh Outdoor Conditions

115 / 85 F (46.1 / 29.4 C) Variance

94 / 86 F (34.4 / 30 C) 423.1 414.5

Variance -7.8% -9.7%

107 / 75 F (41.7 / 23.9 C) Variance

462.1 0.7%

492.1
482.3

7.3%
5.1%

458.8
1,2

BASE

Fresh Air Cooling Coil Load (TR) for ~ 30,000 CFM (14,200 l/s)
Indoor Conditions 74F (23.3C) / 50% rh 76F (24.4C) / 50% rh Outdoor Conditions

115 / 85 F (46.1 / 29.4 C) Variance 94 / 86 F (34.4 / 30 C) Variance

107 / 75 F (41.7 / 23.9 C) 46.5 53.7

Variance -47.3% -39%

76.8
84

-12.9%
-4.8%

81.0

-8.2%

88.2
Outdoor Conditions

BASE

TOTAL Building Load (TR)

Indoor Conditions 74F (23.3C) / 50% rh 76F (24.4C) / 50% rh

115 / 85 F (46.1 / 29.4 C)

94 / 86 F (34.4 / 30 C)

107 / 75 F (41.7 / 23.9 C)

-1.6% -1.9% 508.6 -0.8%

568.9
566.3

11.0%
10.5%

504.1 502.7

512.5

BASE

Envelop Optimization beyond code compliance

Roof & Wall Insulation and U factor
Meeting the local and international code is an adequate strategy as decreasing the Wall U factor below 0.57 Watt/m2.OK (0.1 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) is often not economical unless codes dictates that as in the case of Abu Dhabi. Ashrae Std. 90.1-2010 specifies for residential Buildings in hot and humid climate (Zone 1A) wall U Factor = 0.857 Watt/m2.OK (0.151BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) and roof U Factor = 0.273 Watt/m2.OK (0.048 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) Department of Municipal Affairs user Guide for Intl Building codes in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi (IBC for AUH) interpret Intl Energy Conservation Code 2009 specifies Wall U Factor of 0.324 Watt/m2.OK (0.057 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) and Roof U Factor of 0.148. Watt/m2.OK (0.026 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2)

Envelop Optimization beyond code compliance

Fenestration Light Transmission and U factor
Meeting the local and international code is an adequate strategy in low cost electric power where 2.1 Watt/m2.OK (0.37 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) and Glass Shading coefficient (SHGC) of 0.25 to 0.4 depending on Projection Factor. Triple glazing and double glazing with argon gas filler are feasible options where electric power are priced above US $ 0.15 /Kwh and where architects and owners prefers large glass facades. Select Glass with Light transmission preferably higher than 40% that meat the SHGC requirement.

Thermally brake Glass have little impact on the thermal performance especially with 4 sided silicon structure glass where there is no exposed aluminum structure and in general was designed as a solution for winter condensation in colder countries. Use whenever code requires that as in the case of Sharjah.

Glass To wall Ratio

Codes are calling for smaller Glass to Code Ratios Ashrae std. 90.1 recommends 40% maximum glass to wall ratio while IBC for AUH limit it to 30% . However Architects and Buildings owners and developers still prefer higher ratios such as:

Notice Cladding & Glass Colors

70% G to W Ratio

50% G to W Ratio

<50% G to W Ratio

Glass To wall Ratio : Why is it important?

Glass facades cost between US $400 to $500 per m2 compared to aluminum cladding of US $150 to $ 200 m2 and wall finishes US $100 to $400 per m2. Glass Passes 6 to 9.5 times more heat than walls!!

Heat Transmission Through Walls & Glass (Abu Dhabi)

U value Watt/m . K
2 O

Notice Cladding Design Heat Transmission - Watt per m2 & Glass Colors
Exposure South West

Glass Shading BTU/Hr/Ft . F

2 O

Coeficient

North

East

Average - Average W/m2 BTU/Hr /ft 2 13.7 8.7 4.35 2.76

Wall

0.568 0.318 2.129

0.1 0.056 0.375 0.287

12.1 5.6

11.3 7.6

14.6 12.9

17.0 8.8

Glass
Solar Conductance Solar Transmission Subtotal Glass

32.5 13.5 46.0

32.5 39.6 72.1

32.5 80.0 112.5

32.5 68.3 100.8

32.5 50.3 82.9

10.3 16.0 26.3

Glass / Wall Heat Transmission (U=0.1) Glass / Wall Heat Transmission (U=0.056)

3.8 8.3

6.4 9.5

7.7 8.7

5.9 11.5

6.0 9.5

Glass To wall Ratio : Why Mechanical Engineer are Passive?

Mechanical Engineers are still on the receiving end with the architect and most often dont comment at all on the envelop or offers any advice to the architect and developer. Architects tend to finalize the building architectural impression and offer it to the owner at early stage of the project prior to the involvement of the mechanical engineer. Architect are reluctant to change the ratio as often that involves unpaid work variation that means time and cost. Shading to the southern faade is quite effective but can be rarely incorporated once design is finalized. Building tightness test are now required in Abu Dhabi Emirate.

Fresh Air: The magic of Heat recovery Preferred Solution

Minimum Wheel Efficiency 75%

Minimum HP Effectiveness 45 to 50%

Notice Cladding & Glass Colors

Fresh Air: The magic of Heat recovery Alternative Solution

Notice Cladding & Glass Colors

Fresh Air: The magic of Heat recovery Non Recommended Solution

Minimum Wheel Efficiency < 65%
CHILLED WATER 44F/54F

Fresh Air > 30% of Ashrae Std 62.1 Supplied at around 13OC
Notice Cladding & Glass Colors

2" PRE FILTER

BAG FILTER

FRESH AIR PURGE AIR

SUPPLY AIR

EXHAUST AIR

RETURN AIR

TOTAL ENERGY RECOVERY WHEEL

OPTIONAL VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL

COOLING COIL

2" FILTER

1) FRESH AIR AHU WITH ENERGY WHEEL ONLY

Why are This type of AHUs still being specified and used?!!!

Fresh Air: Key Recommendations

Fresh Air should not exceed the Amount specified in ASHRAE Standard 62.1 2010 in hot and humid countries and ignore the additional points achieved in few Green buildings codes as you will be penalized in the energy consumption part. EPA Indoor Air Quality Guide Quote: source control is also a more cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality than increasing ventilation because Notice Cladding increasing ventilation can increase energy costs. i.e. eliminating frying at your & Glass Colors homes will reduce the smell, fire hazard and your fat intake and improve your Health and safety. Fresh air should not exceed that value of exhaust air by more than 10%.

Residential Kitchen hood should be a circulating hood while permanent kitchen exhaust of 50 CFM should be installed at the kitchen ceiling plenum level.
Residential Kitchens and Toilet exhaust can utilize the same duct and both should be used for heat recovery. Fresh air of 2 ACH should be supplied to lift lobbies to stop any cooking smell mitigation.

Fresh Air: Key Recommendations (contd)

Double Skin Commercial kitchen hoods are controversial where the rule of thumb state that 80% make up air portion can be used in commercial kitchen is a recipe of trouble

Peripheral perforated plenum with low velocity is recommended withCladding the Notice possibility to cool the air down to 30 deg. C. & Glass Colors
Preference to use UL listed hood with minimum exhaust flow and make use of transfer air from dinning areas. VFD on both exhaust and make up air fans.
Recommended

Low air velocity < 0.4 m/s (75 FPM)

Thank you
email: gberbari@dcproeng.com

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