Indoor Pool Design: Part 4 of 4 – Energy Consumption

Energy Saving VAV Diffusers | 6 Options for Building Automation Systems
Integrate VAV Diffusers Using BACnet

Project Name:	Plymouth State – Langdon Woods Residence Hall
Owner:	Plymouth State University
Architect:	Cannon Design – Boston
Mechanical Engineer:	Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering
General Contractor:	Engelberth Construction, Inc.
Equipment:	Thermally Powered VAV Diffusers
Manufacturer:	Acutherm
DAC Sales Engineer:	Rick McGinley

Plymouth State University’s LEED® Gold-certified Langdon Woods Residence Hall

Project scope:

Plymouth State University’s LEED® Gold-certified Langdon Woods Residence Hall is is the first New Hampshire building and one of the first and largest residence halls in the country to receive gold-level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Sustainable Strategies

Langdon Woods is 58% more energy efficient than a conventional building of this size, saving the university nearly $230,000 a year. A 40% reduction in water use conserves almost 1.4 million gallons of water a year; 20% of all materials in the building are recycled with 40% coming from within 500 miles of the project site, to cut down on transportation emissions; almost 70% of the wood in the building was harvested from responsibly managed forests; low-maintenance plantings require no irrigation; and 70% of construction waste was diverted from landfills.

The building features operable windows (large windows provide daylighting and views to 90% of living spaces) and individual airflow, with thermally-powered VAV system provided by Acutherm. The Therma-Fuser DDC Interoperable Diffusers meet the set comfort requirement of each space automatically and eliminate over heating and over cooling.

Therma-Fuser DDC Interoperable Diffusers

Acutherm Interoperable Therma-Fusers

Achieve benefits of Therma-Fuser VAV and complete digital input and output with the BAS. Each diffuser has the ability to supply room temperature, airflow and supply air temperature and receive signals for room temperature setpoint, minimum airflow setpoint, maximum airflow setpoint, override open, override closed, CO2 override and more. Digital signals can be either BACnet™ or LonTalk®. The BAS also monitors and controls the portions of the VAV system requiring periodic maintenance. This approach provides the Therma-Fuser VAV advantages of comfort and energy savings from individual temperature control and easy adaptability to office changes

Related Blog Posts:

Project Snapshot: Mass. Fisheries & Wildlife Headquarters

Posted November 10, 2014 by Jim Shiminski

Project Name:	Division of Fisheries & Wildlife – Field Headquarters Building
Owner:	Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM)
Architect:	Architerra, Inc
Mechanical Engineer:	vanZelm Engineers
General Contractor:	Columbia Construction Company
Mechanical Contractor:	KMD Mechanical Corp.
Equipment:	Energy Recovery Air Handling Unit
Manufacturer:	Cambridgeport – Canton MA
Size:	7,000 CFM
DAC Sales Engineer:	David Goodman

Overview: Construction of a new 45,000 gross square foot Field Headquarters Building, including office, labs, meeting and classroom areas to be located on the site of the existing DFW headquarters building on the campus of the former Lyman School in Westborough, MA.

The facility will achieve zero net energy through solar photovoltaics and innovative mechanical systems as well as building envelope quality and reduction of all energy loads through building management.

The building features a very efficient envelope with triple glazed curtainwall and metal windows as well as structural insulated panels. It has been oriented to optimize production from the rooftop photovoltaic panels while minimizing heating and cooling energy use.

Project Features:

Leed Gold Certification (minimum)
Optimum orientation to minimize heating & cooling energy use
Use of natural light
Geothermal System
Radiant heating and cooling
Photovoltaic panels on the roof
Mechanically assisted natural ventilation
Heat recovery
On site stormwater recharge
Sustainable site plan with native species which will serve outdoor education and be a gateway to 1000 acre wildlife management lands

Energy Usage:

The current energy model is calling for of 303 mwh/yr which equates to 22.6 kBtu/ft². Compared against the expected 370 mwh/yr production of the PV system, this is a projected 22% buffer between energy use and production and is approximately 60% below typical usage for this type of building.

Leed modeling results suggest that the designed building will reduce actual energy cost by 50.1% compared to the Leed baseline building.

The majority of energy savings are in heating energy. These savings result from improved heating performance (heat pumps use ~25% of the energy that electric resistance requires for the same load), exhaust air energy recovery (reduces ventilation loads by ~70%), demand controlled ventilation (reduces ventilation loads by ~50%), improved envelope performance, and the decoupling of the outside air system from space loads which reduces reheat.

Pumped Glycol Energy Recovery | Konvekta – System Performance Monitoring

Posted September 30, 2014 by Jim Shiminski

Konvekta is the only supplier of high efficiency pumped glycol run-around energy recovery systems in the world. They have been in the business of pumped glycol energy recovery since 1949. That’s all they do. Konvekta offers complete systems – high performance heat exchangers, energy recovery system controls and hydraulic assembly.

Konvekta high-performance energy recovery systems reduce energy consumption by 70-90%.

Konvekta guarantees system performance and provides monitoring and reporting that proves that the guaranteed energy savings are met.

Konvekta – Auto Reporting Plus – Continuous monitoring with watchdog capabilities

System malfunctions or reduced performance are detected and can be quickly resolved. This guarantees system availability and maximum recovery.

The goal of each energy recovery system is optimal net annual energy recovery which yields the greatest energy cost savings over lifetime of the building. This requires optimized and malfunction-free operation. Installation error, software glitches and erroneous set values must be detected.

Comprehensive information at a glance

The increased use of electronics and software makes systems more complex. Therefore, it is important that system operators continuously receive easy-to-interpret information about operating status and potential problems. With the new Auto-Reporting Plus all critical data is monitored and displayed visually. Data is also displayed graphically over the internet and is password protected to ensure security. Thanks to the clear, visual presentation of data, all important operating parameters can be easily assessed to ensure recovery efficiency and optimal system operation so that performance goals are achieved.

Performance monitoring

Energy recovery systems that are not monitored are installed, started-up and just left to run year after year without analyzing performance. This results in system malfunctions not being noticed. Thanks to the continuous set value/actual value comparison critical system data is monitored and performance deviations are noticed immediately by Auto-Reporting Plus. When a system malfunction is detected an automatic error message notifies system operators immediately through the building automation system. At the same time the system controller analyzes the error.

The benefits of Auto-Reporting Plus

Comprehensive information at a glance tells you if the system is optimized, functioning trouble-free, and achieving the guaranteed performance
Continuous automatic monitoring function
Automatic error detection, including functions upstream and downstream of the energy recovery system such as primary power or the function of the supply air or exhaust air humidification
Downtime is minimized thanks to the automatic analysis of errors – resulting in maximum energy cost savings
Rapid response time to errors thanks to prompt notification

What’s so special about Konvekta?

Konvekta specializes in pumped glycol energy recovery systems. That’s all they do.
They are based in Switzerland and have been in business for over 60 years, doing only pumped glycol energy recovery systems.
Last year their sales were over $60 million.
Konvekta supplies the entire package. They make their own coils, pump packages and controls.
The reason they are so successful is they are able to achieve 65-75% effectiveness with glycol loop systems and they guarantee the savings. That’s right, they guarantee the savings.
The Konvekta system is the only pumped glycol energy recovery system that will meet the new minimum efficiencies in the revised ASHRAE code.

Project Snapshot | Brick Hospital – Handling Diesel Generator Exhaust

Posted September 10, 2014 by Jim Shiminski

Project Name:	Brick Hospital, Brick, NJ
Owner:	Ocean Medical Center, Brick, NJ
Project Application:	Emergency Diesel Generator Re-entrainment Remediation
Equipment:	“Tri-Stack” High Plume Dilution Fan
Manufacturer:	Strobic Air

Background:

Brick Hospital Fan Emergency diesel generators are necessary evils at all hospitals. No one likes to have them around, but they must be available to provide immediate backup electrical power in case of sudden power failure.

When the facilities engineer at Brick Hospital, in Brick, NJ, discovered that emergency generator exhaust was being re-entrained into the fresh air intake ventilation system of the building’s West Wing, new ducting was constructed leading to the roof of the existing South Wing in an attempt to correct the problem.

The result was not favor-able. In fact, when it was relocated, the exhaust was also re-entrained into the South Wing’s ventilation air intakes, actually creating more of a problem than if it had been left where it was. “We were living with that problem for about seven years,” said the facilities engineer.

Results:

Eliminating the re-entrainment problem was Brick Hospital’s main concern. The facilities engineer contacted a leading consulting engineering firm in New York City who recommended that StrobicAir Tri-Stack Fans be mounted on the roof to serve the two generators. When dealing with re-entrainment problems, crosswinds can cause many issues. In this particular case, with a 10 MPH crosswind, the Tri-Stack fans – rated at 20 hp and 15 hp respectively, with the 20 hp fan operating at about 7600 CFM – are able to project the exhaust stream at a nozzle velocity of over 4,600 FPM, allowing it to rise to a height of approximately 65 feet above the roof-line, providing effective dissipation and preventing any possibility for re-entrainment.

In configuring this system, the consulting engineering firm terminated the existing flue pipes on the roofs of the South and West Wings, intercepting them and forming new transition sections to connect to the fans. A minimal amount of rein-forcing steel was added to the building’s roof framing structure. Each Tri-Stack fan was bolted to its curb, and each curb was bolted through the roof to the supplementary support steel. And because the Tri-Stack fans are precisely balanced and use direct drive motors, there was no need for additional vibration isolation, resulting in significant savings compared to most other fans in the industry. Brick Hospital’s facilities engineer was pleased. “The fans operated smoothly with no sensation of vibration below in the occupied spaces,” he stated. “And from an aesthetic stand-point, these fans are barely noticeable from the surrounding area. Thanks to their capabilities,there was no need for any tall flues or stacks.”

A secondary concern – the temperatures of the flue gases coming from the diesel generators are 840° F. – was also easily addressed by the Tri-Stack fans, which mix the flue gas with ambient air at a 560% dilution ratio, effectively providing about 43,000 CFM total at 186° F and eliminating the need for a high temperature nozzle. This saved the Brick Hospital extra costs by diluting the temperature low enough where a standard nozzle, made of fiberglass instead of stainless steel,was used.

The elimination of re-entrainment, the industry’slowest vibration standards, and economically diluting high flue gas temperatures left the Brick Hospital fully satisfied with their Tri-Stack fan systems.

Present Status:

15 years later, the Strobic Air Tri-Stack fans are still running and performing as promised, preventing re-entrainment, diluting the odor, and producing very little noise. The mixed flow impeller design, low vibration, and high dilution rate are key factors to the longevity and success of the Tri-Stack fan systems.

Mass. State Police Academy
Diesel Generator Exhaust Fan

Project Snapshot: 27 Melcher St. | Thermo-composite AHU’s

Posted July 28, 2014 by Jim Shiminski

Project Name:	27 Melcher St. – HVAC Upgrade
Owner:	Synergy Investments
Mechanical Engineer:	Allied Consulting Engineering
Mechanical Contractor:	Associated Mechanical Services
Equipment:	10 Outdoor Air Handling Units
Manufacturer:	Annexair
Size:	61,200 CFM Total
DAC Sales Engineer:	Rick McGinley

27 Melcher – Before & After

Project Overview:

Synergy Investments is a Boston-based real estate investment and development firm focused on the acquisition and operation of office, retail, and residential properties. Synergy’s portfolio includes some of downtown Boston’s landmark buildings, and they lease premium office and commercial space to over 350 of the city’s most discerning companies.

Synergy Investment buildings have been consistently recognized as some of the best run in the city, and their tenants enjoy a high level of responsiveness, professionalism, and integrity. This translates into renewed leases, and one of the highest occupancy rates in the marketplace.

27 Melcher St. is a part of the Synergy Investment portfolio. Existing air handling units were simply worn out and needed to be replaced.

HVAC Highlight:

Crushing the Competition

All units on 27 Melcher St. were supplied by Annexair and incorporated their Thermo-composite panel system. The units are 40% lighter than traditional steel units and come with a lifetime warranty against corrosion. Best of all they are the same cost as traditional steel units.

Take a look at the specification for key features.

UNIT HOUSING SPECIFICATION (Thermo-composite) The unit housing shall be no-through metal with 2’’ Thermo-Composite and foam panel construction – interior and exterior. No-through metal construction will be inherent to all the component construction in the assembly. All panels and access doors shall be double wall construction with R14 foam insulation for every 2” of construction. All foam insulation must be Greenguard certified®. Unit casing will have no exterior condensation at interior AHU temperatures down to 43F while unit exterior conditions are maintained at 95 F dry bulb / 85 F wet bulb. The panels shall be tested in accordance with SMACNA and ASHRAE 111 to have a deflection of no more than L/1150 at 10’’ and withstand air pressures up to 8” w.c with less than 1% leakage. Fire resistance of the panel will be in compliance with UL 94.

Thermo-Composite panels shall be provided for the entire unit construction, including but not limited to, walls, doors, floors, roof, interior partitions, and electrical compartment. The frame shall consist of anodized extruded aluminum profiles which incorporates a thermally broken construction; welded together for reinforcement and insulated for superior thermal performance. Base structure shall be fully welded and have integral lifting lugs which can be removed once the unit is installed. All roof and side wall seams shall be positively sealed to prevent water and air leakage. Panels will be non-load bearing type.

Access doors shall be provided to all major components to facilitate quick and easy access. Access doors will be made from the same material as the unit casing and shall incorporate thermal break construction.

Unit shall have the entire exterior finished with a PVDF coating designed for UV resistance. Paint shall pass ASTM B117 3000-hour salt fog resistance test and ASTM D4585 3000-hour moisture condensation resistance test. In addition, paint must meet AAMA 620-02 standard for color, chalking, gloss retention, and abrasion resistance. The air handler unit casing shall be provided with a lifetime warranty against corrosion resistance under normal use.

Annexair Thermo-composite Flyer

Related Thermo-composite Panel Blog Post:
5 Reasons to Consider a Composite Air Handling Unit

Major Cost Savings | Hospitals using Heat Pipes

Posted July 8, 2014 by Jim Shiminski

Hospital Recovers Energy Without Risk of Supply Air Contamination

The Challenge

Hospitals provide an enormous opportunity for energy recovery due to their 24/7/365 operations. Energy from the exhaust air stream can be recovered in the winter and summer to precool or preheat supply air to the hospital and save a lot of energy dollars in the process. One key byproduct of energy recovery that must be avoided in hospitals is contamination of supply air with exhaust air. It is important that no odors or airborn pathogens be transferred into the supply air stream while energy is being recovered. Heat Pipe Technology provides the most reliable form of energy recovery without the threat of cross contamination.

The Solution

Energy Recovery Heat Pipe Systems

Min Hospital-2 Heat Pipe Technology’s Energy Recovery Heat Pipes (HRMs) utilize the phase change of the working fluid, capture energy from the warmer air stream and transfer it to the cooler air stream. In colder climates such as Minnesota, the energy is transferred from the exhaust air stream to preheat the supply air stream. This reliable method has no moving parts, requires minimal maintenance, and is cross contamination proof

The Results

In July 2010, one HRM was installed in the hospital. The warm exhaust energy was transferred to the cooler supply air stream, yielding immediate savings by preheating the ambient air. Since Heat Pipe Technology’s HRMs are cross contamination proof, no pollutants or airborn pathogens from the exhaust air stream can enter the supply air stream; therefore, the ventilation requirements are truly met and the indoor air quality of the hospital is maintained.

The estimated savings for this system were just under $12,000 a year, resulting in a simple payback in under 2 years!

Ask Rick: Pumped Glycol Energy Recovery | What size systems make sense for Konvekta?

Posted June 24, 2014 by Jim Shiminski

Q. What size systems make sense for Konvekta?

I am working on a project where we are considering glycol run around coils for heat recovery. I would like to consider using a Konvekta system.
The building in question is an existing hazardous materials storage building with 24×7 exhaust air requirements. There are 16 separate exhaust fans and a single common make-up air unit. The current plan is to remove the in-line exhaust fans, install the glycol coils within the building at these locations and provide new rooftop exhaust fans. The single, common, make-up air unit is also to be replaced with a new gas-fired unit with the final energy recovery coil located upstream of the gas section. Preliminary make-up air unit size is 8,620 CFM, so this is not a huge system.

Will it make sense to use Konvekta on this project?

HVCC Hydronic Module

A. Unfortunately the Konvekta systems haven’t been making sense for smaller projects. The total supply air flows typically need to be greater than 20,000 CFM to make them payback in any sort of reasonable time. The more efficient Konvekta coils are more expensive than traditional coils. The pumping skid and controls are the heart of the system and add significant cost to smaller systems. The cost differential for pumping skid and controls could be nearly the same price for an 8,000 CFM system as a 50,000 CFM system. That makes the smaller systems really expensive.

Also, in this case, the greater number of exhaust coils would add a significant cost.

For most systems we are now seeing paybacks on Konvekta equipment of about 2 years over traditional pumped glycol systems. In many applications there is little cost difference between the two systems. In nearly all cases, we do a cost analysis to make sure the project makes sense.

Rudolf Zaengerle, Ph.D.
President, Konvekta USA Inc.
5 Independence Way, 3d Floor #95
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 724 462 8207

Indoor Pool Design: Part 3 of 4 – Air Side Design

Posted June 11, 2014 by Jim Shiminski

Ralph Kittler, VP Sales, Co-Founder Seresco Technologies Inc. presents the A to Z of indoor pool design in a series of short segments that focus on key issues for engineers and architects. Here is Part 3 in a series of 4 videos.

Part 3: Good indoor air quality can be a challenge in an indoor pool. However, designers that follow ASHRAE guidelines as well as those addressed in this video should have every expectation of a great space condition and pleasant overall experience for the patrons of the facility.

About the Presenter: Ralph Kittler has 23 years of experience in the HVAC industry. He is an ASHRAE “Distinguished Lecturer” and ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.10’s reviser, responsible for Chapter 25 “Mechanical Dehumidifiers and Related Equipment” in ASHRAE’s 2012 Systems and Equipment Handbook as well as Technical Committee 9.8’s reviser responsible for Chapter 5 which covers Natatorium Design (Large Building Air Conditioning Applications) in ASHRAE’s Applications Design Handbooks since 1999.

Related Manufacturer: Seresco

Indoor Pool Design Videos
Part 1 of 4 – Confirming Owner Expectations
Part 2 of 4 – Load Calculation

Project Snapshot: MIT Media Lab | Server Cooling Units

Posted May 22, 2014 by Jim Shiminski