Mechanical systems (T5) Flashcards
mechanical energy systems design
The principle purpose of a building mechanical system is to maintain thermal comfort and indoor air quality for occupants
A building mechanical system maintains thermal comfort by balancing the heat lost or gained from external weather and internal occupants.
A building mechanical system maintains indoor air quality by bringing in fresh air from the external environment. The assumption is that the outdoor air is more free of pollutants than the indoor environment.
mechanical systems have losses
we must account for heat losses, for example in the pipes carrying heat, and system inefficiencies to determine the overall system size.
how to design a mechanical system
one must (1) estimate the energy demand for each space, (2) select the “emitter” for each space that will meet the demand, (3) determine the routing for system equipment, and (4) select the final heating/cooling generator
Heat exchange occurs from 4 major phenomena
Heat Exchanged from External Surfaces
this includes conduction, convection and radiative heat transfer. For conduction, the heat transfer is a function of the U-value. For convection, this is the heat transferred from the movement of the wind, and radiation is the solar radiation hitting the external surfaces
Heat exchange occurs from 4 major phenomena
Heat Exchanged from Infiltration
No building is 100% sealed. Infiltration describes the heat that is exchanged between the inside air and the air that seeps in through the building’s external walls.
Heat exchange occurs from 4 major phenomena
Heat Exchanged from Internal Heat Gains
People, lights, and equipment (bakery, computers, 3D printer) all give off heat to their environments which will affect the temperature
Heat exchange occurs from 4 major phenomena
Energy Stored in the Building Construction
Sometimes energy does not directly pass through an element. The energy can be stored and released at a later time. Energy is stored in the air within a building and in the external and internal constructions.
Energy Balance Equation relates each heat transfer exchange phenomena
(how to equal energy storage)
energy storage = internal gains + surfaces + infiltration + HVAC
Using energy simulation what can see regarding buildings
- Visualise how changes in various building elements affects the room temperature and resulting energy needed
- Building Construction
- Internal Gains • Infiltration
what are heating systems made up of?
heat generator = distribution = heat emitter
boiler
efficiency = useful energy out / energy in (55-90%)
natural gas, electricity, fuel oil, biomass
typical domestic boiler
Majority of boilers in the UK use natural gas as a fuel
Gas is burned to heat up water in pipes to the desired temperature ~80 C
Water heated is used to provide hot water to radiators and to water taps
Average Efficiency ~ 80%
condensing boiler
• Gain additional energy by preheating water with the flue gases
• Because of this addition, condensing boilers are more efficient than non- condensing
• Efficiencies as high as
90%
Modular commercial boilers
• Boilers are less efficient when not operating at their maximum operating points
• Large commercial buildings can
see a range of demands
throughout the season. High Periods and low Periods
• The solution is to have multiple
boilers that fire up sequentially
to meet the load leading to higher efficiencies
COP
coefficient of performance
- ratio of useful heating/cooling to work required
high COP = low costs
COP = Tsink / Tsink - Tsource