MEP Systems

Question 1

net zero structure

Answer 1

building only consumes as much energy as it produces on site through renewable means

Question 2

building use of conventional fuels

Answer 2

-based on region, dependability of supply, cost, convenience, etc.
- no matter what energy conservation measures, a building will have either primary or backup energy source of conventional fuels

Question 3

natural gas

Answer 3

most efficient, clean burning. low cost
heating value: 1050 Btu/ft3

Question 4

propane

Answer 4

gas that can be used when natural gas is not in area.
has to be stored on site in a tank
heating value 2500 Btu/ft3

Question 5

oil

Answer 5

availability depends on world/market conditions. must be stored in or near building. equip requires more maintenance.
6 grades, no.1 - no.6. lower grade = more refined, more expensive.
no. 2 is most common for residential. heating value of 137,000 Btu/gal

Question 6

electricity

Answer 6

easy, low cost to install. simple to operate, easy to control. does not require storage, exhaust flues or supply air.
on site pv’s can reduce reliance on utility-supplied elec
most common for supplimental space heating
heating value 3414 Btu/kw

Question 7

steam

Answer 7

least common. but sometimes is a byproduct of elec generation and can be reused. not used directly for heating but piped into bldning and used to heat water & drive absoprtion-type water chillers for AC

Question 8

heat pumps

Answer 8

device that reverses natural flow of heat moving from warm > cool spaces.
absorbs heat from cooler location & transfers to warmer one, using principles of refridgeration.
most effective in mild climate

Question 9

natural energy sources

Answer 9

solar, pv, geothermal, wind, tidal

Question 10

selecting a fuel source

Answer 10

fuel needed for heating can be estimated by using ‘degree days’. rough measure of how much heating is needed for human comfort in a particular location over 1 year.

Question 11

heating degree days

Answer 11

example: daily average 36F. 65F-36F = 29 (add up all for year to get total #)

cooling degree days is same but opposite

Question 12

efficiency of fuel types converting energy into heat

Answer 12

nat gas 70-80%
propane 70-90%
no. 2 oil 65-85%
anthracite coal 65-75%
elec 95-100%

Question 13

most common way to convert fuel to heat?

Answer 13

boiler & furnace

Question 14

furnace

Answer 14

burns fuel inside combustion chamber
3 types -
1. upflow
2. downflow
3. horizontal

Question 15

boiler

Answer 15

uses fuel to create hot water/steam

Question 16

upflow furnace

Answer 16

return air supplied to bottom, heated air distributed with ducts

Question 17

downflow furnance

Answer 17

ductwork in basement/crawlsapce and furnance on level 01

Question 18

horizontal furnace

Answer 18

designed for limited headroom (ie. crawlspace)

Question 19

most common refrigeration processes to produce chilled air/h20?

Answer 19

compressive refrigeration & absorption

Question 20

absoprtion

Answer 20

produces chilled h20 through loss of heat when water evaporates. produced in a closed system, salt solution draws water vapor from evaporation

Question 21

compressive refrigeration

Answer 21

transfer of heat during liquification & evap of a refrigerant

Question 22

evaporative cooling

Answer 22

only works in hot-arid climates