Smart Labs - BCxA · Smart Labs: Building Next Generation Labs While Maintaining Safety and Comfort JAVIER NAVAR PAYAN, MSME, PE (MINNESOTA) , CEM Senior Energy Engineer University

Smart Labs:Building Next Generation Labs While Maintaining Safety and Comfort

JAVIER NAVAR PAYAN, MSME, PE (MINNESOTA) , CEMSenior Energy Engineer

University of Minnesota

AIA Quality Assurance

The Building Commissioning Association is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of the Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

BCxA Conference – Nashville, TN – October 2018 2

Learning Objectives

1. Fundamentals of Smart Labs

2. Smart Labs Design Features

3. Lessons Learned



Source https://italladdsup.umn.edu/


Assignable Space

LabsOther Space

Energy Expenses

LabsOther Space


What are Smart Labs?Research facilities designed to use

significantly less energy while maintaining occupant safety and

comfort



Smart Lab Design Features:


•High Efficiency Equipment

High Efficiency Equipment


Reduces loads in the space

• Stirling cycle ultra-low temp freezers• High efficiency lighting



•High Efficiency Equipment•Ventilation

BCxA Conference – Nashville, TN – October 2018 12Source https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Sports/2010/1212/Vikings-Metrodome-roof-collapses-for-the-fifth-time

Ventilation


VAV fume hoods and provisions for source capture exhaust connections

How are we reacting to what’s going on in the labs?


Demand Control Ventilation


Actively measures VOCs and particlesin every lab


Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_scientist



•High Efficiency Equipment•Ventilation•Decoupling

Decoupling


• VAV FCUs• Active chilled beams


Source https://www.klimapont.hu/panasonic-pawfch150-magas-nyomasu-fancoilegysegek-3129


Source http://eichlervision.com/2010/10/touring-twa-panel-systems-manufacturing-facility-in-nisku-canada/


Source http://ac-systemsinc.com/product/dadanco-chilled-beams/



•High Efficiency Equipment•Ventilation•Decoupling

What’s Next?


How do we stay green through design, construction, and

occupancy?


OUR STORY BEGINS…

At the concept phase


We have a plan...

Design conceptsDO:ØMinimize loads (sensible, latent, ventilation)ØProvide only the required ventilation levelØMeet additional sensible loads with the most efficient

source (decoupling)

DO NOT:ØReheatØOperate equipment unless it serves a purpose


We have a plan...

Enabling Technologies

ØActive Chilled Beam (ACB)

ØFan Coil Units (FCU)

ØDemand Control Ventilation System

ØDedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS)

ØPassive Radiant Components (e.g. Floors)

ØHeat Recovery Wheels


SIMPLE, RIGHT ?…

Recipe for SUSTAINABILITY:

Ø Take the last design for a similar building type

Ø Sprinkle on “green” tech to taste

Ø Stir well

Ø Issue CDs


NOT ALWAYS…

Poorly applied “green” technology

Poorly applied conventional technology

=


http://thechive.com/2016/01/25/driving-in-a-blizzard-heres-what-to-do-14-gifs/

What went wrong, the impact, and how to fix it

Examples of deficiencies:

• Design Assumptions• Active Chilled Beams• Fan Coil Units


Original design: 80%

fume hood use

Design Assumptions Example

Actual use: 30%

fume hood use

Source http://www.kewaunee.com/LaboratoryHoods/FumeHoods/SupremeAirVenturi/


Chilled Beam Example

• Ventilation design intent was for 2 ACH• ACB for lab sensible cooling• VAV FCUs for high load alcoves and

specialty spaces


Chilled Beam Example

However…The as-built performance was different.Instead of 2 ACH, most labs were operating at 4 ACH and reheating

What Went Wrong?

DESIGN CONCEPTSDO:• Minimize loads (sensible,

latent, ventilation)• Provide only the required

ventilation level• Meet additional sensible

loads with the most efficient source (preferably hydronic)

DO NOT:• Reheat• Operate equipment unless it

serves a purpose

ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES• Active Chilled Beam (ACB)

• Fan Coil Units (FCU)• Fan Powered VAV (PFVAV)

• Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS)

• Passive Radiant Components (e.g. Floors)

• Heat Recovery Wheels


We “had” a plan


Why 4 ACH vs. 2 ACH?• Design Goal: operate as close to 2 ACH as

possible• The balancer and controls contractor did

their job per design drawings/specs


Why 4 ACH vs. 2 ACH?

Because…ACBs are constant volume devices.Once number/size selected, so is the airflow rate

!"#$ = #'() ∗ (!+/'()#'() = (-.)012 ÷ )012/'()


But…• At 4 ACH the system was reheating • ACBs only need to operate at design airflow when

cooling


But…• Induction ratio is 1:3 at 50% flow• The DDC system is programmable


Just a SMOP Later and…



FCU Example

• General exhaust in spaces with high sensible loads• FCUs used to supplement the sensible cooling capacity• Control FCU LAT and modulate the speed of an ECM

motor to control space temp


FCU Example

• FCUs arrived with 3 speeds, not variable speed• Medium speed was a bit short of design capacity• Controls contractor proposed changing the

sequence to cycle the fan on and off with load

What Went Wrong?

DESIGN CONCEPTSDO:• Minimize loads (sensible,

latent, ventilation)• Provide only the required

ventilation level• Meet additional sensible

loads with the most efficient source (preferably hydronic)

DO NOT:• Reheat• Operate equipment unless it

serves a purpose

ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES• Active Chilled Beam (ACB)

• Fan Coil Units (FCU)• Fan Powered VAV (PFVAV)

• Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS)

• Passive Radiant Components (e.g. Floors)

• Heat Recovery Wheels


We “had” a plan


Sounded reasonable because…• FCU are installed in areas where high cooling loads are

assumed• With high loads the system will run all the time anyway• If it runs all the time anyway then changing speeds isn’t

that important• Besides, if the load is reduced the fan will turn off and

you can’t do better than off.

Right?


Yes, you can do better

• With a centrifugal fan, capacity and power are not linear

• FCU fan power follows a cube law very closely! ∝ $%&'(

• It will probably save energy to run at a lower speed


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Pow

er (W

atts

)

Flow

High Speed

Med Speed


• The analog output was installed, but not connected

• Install a staging relay to trigger the 3 fan speeds based on an analog signal

• Voilà, a VAV substitute of sorts.

It’s Not VAV, But It’ll Do


Example FCU

Modulating FCU fan speed saves 715 kWh/yr (about $70) and 2,442 kBtu/yr.

With 70 FCU in the facility, the extra cost approaches 2 kBtu/GSF/Yr, or around 1% of the total target.

HIGH SPEED OPERATION

Hours Watts kWH kBtuON 5930 250 1480 5052

OFF 2830 0 0 0

MEDIUM SPEED OPERATION

Hours Watts kWH kBtuON 7965 96 765 2610

OFF 795 0 0 0


Lessons (hopefully) Learned

• Be really careful with design assumptions• Smart Labs concepts work together to produce a

high performance building• Realistic load estimates are key• When it comes to sustainable design there is no

secret sauce. Existing technologies can deliver very high performance


Javier Navar Payan MSME, PE(Minnesota), CEMSenior Energy [email protected] of Minnesota


Smart Labs - BCxA · Smart Labs: Building Next Generation Labs While Maintaining Safety and Comfort JAVIER NAVAR PAYAN, MSME, PE (MINNESOTA) , CEM Senior Energy Engineer University

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