Dew-Point Evaporative Comfort Cooling: Jesse Dean
Dew-Point Evaporative Comfort Cooling: Jesse Dean
Dew-Point Evaporative Comfort Cooling: Jesse Dean
Jesse Dean
April 20, 2012
Rocky Mountain Chapter
ASHRAE Technical
Conference
Lakewood, Colorado
Image Credit: Joshua Bauer, NREL NREL/PR-7A40-55837
NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
DoD ESTCP Program
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DoD ESTCP Program
● 500 + installations
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DoD ESTCP Program
Current Demonstrations
● Automated Continuous Commissioning of Commercial Buildings
Reference: http://www.serdp.org/Program-Areas/Energy-and-Water/(list)/1/
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Project Objective
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Technology Description
Reference: http://www.coolerado.com/products/how-it-works/
Image Credit: Coolerado
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Technology Description
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART 55 60
210
Sea Level 65
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 29.921 inches of Mercury 90
200
50 1.3
190
85
85
1.2
180
45 60
85 170
WE
TB 1.1
UL
AIR
B TE
MP 160
Y
80 ER
DR
AT 80
UR
OF
40 E- 1.0
150
D
°F
Exhaust
UN
PO
E
140
PE
UR
TU
AT
.9
ER
-B
75
75
MP
PY
130
N
TIO
EN
120 .8
RA
75
TU
SA
70
110 70 50
30
.7
100
70
25 65
65
90 .6
65
60 80 45
%
60
90
20 .5
70
%
60
80
55
55
% 60
70 .4
50 55
15 % 50
60 50
40
45 50
% 45 .3
50
40
40
DEW POINT - °F
30 30%
35 30
25 20
30 25
20% 35
25 20 .1
20 Y
E HUMIDIT 10
10% RELATIV 10
0
-20
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
10 15 20 25 30
Reference:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/tir_coolerado.pdf
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Design Considerations
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Performance Objectives
Performance Data
Metric Success Criteria
Objective Requirements
Quantitative Performance Objectives
Hours of space Indoor thermostat <1% of hours outside
Improve comfort
temperature inside temperature ASHRAE summer
provided by
ASHRAE comfort Indoor humidity comfort zone
evaporative
conditions Supply air temperature Supply air <70F
cooling
Supply air temperature
kW/ton of cooling Air flow Peak energy <1 kW/ton
Provide high
Temperature change Average energy <0.6
efficiency cooling
Power consumption kW/ton
Wet-bulb effectiveness Atmospheric weather <5% degradation of wet-
Air flow monitoring bulb eff. over 3
Sustain cooling Supply air temperature years
performance Air flow Negligible increase in
supply air pressure
drop
gallons/ton-hr of building Water inlet flow Demonstrate
Minimize water
cooling Water outlet flow conservation
consumption
site water quality (TDS) Water conductivity approach consuming
(Water Conservation)
<2.5 gal/ton-hr
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Performance Objectives
Performance Data
Metric Success Criteria
Objective Requirements
Qualitative Performance Objectives
Standard form feedback A single facility
Maintainability Ability of an HVAC from the HVAC technician able to
(Ease of use) technician to operate technician on effectively operate
and maintain the usability of the and maintain
technology technology equipment with
minimal training
Standard form feedback >90% of units fall within
Maintainability Service Frequency from the HVAC nominal IEC
(Cost) technician on time maintenance
required to maintain schedule by project
end
No signs of biological
Maintainability Biological Fouling Visual inspection growth, including
(Failure) Freezing grey-water unit
No ruptured water lines
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Technical Approach
Instrument and monitor (20) 1,800 cfm Coolerado coolers in
(5+1) buildings at Fort Carson (Colorado Springs)
Prior to deployment, representative units were fully
characterized at NREL’s Advanced HVAC Lab ±5%
Monitor for two cooling seasons – annual and peak energy use
compared to conventional air conditioning
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Building Installations
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Waste Water Demonstration
Demonstration unit using treated waste water effluent in a remote setting
● Waste water had significant algae growth and unit immediately clogged with Algae in filter and in test unit.
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Colorado Springs Weather Data (TMY3)
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Improve Comfort Provided by Evaporative Cooling
Percent Supply Air Temp < 70 °F Percent Supply Air Temp < 70 °F
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 1 Unit 3 Unit 5 Unit 7
95.4% 99.5% 100.0% 96.9% 100.0% 95.4% 99.5% 99.8%
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Improve Comfort Provided by Evaporative Cooling
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Supply Air Temperature Performance Objective Analysis
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Supply Air Temperature Performance Objective Analysis
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Provide High Efficiency Cooling
Success criteria: Peak energy < 1 kW/ton, Average energy < 0.6 kW/ton
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Minimize Water Consumption
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Additional Performance Metrics:
Maintainability:
o A single facility technician able to effectively operate and maintain equipment with
minimal training
Maintainability:
o >90% of units fall within nominal IEC maintenance schedule by project end
Maintainability:
o No signs of biological growth, including grey-water unit
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Additional 2011 Activities
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Lessons Learned & Product Development
1. Maintenance:
o Frozen pipes in one facility
o Most maintenance issues were identified and resolved in first year
2. Solenoid Failures:
o Three solenoid failures in first year (failed open)
o Newer Coolerado units place solenoid inside unit with higher quality solenoid.
5. Thermostat:
o DoD has option to use BACnet compliant thermostat that ties into DDC system
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Coolerado HMX Improvements
2009 Version: Free-form
2011 Version: Modular Cassette
Advantages of 2011 Version:
1. More economical
2. Easier to replace/install
3. Self-supporting structure
preserves HMX integrity
over time
4. Integrated water
distribution with single
point of entry per HMX
reduces water usage
5. Yields a more consistent
and reliable product
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Coolerado Water Solenoid and Regulator Comparison
2009 Version: Fiero Fluid Power (FFP) Disadvantages:
-Regulator very sensitive to building water
pressure fluctuations.
-Requires a narrow range of building water
pressures (e.g. 40-65 psi).
-Working Pressure must be set at the work
site by installation contractors.
Image Credit: NREL - Susceptible to damage from freezing,
2011 Version: Tyco/Cash Valve requiring it to be drained before winter or
installed indoors.
Advantages:
-Regulator more robust and less sensitive to building
water pressure fluctuations.
-Accommodates a wider range of building water
pressures (e.g. 20-75 psi).
-Working Pressure is set at the factory before shipment.
-Self-draining design prevents damage from freezing,
allowing it to be installed inside of unit outdoors.
Image Credit: NREL
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Design Options
Integrated Solutions
1. Zone cooler with return air
2. Integrated into air handling unit mixing box
3. Packaged Rooftop unit (H-80)
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100% Outside Air – Zone Cooler
Advantages
o Simple installation
o High OA ventilation rates
o Significant energy savings
relative to DX units
Disadvantages
o Not integrated w/HVAC
o Higher water and energy use
o Limited climate zones
o Maintenance
– Shut down and winterized
swing seasons
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100% Outside Air – Pre Conditioner
Advantages Disadvantages
o Simple installation
o Integrated with HVAC System o Higher water and energy use
o Can be applied to large o Maintenance
systems – Shut down and winterized
o Appropriate for ASHRAE swing seasons
climate zones (2B, 3B, 4B, 5B)
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Integrated Solution – Integrated into Mixing Box
Advantages Disadvantages
o Greater energy and water o Complicated installation
savings o Difficult exhaust run
o Applicable to more climate
zones o Higher installed costs
o Geared towards new
construction
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Integrated Solution – Integrated into Mixing Box
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Integrated Solution – Zone Cooler with Return Air
Advantages Disadvantages
o Greater energy and water o Higher installed costs
savings o Better fit for single story
o Applicable to more climate facilities
zones
o Controls need to be integrated
with existing HVAC
Outside
Air
Return
Air
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Coolerado Performance Model
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Preliminary Market Analysis
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Next Steps
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Contact
Jesse Dean
303.384.7539
Jesse.dean@nrel.gov
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