ChilledBeams (ASHRAE Tech Session, Jackson, Mar 2011)

Understanding Chilled Beam
and VAV Systems

John Murphy, LEED AP BD+C
Applications Engineer
Trane
Ingersoll Rand
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Chilled Beams
Brief overview of chilled beams
Assess marketed advantages
of chilled beam systems versus VAV
Discuss challenges of applying
chilled beam systems
Review some common applications
2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

Trane, in proposing these system design and application concepts, assumes no responsibility for the performance or desirability of any
resulting system design. Design of the HVAC system is the prerogative and responsibility of the engineering professional.
Passive Chilled Beam
ceiling
water pipes
coil
perforated
metal casing
Active Chilled Beam

primary air
nozzles
coils
ceiling
induced air
induced air
+
primary air

Active Chilled Beams
Source of images: Halton
active chilled beams
Primary Air System
primary
air handler
OA
RA
EA
PA
RA
PA
RA
active
chilled beam
RA
Primary air must be sufficiently drier than space:

to offset space latent load, and
to keep space DP below chilled beam surface temp

window
Induction of Mid-20th Century

Active Chilled Beams
Installed on ceiling rather than
under windows
More coil surface area
Lower air pressure required
induced
room
air
Warmer water temperature

No condensation
More coil surface area
nozzles
Larger ducts
floor
primary air
condensate
drain connection

Less noise
77
Chilled Beams

Claimed Advantage #1
An ACB system typically allows for smaller ductwork
and
d smaller
ll air-handling
i h dli units
it than
th a VAV system.
t
Primary airflow < supply airflow due to induction

Shorter floor-to-floor height required?
Less mechanical room floor space?
Determining Primary Airflow Rate

Primary airflow (PA) is
PA
b
based
d on llargestt of:
f
Minimum outdoor airflow
required (ASHRAE 62.1)
Airflow required to offset
space latent load
(depends on dew point of PA)
Airflow needed to induce
sufficient room air (RA) to
offset the space sensible
cooling load
RA
SA
SA
10


Minimum OA per ASHRAE 62.1
(to achieve LEED IEQc2)
ACB
C system
Airflow required to offset space
latent load

sufficient room air to offset
space sensible
ibl cooling
li lload
d
VAV system
Airflow needed to offset space
sensible cooling load
Example: office space

0.085 cfm/ft2
(0.085 1.3 = 0.11 cfm/ft2)
0.085 cfm/ft2
0.11 cfm/ft2
0.36 cfm/ft2
(DPTPA = 47F)
(DPTPA = 49F)
(DPTPA = 53F)
0.36 cfm/ft2
(55F primary air)
(four, 6-ft long beams)
0.90 cfm/ft2
(55F supply air)
11

Minimum OA per ASHRAE 62.1
(to achieve LEED IEQc2)
ACB
C system
Airflow required to offset space
latent load

sufficient room air to offset
space sensible
ibl cooling
li lload
d
VAV system
Airflow needed to offset space
sensible cooling load
Example: K-12 classroom

0.47 cfm/ft2
(0.47 1.3 = 0.61 cfm/ft2)
0.47 cfm/ft2
0.61 cfm/ft2
1.20 cfm/ft2
(DPTPA = 44F)
(DPTPA = 47F)
(DPTPA = 51F)
0.47 cfm/ft2
(55F primary air)
(eight, 4-ft long beams)
1.20 cfm/ft2
(55F supply air)
12

Minimum Outdoor Airflow

Required by ASHRAE 62.1
typical ACB primary airflow
(0.30 to 0.70 cfm/ft2)
Barracks sleeping area
example (0.47 cfm/ft2)
Classroom (age 9 plus)

Conference/meeting room
Corridor
Courtroom
Hotel bedroom/living room
Laboratory
Lecture classroom
Library
Lobby (hotel, dormitory)
example (0.36 cfm/ft2)
Office space
Reception area
Retail sales floor
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
minimum outdoor airflow required,
0.80
0.90
1.0
cfm/ft2
(based on default occupant densities)
13
An ACB system can typically achieve relatively low
sound
d llevels.
l
No fans or compressors in or near occupied spaces
Constant primary airflow = constant sound
Depends on air pressure
14

An ACB system uses significantly less energy than a
VAV system,
t
due
d to:
t
1. Significant fan energy savings (because of the reduced
primary airflow), and
2. Higher chiller efficiency (because of the warmer water
temperature delivered to the chilled beams), and
3. Avoiding reheat (because of zone-level cooling coils).
15
Fan Energy Use: ACB vs. VAV
A zone served by ACBs may require 60% to 70%

less primary airflow, at design cooling conditions
but the difference in annual fan energy use will be
much closer because the VAV system benefits from:
1. Reduced zone airflow at part load
2. System load diversity
3. U
3
Unloading
oad g o
of tthe
e supp
supply
y fan
a at pa
partt load
oad
16

example
Zone Primary Airflow at Part Load

zone
e primary airflow, cfm
m/ft2
1.0
1.0
conventional
VAV system
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.4
30% minimum
i i
airflow
i fl
setting
tti
0.2
cold-air
VAV system
active chilled
beam system
design
heating load
space load
0.2
design
cooling load
17
System Load Diversity

variable-volume fan
0.72 cfm/ft2
OA
multiple-zone VAV system

central VAV fan sized for block airflow
RA
EA
PA
PA
fan airflow = diversity zone primary airflows
RA
RA
RA
0.90 cfm/ft2
0.90 cfm/ft2
0.90 cfm/ft2
constant-volume fan
0.36 cfm/ft2
OA
active chilled beam system

central CV fan sized for sum-of-peaks
sum of peaks airflow
RA
EA
For this example:

system load diversity = 80%
fan airflow = 80% 0.90 cfm/ft2
= 0.72 cfm/ft2
PA
RA
0.36 cfm/ft2
PA
RA
0.36 cfm/ft2
RA
0.36 cfm/ft2
fan airflow = zone primary airflows

For this example:
fan airflow = 0.36 cfm/ft2
18

typical VAV system supply fan
Part-Load Performance
fan input power, % of de
esign
100
80
60
40
VAV supply
l fan
f
with VFD
20
20
40
60
80
100
supply fan airflow, % of design

19
supply fan energy use
ACB vs. Conventional VAV

fan in
nput power, bhp/100
00 ft2
1.0
0.8
conventional
VAV
design cooling
conditions
0.6
active
chilled beam
0.4
VAV uses
more fan energy
ACB uses more

fan energy
0.2
68% of VAV supply

fan design airflow
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
supply fan airflow, cfm/ft2

20

10
supply fan energy use
ACB vs. Cold-Air VAV

fan in
nput power, bhp/100
00 ft2
1.0
0.8
0.6
cold-air
VAV
active
chilled beam
0.4
design cooling
conditions
VAV uses more
fan energy
ACB uses more

fan energy
0.2
80% of VAV supply

fan design airflow
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
supply fan airflow, cfm/ft2

21
Chiller Energy Use: ACB vs. VAV
Chilled water delivered to the chilled beams must be

warmer to avoid condensation
but the chilled water delivered to the primary
AHUs still must be cold to dehumidify the building.
22

11
Dedicated Chilled-Water Plants

chillers
57F
42F
63F
58F
variable-flow
pumps
bypass for
minimum flow
primary
air handlers
chilled
beams
23
Shared Chilled-Water Plant
42F
57F
mixing
valve
primary
air handlers
42F
chilled beams
58F
54F
63F
24

12
Chiller Energy Use

ACB system
Warm water delivered to
chilled beams
Still needs cold water
delivered to the primary
AHUs for dehumidification
Typically no DCV
No (or minimal) capacity for
airside economizing
Waterside economizing
(more effective due to
warmer water temp)
VAV system
Cold water delivered to central
VAV air-handling units
Commonly implement DCV

100% capacity for airside
economizing
Can use waterside economizing,
but airside economizing is more
efficient
25
Waterside Economizer
chillers
57F
42F
variable-flow
pumps
bypass for
minimum flow
primary
air handlers
mixing
valve
42F
variable-flow
pump
58F
54F
63F
from
cooling tower
chilled beams
waterside economizer
heat exchanger
26

13
Pumping Energy: ACB vs. VAV

ACB system
Higher pumping energy use
Warm water temperatures
(58F to 60F)
Small waterside T
(5F to 6F)
Water pumped to chilled
beams in every space
VAV system
Lower pumping energy use
Cold water temperatures
(40F to 44F)
Large waterside T
(12F to 14F)
Water pumped only to
centralized mechanical
rooms
27
Impact of Reheat Energy

VAV terminal with 40% minimum airflow setting
primary airflow at design conditions = 0.90 cfm/ft2
primary airflow when reheat is activated:
= 40% 0.90 cfm/ft2
= 0.36
0 36 cfm/ft
f /f 2
cooling provided when primary airflow is at minimum:
= 0.36 cfm/ft2 of 55F primary air
PA
0.36 cfm/ft2
55F
Reheat is needed to avoid overcooling the space when

the space sensible cooling load < 40% of design load.
PA
0.36 cfm/ft2
55F
RA
active chilled beam

primary airflow when CHW valve is fully closed
= 0.36 cfm/ft2
cooling provided when CHW valve is fully closed:
= 0.36 cfm/ft2 of 55F primary air
Heat is needed to avoid overcooling the space when

the space sensible cooling load < 40% of design load.
28

14
example office space
Cold vs. Neutral Primary Air

Cold (55F) primary-air temperature
PA
0.36 cfm/ft2
55F
RA
four ((4)) ACBs,, each 6-ft long

g x 2-ft wide
total water flow = 6.0 gpm
Neutral (70F) primary-air temperature
PA
0.50
0
50 cfm/ft
f /ft2
70F
RA
six (6) ACBs, each 6-ft long x 2-ft wide

primary
i
airflow
i fl
att design
d i
conditions
diti
= 0.50
0 50 cfm/ft
f /ft2
total water flow = 9.0 gpm
29
Heating Energy: ACB vs. VAV

ACB system
Heat added when CHW valve
closes and primary airflow
begins to overcool the space
Typically no DCV
VAV system
Heat added when damper
closes to minimum and primary
airflow begins to overcool space
Commonly implement DCV
Parallel fan-powered VAV
terminals can draw warm air
from ceiling plenum
30

15
office building
Example Energy Analysis

Baseline chilled-water VAV system
ASHRAE 90.1-2007, Appendix G (55F supply air)
Active chilled beam system

Four-pipe active chilled beams
Separate primary AHUs for perimeter and
interior areas (with SAT reset and economizers)
Separate water-cooled chiller plants
(low-flow plant supplying primary AHUs)
High-performance chilled-water VAV system

48F supply
l air
i (d
(ductwork
t
k nott downsized)
d
i d)
Optimized VAV system controls
(ventilation optimization, SAT reset)
Parallel fan-powered VAV terminals
Low-flow, water-cooled chiller plant
31
Example Energy Analysis

Annual Building Energy U
Use, kBtu/yr
12,000,000
10,000,000
Houston
Los Angeles
Philadelphia
St. Louis
Pumps
Fans
Heating
8,000,000
Cooling
Plug Loads
Lighting
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
32

16
Chilled Beams
33
ACB challenges
High Installed Cost

Limited cooling capacity = lots of ceiling space
Warmer water temperature requires
more coil surface area
Induction with low static pressures requires more
coil surface area to keep airside pressure drop low
eight
i h (8) active
i
chilled
hill d beams,
b
each 4-ft long x 2-ft wide
four (4) active chilled beams,
each 6-ft long x 2-ft wide
Example: 1000-ft2 office space
Example: 1000-ft2 classroom
34

17
System design
variable
Impact on installed cost

of the chilled beams
Impact on performance
of the overall system
2-pipe versus 4-pipe

chilled beams
A 2-pipe beam provides more cooling

capacity than a 4-pipe beam because more
coil surface is available
Using 2-pipe beams requires a separate

heating system, otherwise it can result in
poorer comfort control because either cold
water or warm water is delivered to all zones
Primary airflow rate

(cfm)
Increasing the primary airflow rate through

the nozzles results in more air being
induced from the space
space, which increased
the capacity of the chilled beam coils
Increasing the primary airflow rate increases

primary AHU fan energy use, increases noise
in the space
space, and requires a larger primary
AHU and larger ductwork
Inlet static pressure

of the primary air
Increasing the static pressure at the inlet to

the nozzles results in more air being
induced from the space, which increased
the capacity of the chilled beam coils
Increasing the inlet pressure increases

primary AHU fan energy use, and increases
noise in the space
Dry-bulb temperature
of the primary air
Delivering the primary air at a colder

temperature means that less of the space
sensible cooling load needs to be offset by
the chilled beams
Using a colder primary-air temperature may

cause the space to overcool and low sensible
cooling loads, thus requiring the chilled beam
(or separate heating system) to add heat to
prevent overcooling space
Entering water
temperature
Supplying colder water to the chilled beam

increases the cooling capacity of the beam
Using a colder water temperature requires the

space dew point to be lower to avoid
condensation, which means the primary air
needs to be dehumidified to a lower dew point
Water flow rate

(gpm)
Increasing the water flow rate increases the

cooling capacity of the beam
Increasing the water flow rate increases pump

energy use and requires larger pipes and
pumps
35
ACB challenges
Need to Prevent Condensation

Primary air system used to limit indoor dew point
(typically
(t
i ll below
b l
55F)
Warm chilled-water temperatures delivered to beams
(typically between 58F and 60F)
Start primary air system (chilled beams off) to reduce
indoor humidity following shutdown
Tight
g building
g envelope and g
good building
g pressure
control to minimize infiltration
Use caution if the building has operable windows or
natural ventilation
36

18
ACB challenges
Risk of Water Leaks

Lots of water piping, pipe connections, and valves
above
b
every space iin th
the b
building
ildi
Four-pipe systems have twice as much piping and
twice as many connections
Example: 1000-ft2 office space
Example: 1000-ft2 classroom
37
ACB challenges
No Filtration of Local Recirc Air

Chilled beams typically not equipped with a filter
Coils intended to operate dry (no condensation),
lessening concern about preventing wet coil surfaces
from getting dirty
Still concern about removing particles generated
indoors or brought indoors
38

19
ACB challenges
Limited Heating Capability

Active chilled beams have limited heating capacity
Chilled beam systems often use a separate heating
system (baseboard convectors, radiant floor heat)
39
Chilled Beams
40

20
Office Buildings
Why ACB might be a good fit:
Why ACB might not be a good fit:
Low sensible cooling loads Low ventilation rates

resultlt in
i primary
i
AHU
Low latent loads
using mixed air
Not friendly for
re-configuring spaces
41
Schools
High ventilation rates
High latent loads require
resultlt in
i primary
i
AHU
with 100% OA
Low sound levels
llow d
dew point
i t primary
i
air
i
Lack of economizing
capacity
42

21
Hospital Patient Rooms

High minimum air change
No local filtration
rates
t (6 ACH)
Low latent loads
( d requirement?)
(code
i
t?)
43
Patient Room: All-Air System

VAV terminal
with reheat coil
230 cfm supply airflow

200 cfm (6 ACH) minimum
67 cfm (2 ACH) outdoor air
return airflow
200 ft2 with 10-ft ceiling height
Design space sensible cooling load

= 5000 Btu/hr
Design supply airflow (55F)
= 230 cfm
Minimum outdoor airflow (ASHRAE 170) = 67 cfm (2 ACH)
Minimum supply airflow (ASHRAE 170) = 200 cfm (6 ACH)
Airflow turndown before activating reheat = 12%
44

22
Patient Room: ACB System

active chilled beam
(qty 1, 10 ft long, 4-pipe)
67 cfm (2 ACH) primary airflow

100% outdoor air
268 cfm (>6 ACH) total airflow

primary air
+
induced room air
(3:1 induction ratio)
exhaust airflow
200 ft2 with 10-ft ceiling height
Design space sensible cooling load

Design primary airflow (55F)
Minimum outdoor airflow (ASHRAE 170)
Total room airflow
Capacity turndown before activating heat
= 5000 Btu/hr
= 67 cfm
= 67 cfm (2 ACH)
= 268 cfm (8 ACH, 3:1 induction ratio)
= 70%
45
active chilled beam systems compared to VAV systems
Summary
Potential advantages
Smaller ductwork and
smaller air handlers
Primary airflow < supply airflow,
but likely > outdoor airflow
Low sound levels

Impact on overall system energy?
Primary airflow < supply airflow,
but constant airflow
Warm water for beams,
but cold water primary AHU
Increased pumping energy
No DCV, limited airside
economizing
Challenges
High installed cost
Need to prevent
condensation
Risk of water leaks
No filtration of local
recirculated air
Limited heating capability
46

23
Additional Resources
Understanding Chilled Beam Systems, Trane

Engineers Newsletter ADM-APN034-EN (2009)
www.trane.com/engineersnewsletter
Chilled-Water VAV Systems, Trane

application manual SYS-APM008-EN (2009)
47

24

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Understanding Chilled Beam

and VAV Systems

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

Passive Chilled Beam

Active Chilled Beam

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

Active Chilled Beams

Source of images: Halton

active chilled beams

Primary Air System

Primary air must be sufficiently drier than space:

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

Induction of Mid-20th Century

Warmer water temperature

Lower air pressure required

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

active chilled beams

Primary airflow < supply airflow due to induction

active chilled beams

Determining Primary Airflow Rate

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

active chilled beams

Determining Primary Airflow Rate

Airflow needed to induce

Example: office space

active chilled beams

Determining Primary Airflow Rate

Airflow needed to induce

Example: K-12 classroom

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

Minimum Outdoor Airflow

Classroom (age 9 plus)

example (0.36 cfm/ft2)

minimum outdoor airflow required,

(based on default occupant densities)

active chilled beams

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

active chilled beams

Fan Energy Use: ACB vs. VAV

A zone served by ACBs may require 60% to 70%

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

Zone Primary Airflow at Part Load

System Load Diversity

multiple-zone VAV system

fan airflow = diversity zone primary airflows

active chilled beam system

For this example:

fan airflow = zone primary airflows

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

typical VAV system supply fan

supply fan airflow, % of design

supply fan energy use

ACB vs. Conventional VAV

ACB uses more

68% of VAV supply

supply fan airflow, cfm/ft2

2010 Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand

supply fan energy use

ACB vs. Cold-Air VAV

ACB uses more

80% of VAV supply

supply fan airflow, cfm/ft2

Chiller Energy Use: ACB vs. VAV

Chilled water delivered to the chilled beams must be