Sustainability Beyond Certification

2011

Sept 19th 2011 – Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi- UAE

HVAC Design for High Ambient Conditions

Presented by George Berbari

 What Are the Key Elements of HVAC Efficient Design for
High Ambient Conditions

• Design Conditions
• Indoor Design Conditions
• Outdoor Design Condition
• Envelop Optimization beyond code compliance
• Roof & Wall Insulation and U factor
• Fenestration Light transmittance and U factor
• Glass to Wall Ratio
• Glass Shading
• Tightness of Envelop
• Ventilation (Fresh & Exhaust Air)
• Why some standards encourage to exceed Ashrae 62.1 by 30% or more?
• Heat Recovery between fresh and exhaust air.
• Variable speed fans operation.
• Double Skin Commercial Hood??
 Proper Design Conditions

• Design Conditions
• Indoor Design Conditions Ashrae Standard 55 -2010 Allows to raise the typically
used DB of 23.3 to 24.4 OC in hot ambient to a range of 24.4 to 25.5 O C while
Int’l Energy Conservation code (ICCC 2009) specify minimum indoor design
conditions of 24 O C

• Outdoor Design Condition DB / WB = 46.1 / 29.44 OC typically used Vs. Ashrae

Design Conditions 44.9 / 23.2 OC and 35.3 / 30.6 OC lead to :
• Over estimation of sensible load.
• Under estimation of latent load.
• Over estimation of Total load where dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures
peak at different time.
• Wrong selection of Fresh Air Handling unit Coil which should be selected at
35.3 / 30.6 OC.
• Current design conditions is leading to HVAC system and plant oversizing by
more then 10% while other safety factors compile the problem to typically of
30% oversizing leading to larger HVAC system and inefficient system operation.
 Proper Design Conditions
(Extracted from previous Ashrae Presentation Given in Dubai on 22-3-2005)

Internal Load (TR)

Outdoor Conditions
Indoor Conditions
115 / 85 °F (46.1 / 29.4 °C) Variance 94 / 86 °F (34.4 / 30 °C) Variance 107 / 75 °F (41.7 / 23.9 °C) Variance
74°F (23.3°C) / 50% rh 492.1 7.3% 423.1 -7.8% 462.1 0.7%
76°F (24.4°C) / 50% rh 482.3 5.1% 414.5 -9.7% 458.8 BASE
1,2
Fresh Air Cooling Coil Load (TR) for ~ 30,000 CFM (14,200 l/s)
Outdoor Conditions
Indoor Conditions
115 / 85 °F (46.1 / 29.4 °C) Variance 94 / 86 °F (34.4 / 30 °C) Variance 107 / 75 °F (41.7 / 23.9 °C) Variance
74°F (23.3°C) / 50% rh 76.8 -12.9% 81.0 -8.2% 46.5 -47.3%
76°F (24.4°C) / 50% rh 84 -4.8% 88.2 BASE 53.7 -39%

TOTAL Building Load (TR)

Outdoor Conditions
Indoor Conditions
115 / 85 °F (46.1 / 29.4 °C) 94 / 86 °F (34.4 / 30 °C) 107 / 75 °F (41.7 / 23.9 °C)
74°F (23.3°C) / 50% rh 568.9 11.0% 504.1 -1.6% 508.6 -0.8%
76°F (24.4°C) / 50% rh 566.3 10.5% 502.7 -1.9% 512.5 BASE
 Envelop Optimization beyond code compliance

• Roof & Wall Insulation and U factor

• Meeting the local and international code is an adequate strategy as decreasing the Wall U factor
below 0.57 Watt/m2.OK (0.1 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) is often not economical unless codes dictates that as
in the case of Abu Dhabi. Ashrae Std. 90.1-2010 specifies for residential Buildings in hot and
humid climate (Zone 1A) wall U Factor = 0.857 Watt/m2.OK (0.151BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) and roof U
Factor = 0.273 Watt/m2.OK (0.048 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2)
• Department of Municipal Affairs user Guide for Int’l Building codes in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi
(IBC for AUH) interpret Int’l Energy Conservation Code 2009 specifies Wall U Factor of 0.324
Watt/m2.OK (0.057 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) and Roof U Factor of 0.148. Watt/m2.OK (0.026 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2)
 Envelop Optimization beyond code compliance

• Fenestration Light Transmission and U factor

• Meeting the local and international code is an adequate strategy in low cost electric
power where 2.1 Watt/m2.OK (0.37 BTU/Hr/OF.ft2) and Glass Shading coefficient
(SHGC) of 0.25 to 0.4 depending on Projection Factor. Triple glazing and double
glazing with argon gas filler are feasible options where electric power are priced above
US $ 0.15 /Kwh and where architects and owners prefers large glass facades. Select
Glass with Light transmission preferably higher than 40% that meat the SHGC
requirement.
• Thermally brake Glass have little impact on the
thermal performance especially with 4 sided
silicon structure glass where there is no exposed
aluminum structure and in general was designed
as a solution for winter condensation in colder
countries. Use whenever code requires that as in
the case of Sharjah.
 Glass To wall Ratio

• Codes are calling for smaller Glass to Code

Ratios Ashrae std. 90.1 recommends 40%
maximum glass to wall ratio while IBC for AUH
limit it to 30% . However Architects and
Buildings owners and developers still prefer Notice Cladding
higher ratios such as: & Glass Colors

70% G to W Ratio 50% G to W Ratio <50% G to W Ratio

 Glass To wall Ratio : Why is it important?

• Glass facades cost between US $400 to $500 per m2 compared to aluminum

cladding of US $150 to $ 200 m2 and wall finishes US $100 to $400 per m2.
• Glass Passes 6 to 9.5 times more heat than walls!!

Heat Transmission Through Walls & Glass (Abu Dhabi)

Notice Cladding
Design Heat Transmission - Watt&per m2
Glass Colors
U value Glass Shading Exposure

2 O 2 O
Average - Average -
Watt/m . K BTU/Hr/Ft . F Coeficient North East South West
W/m2 BTU/Hr /ft 2

Wall 0.568 0.1 12.1 11.3 14.6 17.0 13.7 4.35

0.318 0.056 5.6 7.6 12.9 8.8 8.7 2.76

Glass 2.129 0.375 0.287

Solar Conductance 32.5 32.5 32.5 32.5 32.5 10.3
Solar Transmission 13.5 39.6 80.0 68.3 50.3 16.0

Subtotal Glass 46.0 72.1 112.5 100.8 82.9 26.3

Glass / Wall Heat Transmission (U=0.1) 3.8 6.4 7.7 5.9 6.0
Glass / Wall Heat Transmission (U=0.056) 8.3 9.5 8.7 11.5 9.5
Glass To wall Ratio : Why Mechanical Engineer are Passive?

• Mechanical Engineers are still on the receiving end with the architect and most
often don’t comment at all on the envelop or offers any advice to the architect
and developer.
• Architects tend to finalize the building architectural impression and offer it to the
owner at early stage of the project prior to the involvement of the mechanical
engineer.
• Architect are reluctant to change the ratio as often that involves unpaid work
variation that means time and cost.
• Shading to the southern façade is quite effective but can be rarely incorporated
once design is finalized.
• Building tightness test are now required in Abu Dhabi Emirate.
 Fresh Air: The magic of Heat recovery
Preferred Solution

Minimum Wheel Minimum HP

Efficiency 75% Effectiveness 45 to 50%

Notice Cladding
& Glass Colors
Fresh Air: The magic of Heat recovery
Alternative Solution

Notice Cladding
& Glass Colors
 Fresh Air: The magic of Heat recovery
Non Recommended Solution

Minimum Wheel
CHILLED WATER
Efficiency < 65% 44°F/54°F
Fresh Air > 30% of Ashrae
Std 62.1 Supplied at
around 13OC
2" PRE FILTER BAG FILTER
Notice Cladding
& Glass Colors

SUPPLY AIR
FRESH AIR

PURGE AIR

EXHAUST AIR RETURN AIR

TOTAL ENERGY COOLING COIL 2" FILTER

RECOVERY WHEEL
OPTIONAL VARIABLE
SPEED CONTROL

Why are This type of AHU’s still being

1) FRESH AIR AHU WITH ENERGY WHEEL ONLY
specified and used?!!!
 Fresh Air: Key Recommendations

• Fresh Air should not exceed the Amount specified in ASHRAE Standard 62.1
2010 in hot and humid countries and ignore the additional points achieved in few
Green buildings codes as you will be penalized in the energy consumption part.
EPA Indoor Air Quality Guide Quote: “source control is also a more cost-efficient
approach to protecting indoor air quality than increasing ventilation because
Notice Cladding
increasing ventilation can increase energy costs”. i.e. eliminating frying at your
& Glass Colors
homes will reduce the smell, fire hazard and your fat intake and improve your
Health and safety.
• Fresh air should not exceed that value of exhaust air by more than 10%.
• Residential Kitchen hood should be a circulating hood while permanent kitchen
exhaust of 50 CFM should be installed at the kitchen ceiling plenum level.
• Residential Kitchens and Toilet exhaust can utilize the same duct and both
should be used for heat recovery.
• Fresh air of 2 ACH should be supplied to lift lobbies to stop any cooking smell
mitigation.
 Fresh Air: Key Recommendations (cont’d)

• Double Skin Commercial kitchen hoods are controversial where the rule of thumb
state that 80% make up air portion can be used in commercial kitchen is a recipe
of trouble
• Peripheral perforated plenum with low velocity is recommendedNotice
withCladding
the
possibility to cool the air down to 30 deg. C. & Glass Colors
• Preference to use UL listed hood with minimum exhaust flow and make use of
transfer air from dinning areas.
• VFD on both exhaust and make up air fans.
Recommended

Low air
velocity
< 0.4 m/s
X (75 FPM)
 Thank you
email: gberbari@dcproeng.com

15