YEAR-IN-REVIEW 2014-2015wcec.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/WCEC-2015...WCEC YEAR-IN-REVIEW...
Transcript of YEAR-IN-REVIEW 2014-2015wcec.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/WCEC-2015...WCEC YEAR-IN-REVIEW...
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Welcome to the Western Cooling Efficiency Center’s Year-In-Review for the 2014-2015 year. We are excit-
ed to share with you highlights of our notable research for this past year, encompassing innovation, evalua-
tion, and commercialization of new energy efficiency solutions. The Year-In-Review displays the diversity and
uniqueness of our research and findings. These discoveries promise great benefits for California and beyond.
WCEC is reshaping the landscape of opportunity for energy efficient building systems. We are challenging
long standing precedents, and exploring solutions that promise dramatic savings. This is an exciting time.
Technology is evolving rapidly and we are working closely with our industry affiliates to forge a strategic path
forward. Together, we are developing a broad range of solutions, including new and sometimes unconven-
tional perspectives about the future of thermal energy systems in buildings.
LOOKING TOWARD OUR ENERGY FUTUREOur research successes and innovations are owed largely to the cooperative interests and combined efforts of
our valued network of industry partners, collaborators, and research sponsors. In light of the growing energy
and environmental challenges we face, we know these upcoming years are important. WCEC is proud to be a
part of this movement to reshape the focus and direction for our energy efficient future, and we look forward
to this continued progress.
Welcome
WCEC MISSION: Accelerate development and commercialization of efficient heating, cooling, and energy distribution solutions through stakeholder engagement, innovation, R&D, education and outreach.
EVAPORATIVE COOLING SOLUTIONS STILL MAKE
SENSE FOR WESTERN CLIMATES.
Using only 3% of urban landscape
water would save 4,000 gWh and would remove the greenhouse gas emissions of 600,000 cars.
NEW BUILDING ZERO NET ENERGY IS ONLY PART OF
THE EQUATION.
80% of HVAC manufacturer sales are for existing buildings—technol-
ogy that is appropriate for existing
buildings will drive the availability
of high efficiency products for all
applications.
TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
The way that new technology is ap-
plied, and the ways that we use and
interact with these systems, can
be as important to ultimate energy
savings as the technical innovation
behind a new efficiency measure.
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What is WCEC?The Western Cooling Efficiency Center is an authoritative and objec-
tive research center at UC Davis that accelerates the development and
commercialization of efficient heating, cooling, and energy distribu-
tion solutions.
Our work is increasingly important as energy policies in the US and
California recognize the far-reaching implications of greenhouse gas
emissions on our environment and changing climate.
HOW WE WORK
Applied ResearchWorking closely with manufacturers, policymakers and utilities,
WCEC tests new and existing HVAC technologies in our laboratory.
We also deploy real world demonstrations that provide objective
technology evaluations of field performance. Our engineers recom-
mend and implement performance improvements for the technolo-
gies tested.
Human Factors & Policy ResearchWe understand that even game changing technologies face consid-
erable barriers to adoption that include policy, market and human
interaction. WCEC works with policymakers, supporting codes and
standards that will save energy and promote new, efficient tech-
nologies. We also work closely with our Utility partners, to evaluate
technologies for market incentives, and in parallel, address human
behavioral factors.
WCEC’S NEW ASSOCIATE DIRECTORWCEC welcomes Dr. Vinod Narayanan as the Center’s new
Associate Director. His most recent position was as the
Professor of Engineering at Oregon State University. Dr.
Narayanan specializes in microscale flow and heat transfer
for energy efficient applications, including solar thermal,
solar fuels, thermal management, and phase-change heat
transfer. Dr. Narayanan brings a strong background in
heat and mass transfer research that expands the range
of solutions WCEC can provide to our sponsors.
THE UC DAVIS ADVANTAGEAs part of the University of California Davis, WCEC has
access to a diverse set of resources spanning multiple
disciplines that only a world-class university can pro-
vide. Together, with UC Davis’ College of Engineering
and the Energy Efficiency Center, WCEC is advancing
the HVAC industry, progressing towards California’s en-
ergy goals and reshaping what is truly possible in HVAC
energy efficiency.
est. 1905
Learn more» wcec.ucdavis.edu
Leaders in climate-appropriate cooling technologies
In-house laboratory with environmental chamber capable of re-creating 95% of California’s hot/dry climates
Leaders in automatic aerosol sealing technology for buildings
Building energy modeling
Technology evaluation
Hot/Dry climates
Codes & Standards
Human behavior in HVAC
Thermal energy distribution
HVAC system control
Core Proficiencies
Heat
&Mass Transfer
Extensive Knowledge In:
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Most HVAC systems are designed as a one-stop solution
to heat and cool in any climate region. Though these
units can be efficient, they cannot hope to achieve the
larger efficiency gains available through a more fo-
cused design strategy. Tailoring equipment design to a
specific climate type allows manufacturers the ability to
optimize their technologies to operate more efficiently
in that particular climate. More specifically, in hot and
dry climate zones, the use of evaporative technologies
to cool or pre-cool air can have a significant impact on
energy savings.
The Western Cooling Challenge is a multiple winner
competition that encourages HVAC manufacturers to
develop climate-appropriate rooftop packaged air con-
ditioning equipment that will reduce electrical demand
and energy use in Western climates by at least 40%
compared to current federal standards. WCEC’s ulti-
mate goal with the Challenge is to create a consistent,
reliable benchmark for new climate-appropriate tech-
nologies that will inform building owners, policy makers
and utilities. The Challenge is also a platform to work
with manufacturers to advance the application and ad-
vocate for these climate-appropriate technologies.
The Western Cooling Challenge
RETROFIT CASE STUDY: PALMDALE
15%Cooling energy & CO2 savings
up to
40%Peak cooling demand kW savings
3.5gallons
Water used per kWh saved
http://bit.ly/WCCCSpalmdale
20%
CASE STUDY: ONTARIO
Cooling energy & CO2 savings
up to
66%Peak cooling demand kW savings
5gallons
Water used per kWh saved
http://bit.ly/WCCCSontario
PROJECT REPORT: MUNTERS EPX5000
Using one EPX5000 on a roof with 5 other RTUs showed a 20% reduction in electrical demand for the whole building HVAC.
20%
http://bit.ly/WCCepx5000labThe Multi-Tenant Light Commercial project aims to reduce energy and peak consumption by at least 30%.
TECHNOLOGY PACKAGES EVALUATEDRetrofit kits: Products in this category are characterized as a deep retrofit of an RTU, replacing parts (ie: variable speed fans) and adding
controls to optimize performance.
Advanced Thermostats: These are devices that typically involve a one-for-one replacement of a thermostat but offer expanded func-
tionality over a traditional ON-OFF thermostat. Generally, advanced
thermostats will offer some form of remote monitoring and control,
precise and easily configurable scheduling, and potential for integra-
tion with larger energy management systems and utility demand re-
sponse programs.
Evaporative Cooling: Evaporative condenser air pre-cooling is used to improve the efficiency of existing vapor-compression equipment.
Multi-Tenant Light Commercial
$1,713.
WCEC is working to address the traditionally under-served market of
Multi-Tenant Light Commercial (MTLC) buildings. These buildings are
defined as having 2-25 small tenants in a building owned by a single
landlord. Examples of MTLC buildings are strip malls, office parks and
mixed use properties. Retrofitting these buildings represents a real
challenge for several reasons. Low access to capital, principal-agent
problems (the owner typically does not pay the utility bills), short-
term leases, and a large variety of end-use types are some of the bar-
riers identified for this market.
$291. Energy Savings estimate per year*
$428. Energy Savings estimate per year*
Energy Savings estimate per year*
*Savings estimates based on a medium restaurant with two, 5-ton RTUs 7
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WHAT’S NEXT:Commercial Applications: WCEC will begin testing the aerosol technology in commercial buildings this year.
Gas Pipelines: A WCEC laboratory test shows a successful application of the aerosol tech-nology sealing a leak in a 150 ft. gas pipe within 20 minutes. The next step will be to test sealing
efficacy in a longer laboratory application, and later, a field demonstration.
Automating the process of sealing leaks in buildings
Building envelope leaks are a significant factor in energy
consumption, accounting for over 30% of the total
energy used for HVAC. Sealing buildings by means of
aerosolized sealant particles is a promising technology,
providing a cost-effective solution that can dramatically
reduce the total leakage in buildings.
Sealing building envelopes saves energy by eliminating
infiltration of unwanted, unconditioned air, reducing the
loss of conditioned air and reducing the demand for
cooling and heating. Existing envelope sealing practices
require many contractor hours, manually sealing leaks
with no guarantee that the majority of leaks have
been found or sealed. Sealing building envelopes with
aerosol particles eliminates the guess-work—sealing
leaks a person is unlikely to notice—all while providing
instantaneous feedback and verified results.
Aerosolized Sealant for Building Envelopes Aerosol sealed leak at the Honda Smart Home
80%Available leaks sealed in large single family homes with the aerosol technology.
less than
2 hrs.Time taken to seal the leaks in a home.
up to
13 dBSound attenuation above 800Hz between apartments as a result of aerosol sealing.
27 Number of current installations of the aerosol technology in homes and apartments.
SEALING ENVELOPES USING AEROSOLS
STEP 1 PreparationAssemble, install and
connect controls for
the blower door and
the aerosol injector.
STEP 2 InjectionRun blower door to
pressurize space, and
release the aerosols.
STEP 3 Monitor & ExhaustVerify sealing in real
time, then exhaust
excess sealant when
process completes.
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Rejecting or storing heat into the earth using
geo-thermal pipes is a proven energy efficient
technology. Unfortunately, installation of these
systems are typically cost prohibitive, and the in-
stallation process is not viable on many properties.
Traditional geo-thermal techniques require expen-
sive drilling rigs that can bore vertically 200 feet
into the earth. New alternatives to the traditional
system, such as Large Diameter Earth Bore (LDEB)
and Directional Bore ground source heat pump
(GSHP) installations aim to reduce these costs by
reducing the drilling depth while maintaining an
adequate amount of heat exchange with the earth.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
FIELD TEST: Rio MondegoThis system uses 5 tubes horizontally installed to a
depth of roughly 20 feet in the back yard, yielding
a total heat exchanger size of roughly 130 feet. The
system can drill and install the tubing simultane-
ously, reducing the overall installation time and cost
compared to other systems.
CURRENT FINDINGSup to
20 EER In the summer with the direc-tional bore system installed.up to
6 COP In the winter with the direc-tional bore system installed.
FIELD TEST: Honda Smart HomeThe system uses two different LDEB field config-
urations with 24” wide, 20-foot deep helix shaped
GSHP tubes. Both system installations require a sig-
nificant reduction in time and resources compared
to conventional GSHP systems.
up to
23.7 EER
FIELD TEST: Capay ValleyThis installation uses an LDEB array to store water
that can be cooled during favorable conditions
with an evaporative chiller at night, and then used
to cool a home during the day. Shifting the cooling
demand to night hours increases efficiency and
reduces peak energy consumption.
up to
18% Peak savings in California’s hot climate zones (modeled data).up to
14%
CURRENT FINDINGS
Cooling energy savings in California’s hot climate zones (modeled data).
ADAPTIVE THERMOSTATS DEMONSTRATIONOccupancy responsive thermostats adjust mechanical system operating parameters to reduce energy con-sumption when a conditioned space is vacant.
Up to 25% Cooling energy savings
GALLAGHER HALL BUILDING ASSESSMENT DEMONSTRATIONExamining the whole building sys-tems and analyzing the performance of this LEED Platinum building.
49%
Energy Use Inten-sity reduction vs. similar buildings
ROOFTOP UNIT EFFICIENCY OPTIMIZER DEMONSTRATIONInstallation and performance analysis of an RTU retrofit that utilizes new controls, sensors and variable frequency drive fan motors.
Cooling energy savings
AUTOMATED DUCT SEALING FIELD TESTField installation and performance analysis of the Aeroseal automated duct sealing technology in a 3-story UC Davis building.
19% Energy savings
Technology Demonstrations Program
WCEC’s demonstration efforts highlight market ready HVAC technologies, and pro-
vide a reliable, unbiased perspective on their performance and cost effectiveness.
The technologies demonstrations program is a catalyst for creating best practices
that will inform and guide policy decisions that ultimately impact the broader energy
efficiency marketplace.
Our demonstration activities are public-private collaborations that foster the deploy-
ment of advanced technologies, with special focus on implementing energy efficiency
strategies in coordination with facilities managers and planners at large public institu-
tions such as the University of California, the California State University, the Department
of General Services, and local municipalities.
Download the SPEED reports » http://bit.ly/SPEEDpublications
Up to 51%
CURRENT FINDINGS
The Honda Smart Home analysis is currently ongo-
ing. A larger, previous installation at Parkview Place
in Davis has shown:
up to
6.2 COP
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In air conditioning systems, condensing units reject heat from refrigerant into an out-
side air stream. In these systems, higher outside air temperatures result in higher en-
ergy use by the compressors. As the outdoor air temperature rises, the efficiency of
the air conditioning system drops resulting in more energy use to provide the same
amount of cooling to the conditioned space. Compounding this issue, more space cool-
ing is needed at high outdoor air temperatures due to the increased cooling needs of
the building.
Evaporative cooling in dry climates takes advantage of the outside air’s ability to ab-
sorb moisture, which results in a temperature reduction of the air stream. When evap-
orative cooling is used for pre-cooling condenser inlet air, the condenser operates at
a lower temperature than a baseline air-cooled condenser, and therefore its cooling
capacity is increased, and less electricity is consumed to meet the cooling demand.
There are a large number of manufacturers offering several different designs for
evaporative pre-coolers as retrofits to existing rooftop units (RTU). The design of the
pre-cooler impacts its performance and the resulting energy savings of the air con-
ditioning system. While various field studies have been completed, this project also
conducted laboratory comparisons of performance. WCEC is developing an objective
laboratory test protocol needed to quantify the energy savings, peak demand impli-
cations, and the associated water use of pre-coolers at controlled climate conditions.
Conclusions from this analysis will provide customers with an objective means for com-
paring products.
1. Evaporative Effectiveness: This tracks how close an evaporative cooler can get to the ambient wet bulb
temperature at any given condition. 100% Evaporative
Effectiveness means the cooler can reach the wet bulb
temperature at any given condition.
2. Water-Use Effectiveness: This metric determines what percentage of the water is actually used for evapora-
tive cooling. 100% Water-Use Effectiveness means that no
water is wasted, and all water going into the system is being
used for pre-cooling.
Rooftop Unit Retrofits
EVEN MORE SAVINGS:WCEC is also testing evaporative pre-coolers in combina-
tion with variable speed fan and compressor retrofits. This
combination takes advantage of the reduced ambient air
temperature provided by the pre-cooler, and adjusts the fan
and compressor speeds for even greater energy savings.
EVAPORATIVE EFFECTIVENESS
20-80%
WATER-USE EFFECTIVENESS
30-100%
ENERGY SAVINGSUp to 25%
PEAK DEMAND SAVINGSUp to 30%
LAB RESULTS
WCEC spearheaded ASHRAE’s development of a standard test protocol for evaporative pre-coolers. The protocol is used to
determine two performance defining metrics:
16%Power savings (kW)
RETROFIT WITH A PRE-COOLER
37% COP increase
6gallons
WATER USED PER KWH SAVED
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RETROFIT WITH A PRE-COOLER & FAN/COMPRESSOR OPTIMIZATION
35% Power savings (kW)
51% COP increase
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HVAC TECHNICIAN INSTRUMENT LABORATORY
HVAC technician tools that predict refrigerant properties may be inaccurate, and could account for at least some of the failure to produce expected savings associated with proper maintenance. WCEC laboratory tested 9 different types of monitoring equipment used by technicians and observed their use in the field by technicians.
Results show that most instrument errors were within a satisfactory range, though in some cases, instrument ac-curacy did not meet Title 24 requirements. For the major-ity of use cases, using off-the-shelf HVAC technician tools will enable performance optimization within 1-3% of an HVAC unit’s maximum efficiency.
EVAPORATIVE COOLING MODEL FOR TITLE 24 CREDITS
TRACER GAS AIRFLOW MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
The current status-quo methods for measurement of airflow in HVAC systems are inaccurate and time con-suming. It is especially difficult to measure airflow rates through air handlers and rooftop units. In many instanc-es, physical limitations prohibit the proper use of conven-tional tools such as anemometers, pilot tubes, and flow hoods. Tracer gas airflow measurement is an alternate method for measurement of airflow rates that is much more flexible than traditional methods and can measure between 20-12,000cfm at 98% accuracy—all in one small, convenient package.
WCEC successfully created a commercially viable tracer gas airflow measurement system, and is currently refin-ing the software side experience. UC Davis is seeking a commercial partner to license the technology.
Building simulations are used by builders to predict energy usage and to certify Title-24 compliance. New, evaporative technologies are proven to save significant energy, but there are no reliable simulation modules for builders to realize this savings for Title-24 credit.
WCEC is developing a flexible and re-configu-rable modeling framework that will accurately simulate the performance of these new sys-tems. With a reliable model, hybrid systems can be used within Title-24’s Alternative Calculation Method. This allows building designers and en-gineers to evaluate evaporative cooling as an efficiency measure, while maintaining an overall energy and monetary budget.
GAS ENGINE HEAT PUMPS
Gas Engine Heat Pump (GEHP) systems are relatively new heat pump technology that have a potential for great efficiency. In these systems, the waste heat of fuel combustion can be recovered, reducing overall energy use further. Another benefit of a GEHP is the significant reduction of peak electricity draw compared to conventional systems. Also, ac-cording to our preliminary modeling results, the overall annual operating cost of a GEHP is lower than conventional systems.
PHASE-CHANGE MATERIALS FOR HYDRONIC SYSTEMS
Water is a common, and generally efficient, means for thermal distribution around buildings. However, trans-porting thermal energy by means of a material that changes phase (freezing/melting or condensing/boiling) allows much more energy to be transported by the same amount of material. By pumping a slurry of water and encapsulated phase-change materials (PCM) instead of just water, the increase in heat carrying capacity associat-ed with phase-change means that less of the PCM slurry needs to be pumped to meet demand as compared to a traditional water system.
Lab results show up to a 25% decrease in pumping power for water with PCMs compared to clear water.
CASE STUDIES ON ADVANCED THERMOSTAT FIELD TESTS
This study describes the use of advanced thermostats in-stalled in three non-residential locations. A baseline sur-vey was conducted to measure pre-installation comfort, satisfaction and usability of existing thermostats. The advanced thermostats were installed by contractors, and their usability was assessed by assigning usability tasks to end users and conducting a post-installation survey. Effects on HVAC electricity usage were estimated us-ing SmartMeter and meteorological data collected from comparable pre- and post-installation periods.
Results showed minimal energy savings over previous thermostats, and usability confidence metrics were also much lower. Our efforts indicate that successful applica-tion of advanced thermostats require a more sophisticat-ed deployment process that includes training, commis-sioning and ongoing support.
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Thank you to our Affiliates & Partners
American Honda Motor Co, Inc.®
Belimo®
California Energy Commission
Carel®
Carrier Corporation®
Coolerado®
Daikin Industries, Ltd.®
Davis Energy Group®
E-Source
Evaporcool®
Integrated Comfort, Inc.®
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Munters® Corporation®
Pacific Gas and Electric Company®
Sacramento Municipal Utilities District
Seeley International Pty. Ltd.®
Sempra Energy® Utilities
Sheet Metal Workers International Assoc.
Southern California Gas Company®
Southern California Edison®
Tokyo Gas
Villara™ Building Systems
Walmart®
Wells Fargo
Xcel Energy®
wcec.ucdavis.edu