H&H - Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates

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The Proceedings of this Symposium are housed in this collection.

This Symposium provides an opportunity to exchange information on technologies, strategies, and programs to improve the efficiency of building systems in hot and humid climates.

The conference program consists of technical presentations and discussions, highlighted by a vision-building plenary session, informative luncheon speakers, and technical sessions with top researchers and practitioners.

Click HERE to view the Hot and Humid Proceedings Catalog.

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For more information, please go to the Hot and Humid website: http://www.hothumidsymposium.org

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Measurements and Comparisons of Sunlighted and North-Lighted Atriums on Two Office Buildings in Dallas, Texas

Molinelli, J. F.; Kim, K. (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu)Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu), 1986)

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Abstract:

The use of natural light (daylighting) in the atriums of office buildings is often done to supplement or eliminate the artificial lighting otherwise required. To the extent that the daylight can be effectively admitted and then distributed, the dependence on artificial light is reduced, and energy is conserved. This study involves two major Dallas Texas office buildings: Dallas City Hall (I. M. Pei and Partners) and Diamond Shamrock Corp. (Harwood K. Smith and Partners), both with linear type atriums. The fenestration type used at City Hall is a north-facing barrel vault system for indirect light, while Diamond Shamrock uses a north-south pyramidal system which permits direct solar gain. This paper compares the illumination levels of these two systems and the relative merits of each, as well as indicating the effectiveness of daylight distribution in both buildings. Also included in this study are data indicating some brightness ratios for each building and subjective responses to an informal survey.

URI:

http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/6886

Files in this item: 1

ESL-HH-86-11-26.pdf (536.0Kb)

Prototype Passive Solar Buildings in Louisiana - A Hot-Humid Climate

Shih, J. C. (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu)Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu), 1986)

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This paper on prototype passive solar buildings in Louisiana presents state of the art passive solar design. According to U.S. Department of Energy report, the annual energy consumption for a single family detached dwelling in Louisiana is from 31,000 to 51,000 Btu's/sq.ft./yr. with a mean at 38,000 Btu's/sq.ft./yr. and for an office building is from 39,000 to 58,000 Btu's/sq.ft./yr. Incorporation of passive solar design may provide a major percentage of the energy consumption with only 2 to 8 percent of additional construction cost. The projected savings as presented in this report are an approximate estimation. However, the actual savings will vary depending upon the occupancy, operation, and maintenance of the building. At the same time, such design represents an increased involvement for the architect. The full potential of this passive solar design depends on a sensitive awareness of the relationship between climate, comfort and the thermal characteristics of buildings and building materials. The primary purpose of this work is to offer a working definition and fundamental understanding of a number of practical applications of passive solar designs in Louisiana. Four new buildings and six existing retrofitted buildings are presented.

URI:

http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/6885

Files in this item: 1

ESL-HH-86-11-25.pdf (599.2Kb)

Evaluation of a Local Air Conditioning Duty Cycling Device as a Load Management Tool

Schneider, K.; Thedford, M. (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu)Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu), 1986)

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During the summer of 1984, a test was performed to evaluate a local air conditioning duty cycling device as a tool to reduce TUEC's system summer peak demand. In addition to the local duty cycling device, a direct load control device using a power line carrier system was operated, and the results of the two systems were compared. Thirty single family homes in Garland and Richardson were included in the test. The homes' air conditioning compressors were controlled 4 days per week during the test period, using the local and direct control systems on alternate days. Both systems were programmed to cycle the compressor off 30% of the time when operating. The days when no control was performed were used as a base for comparison to the days when the air conditioners were controlled. The local control device and the direct control device were both found to reduce demand of the compressor by about 0.65 kW at 100°F ambient temperature. Also, the kW reduction achieved was found to increase with higher ambient temperatures. It was also shown that for more oversized units, a higher ambient temperature must be reached in order to achieve the same demand reduction as a properly sized unit. Both control devices were found to cause a minimum amount of discomfort to customers although they raised the temperature in the homes about 2°F during the hottest part of the day. The control did, however, make existing problems with air conditioners, such as improper maintenance and extreme undersizing, more noticeable to the customer, causing them to blame the controls for their discomfort. Finally, the customers were found to look more favorably upon the company as a result of participating in the test project.

URI:

http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/6884

Files in this item: 1

ESL-HH-86-11-24.pdf (528.1Kb)

Start-Up of Air Conditioning Systems After Periods of Shutdown (Humidity Considerations)

Todd, T. R. (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu)Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu), 1986)

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Abstract:

In many cases the single most important energy conservation measure that can be taken is to turn equipment off when it is not needed. In the case of air conditioning, this generally means turning it off when occupants leave and turning it back on in time to have the space comfortable when they return. In humid climates special problems are often encountered when a system is restarted after a period of shutdown. The temperature and humidity in the space rises during the period of shutdown. Unfortunately the latent load required to bring the space back to comfort conditions is usually much higher than the sensible load. Most methods of control are ill suited for this duty. This paper examines the response of various types of air conditioning systems during this recovery period and makes recommendations for system designers.

URI:

http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/6883

Files in this item: 1

ESL-HH-86-11-23.pdf (525.2Kb)

Performance of Horizontal Field Earth-Coupled Heat Pumps

Abbott, C. A. (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu)Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu), 1986)

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Abstract:

An alternative to traditional methods of residential heating and cooling is the heat pump. However, heat pumps which use the outside air as a heat source/sink become inefficient during the periods of highest demand. Another possible heat source/sink is the earth, several feet below the surface. The purpose of this paper is to study the performance of horizontal pipe field, closed-loop, earth-coupled heat pump systems. The effects on system performance of variations in pipe field and soil parameters are discovered through the use of a finite element computer simulation of the system. These parametric studies use heating and cooling loads for Ohio. Total field length and pipe diameter as well as pipe material and soil thermal conductivity are varied in several different sets of simulations. The results of these simulations, summarized as yearly operating costs, are used to determine the system configuration which gives the minimum payback period in a break even economic analysis. For a 2000 square foot house in the Central Ohio area, the optimum earth-coupled heat pump system has a payback of about seven years when compared with the performance of an air-to-air heat pump. The simulation methods used in this paper are easily adapted to systems with other heating/ cooling demands.

URI:

http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/6882

Files in this item: 1

ESL-HH-86-11-22.pdf (520.9Kb)

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