Simulation of Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Systems for HVAC Energy Conservation in an Animal Housing Facility

File(s)
Date
2003Author
Freund, Sebastian W.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Implementation of energy conservation measures in buildings can extend our use of finite
resources while simultaneously reducing our impact on the environment. This project
summarizes efforts to identify economically-viable strategies to reduce HVAC related energy
usage and improve the indoor air quality at a facility that houses primates and large cats. The
primary focus of energy conservation strategies for the facility centered around air-to-air
energy recovery concepts including enthalpy exchangers and runaround loops. Component
and system models for transient computer simulations were developed for the existing
facility and for several equipment alternatives including enthalpy exchangers and runaround
loop heat exchangers. The model of the enthalpy exchanger is based on a new semi-empirical
NTU Correction Factor Method. Given only two reference data points, the model is able to
predict effectiveness for any balanced and unbalanced flow condition. The runaround loop is
modeled as two counterflow liquid-to-air heat exchangers coupled by a heat transfer liquid.
The model incorporates liquid flow rate and bypass control. Both models include various
options of economizer control and frost control, as well as calculations of parasitic losses.
Comparisons of frost control strategies for energy recovery systems were prepared and show
that preheating of outdoor air is a favorable solution for enthalpy exchangers. The new
simulation models are validated with experimental data. The building model is a detailed
model including all internal gains, humidity and solar irradiation and is created in TRNSYS,
a software package for transient simulations. The simulations were based on hourly weather
data for one year. The simulations allow energy consumption and indoor air quality to be
optimized. The findings of the simulations suggest that more than 80% of the heating energy
and 45% of the cooling energy can be saved by implementation of air-to-air energy recovery
and conservative control settings. The proposal for changes of the HVAC system includes
specifications of energy recovery systems and an economic analysis. The environmental
impact of the proposed systems regarding CO2 production has been analyzed, showing that
up to 73 tons can be saved per year
Subject
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2003.
Dissertations Academic Mechanical Engineering.
University of Wisconsin--Madison. College of Engineering.
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/7626Description
Under the supervision of Professors Sanford Klein and Douglas Reindl; 165pp.
Citation
Freund, S.W. (2003). Simulation of Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Systems for HVAC Energy Conservation in an Animal Housing Facility . Master's Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison.