1. Field Experience Controlling a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS)
ASHRAE Denver Symp #2 June 26, 2005
Stanley A. Mumma, Ph.D., P.E., Prof. Jae-Weon Jeong, Ph.D., Instructor Department of Architectural Engineering
Penn State Univ. Park, PA

2. Presentation outline DOAS and Test Site Defined
Controlled Devices, Instrumentation, and Control
The Why & How of Continual Performance Monitoring
Measured Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI) of System: f (Effective Draft Temperature)
Measured Thermal Comfort, PPD
Conclusions

3. DOAS Defined for this presentation
High Induction Diffuser
100% OA No Recirc.
Cool/Dry Supply, CV
DOAS Unit W/ Energy Recovery
Building With Sensible and Latent cooling decoupled
Parallel Sensible Cooling System

4. Parallel Terminal Systems
DOAS air
Induction Nozzle
Sen Cooling Coil
Room air
Radiant Cooling Panels
Chilled Beams
Fan Coil Units
When talking about integration of dedicated outdoor air systems with parallel terminal systems, as this symposium is based, I wanted to make it clear that we mean anything from
fan coil units,
small air handlers,
unit ventilators in schools,
or just unitary air conditioners.
But the focus of this presentation will be dedicated to radiant cooling panels.
Unitary ACs
Air Handling Units

5. Building Site

6. An Inside View

7. Another inside view

8. FM1 T7
Controls
DOAS Schematic

9. EW full Speed EW Off EW Modulate 196 168 140 112 8428
140
168
196
112 84 56
Humidity ratio (grains/lb)
EW full Speed
wet
EW Off
dry
EW Modulate

10. Continual Performance Monitoring—the Need
Dr. J Woods reports that 5-10% of entire non industrial building stock has building related illnesses.
And 10-25% of the Stock has sick building syndrome.
These are facilities that began their life with no known problems, then degraded.
Also, DOE reports that monitoring could save 0.45 Quads/yr of energy.

11. Categories of performance degradation
Insufficient diagnostic and alarm tools for early warning of degradation.
Management’s lack of awareness of the economic consequences.
Management’s Indifference.

12. Avoiding Potential Degradation in a DOAS-Radiant System
Compromised SA quantity: equipment problems, dirt, etc: FM 1 used to detect.
Compromised building pressurization, (infiltration): FM 5 used to detect.
Compromised supply air temperature: detect EW using T6-7-10, or CC T8.
Condensation: Cond sensor to detect.
Note: sensors color coded with next slide

13. FM1 T7
DOAS Schematic

14. ADPI achieved w/ the DOAS system
For the test facility, the air flow rate was about 0.3 cfm/ft2, or about 30% of a VAV (at design). Some have expressed concern about satisfactory air motion.
Experiments were performed in the winter, when convective action was not supplemented by the overhead cooling panels (no panel cooling).
Even in the winter the space has a cooling load—so no convective impact from heating.

15. ADPI Defined
An indication of the %of the locations in a space with a velocity of 70 fpm or less and an EDT between -3F and +2F.
Effective Draft Temperature (EDT):
q=(TL-TR)-0.07*(VL-30)
Where
q, EDT, °F
TL, local mean air stream DBT, °F
TR, average room DBT, °F
VL, local mean air stream velocity, fpm

16. The mean velocity at the 35 stations ranged from 12 to 30 fpm (all below 70 fpm). The EDT for 34 of the 35 locations ranged from -3<q, EDT < +2. Therefore the ADPI was [34/35]*100=97%

17. ADPI conclusion
DOAS can deliver exceptionally high ADPI’s; a very favorable finding!

18. Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort is a function of the following variables that influence metabolic heat transfer:
Dry-bulb temperature (DBT),
Relative humidity,
Mean radiant temperature,
Air movement,
Metabolism, and
Clothing worn by the occupants.
Comfort, then, is almost completely a function of the space air distribution, provided there is sufficient heating or cooling to meet the thermal and humidity control requirements. (i.e. ADPI important).

19. Measuring Thermal Comfort: Thermal Comfort Meter

20. Thermal Comfort Test Results
-0.01<PMV<+0.07
Where, PMV subjective scale:
+3 hot
+2 warm
+1 slightly warm
0 neutral
-1 slightly cool
-2 cool
-3 cold

21. Predicted Percent Dissatisfied (PPD)

22. Predicted Percent Dissatisfied (PPD) test results
The PPD for the tests:
5.1%<PPD<5.4%
That means almost 95% of the occupants were satisfied.
ASHRAE’s accepted thermal comfort design guidelines permits PPD to be as high as 20%. Satisfying nearly 95% of the occupants is certainly far superior to the ASHRAE target of 80% satisfied .

23. Conclusions
Dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS), when properly designed and controlled, are capable of delivering very stable and comfortable environments (PPD = 5%).
The authors have experienced no difficulties making the system and controls perform as designed/desired.
Perhaps the keys to success are:
the proper control of the enthalpy wheel, and
the control of the cooling equipment to assure that the space latent loads are completely handled by the ventilation air.

24. Conclusions
It has been demonstrated that good air motion is achieved (ADPI of 97%) with ventilation air flow alone (typically around 20-30% of that required for thermal control),
It is not necessary to deliver large quantities of primary air to provide thermal comfort.
As a result, there can be significant air movement energy savings when a CRCP hydronic parallel system is used to meet the balance of the space sensible load not met with the ventilation air.

25. Conclusions
Finally, because of the ability of the DOAS to decouple the space latent control from the sensible control, space relative humidity levels are maintained at the desired design level.

26. Questions

27. Inherent problems with VAV Systems
Poor air distribution.
Poor humidity control.
Poor acoustical properties.
Poor use of plenum and mechanical shaft space.
Serious control problems, particularly with tracking return fan systems.
Poor energy transport medium, air.
Poor resistance to the threat of biological and chemical terrorism, and
Poor and unpredictable ventilation performance.

28. VAV problems solved with DOAS/Radiant
Poor air distribution.
Poor humidity control.
Poor acoustical properties.
Poor use of plenum and mechanical shaft space.
Serious control problems, particularly with tracking return fan systems.
Poor energy transport medium, air.
Poor resistance to the threat of biological and chemical terrorism, and
Poor and unpredictable ventilation performance.

29. Consequences of system degradation—Ref: Dr. Jim Woods
20% of US workers experiencing health related symptoms
Another 20% of US workers are experiencing hampered performance
50% of US workers have lost confidence in management’s ability to deal with the situation.
A major economic investment is needed to mitigate each problem and recover workers “goodwill”.

30. Computing Occupancy From Measured DCO2 Data
Steady state vs transient computations.
Why count people in light of ASHRAE Std ?
Floor component.
Occupant component.
Causes space CO2 concentration to change with occupancy.
DCV made more difficult.

31. Computing Occupancy From Measured DCO2 Data
Transient equation in difference form:
Pep=(V*(N-N1)/Dt + SA*(N-Ci))/(G*1,000,000)
where
Pep = number of occupants
V = the space air volume, ft3
N = the space CO2 concentration at the present time
step, ppm
N1= the space CO2 concentration one time step back, ppm
Dt = the time step, min.
SA = the supply airflow rate, scfm
Ci = the CO2 concentration in the supply air, ppm
G = the CO2 generation rate per person, scfm

32. Computing Occupancy From Measured DCO2 Data
How well does it work?
As long as the temperatures remain nearly steady, the accuracy is remarkably good (within 2 people for a 40 person space).
But when the OA temperature drops, error is introduced in the CO2 measurements.
When the SA flow is large (many people), the counts can be off by many people. For the test site, by about +5 people.

33. Measuring Thermal Comfort
A thermal comfort meter can measure the influence the six variables.
The instrument uses a heated ellipsoidal transducer designed to simulate the thermal pattern of a human being. It contains a surface temperature sensor, and a surface-heating element whose power is adjusted automatically by the thermal comfort meter to bring the surface to a temperature similar to that of a thermally comfortable human.
The rate of heat production needed to attain this temperature is used as a measure of the environmental conditions.