ORNL’s User Facilities and HVAC research

ORNL’s User Facilities and HVAC research

Piljae Im

R&D Staff

Building Technologies Research & Integration Center

For

RTF Variable Capacity Heat Pump Subcommittee Call

March 26, 2014

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Introduction: ORNL Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC)

http://web.ornl.gov/sci/ees/etsd/btric/fact%20sheets/buildings_broch_fin.pdf

http://web.ornl.gov/sci/ees/etsd/btric/pdfs/buildings_catalog.pdf

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Light Commercial BuildingFlexible Research Platforms (FRPs)

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Flexible Research Platforms (FRPs) Enable Buildings to be Changed and Tested

Permanent Apparatus

Permanent Apparatus With Test Buildings

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Features of the Permanent Platforms• ‘Active’ foundation (adiabatic when ‘on’)• Structural skeleton• Provisions for attaching ‘test buildings’• Provisions for whole-building air pressurization/leakage tests• Utility and IT (data acquisition, process control) backbones• Process control for:

– Operating the active foundation, simulating occupancy, and forcing faults (e.g., filter clogs, refrigerant loss, component failures, etc.) during tests

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FRP research buildings Answering industry needs through research buildings and integration R&D

● Evaluating emerging energy efficiency technologies in realistic test beds is an essential step before market introduction.

● Environmental chambers and other lab apparatus cannot reliably impose every operating (or transient) condition encountered in a real building.

● Use of occupied buildings (the living lab approach) confounds experimental results, and is intrusive, high-risk for industry, and expensive if done right.

● The building industry is reluctant to embrace new design and construction techniques until they are proven with real buildings.

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1st Common HVAC Approach (e.g., RTU) Retrofit Solutions

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2nd Common HVAC Approach (e.g., PTHP) Retrofit Solutions

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3rd Common HVAC Approach (e.g., ASHP) Retrofit Solutions

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Multiple HVAC systems can be operated (Only One Operates At Any Given Time)

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Background Energy saving opportunity• Multi-zone HVAC provides heating and cooling

only when and where needed

• Traditional approaches enable multi-zone comfort but waste energy

• Even traditional approaches are uncommon in small commercial buildings, causing discomfort and productivity loss

• Install several styles of multi-zone HVAC in the 2-story research building and characterize baseline performance of them all

• Develop higher efficiency multi-zone HVAC components, controls, etc. with industry

• Retrofit prototypes of advancements into research buildings, verify, industry deploys

2-story ‘research building’ example:Several manufacturers of multi-zone HVAC

Rooftop VAV

GSHP

VRF

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Chambers Enable Multi-Zone System Development & Performance Characterization

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Chambers Reconfigure to Support Development & Characterization of Larger Capacity Units

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Questions?Contact:Piljae Im865-241-2312imp1@ornl.gov