Doing More with Less: Hydronic Synergy Strategies for Chilled Beams

George Karidis, SmithGroupJJR
Cindy Cogil, SmithGroupJJR

Active or ventilated chilled beams are a powerful tool on the air-side of laboratory HVAC systems, allowing lab thermal loads to be addressed independently from lab and air handling unit ventilation loads, thus offering greater efficiency than traditional lab HVAC systems.

However, when active chilled beams are coupled with one or more innovative hydronic strategies, including dual-effect central heat pumps, low-grade heat recovery, cogeneration, and 'Plug-and-Play' pump loops, greater benefits are possible.

In this session, the presenters will review the application and advantages of water-side strategies that can offer laboratory users, owners and operators even greater synergy—both thermodynamically and economically—than conventional chilled beam systems.

The hydronic synergy chilled beam strategies that the presenters will cover include:

1. Dual-Effect Central Heat Pumps
Central heat pumps engaged between the heating and cooling sides of four-pipe chilled beams—or even some two-pipe designs—can offer combined-cycle Coefficients of Performance (energy moved over energy used) of up to 9.0, versus half of that for single-cycle refrigeration and about a tenth of that for boilers.

2. Low-Grade Heat Recovery
Low-grade heat recovery and/or renewable energy systems can cut or eliminate fossil fuel use when data centers, central air compressors, lab processes, solar thermal collectors or other sources are available.

3. Cogeneration
Cogeneration (making two+ useful outputs) can satisfy heating, cooling, pump and fan energy demands with a single, highly-leveraged energy stream. Substantial benefits include reduced electricity cost and, in many cases, reduced carbon footprint.

4. "Plug-and-Play" Pump Loops
Plug-and-play main heating pump loops and main cooling pump loops enable the timely engagement and disengagement of the above strategies, as well as free cooling, thermal storage and others. This unique hydronic arrangement directs flow through each cooling/heating producer or user only when and as it is beneficial, using a low-pressure control valve in the loop to control flow through each appropriate component. Placing components in a deliberate order within the main loop allows less pump flow to provide a larger thermodynamic benefit, with simplified piping and fewer pumps.

The presenters will demonstrate these strategies through recent and innovative project case studies, including Oakland University's Engineering Center and separate Human Health Building, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Energy Systems Integration Facility, which was recently named R&D Magazine's 2014 Laboratory of the Year.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the potential synergy and energy cost reduction of a central heat pump working between the cooling and heating sides of a lab's chilled beams.
  • Understand possible uses of low-grade or other recovered heat, solar thermal collectors, cogeneration waste heat, or trigeneration with a chilled beam system.
  • Understand how multiple heating or multiple cooling producers/users can be readily engaged or disengaged in a beneficial order with an innovative plug-and-play main loop strategy.

Biographies:

George is a VP and Corporate Engineer for Science & Technology for SmithGroupJJR. Serving high technology clients for over 30 years, his recent innovative projects include: Oakland University Engineering Center; FAW R & D Center (Changchun); BAE Systems Prototyping Center; U of Michigan Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, and concepts for NREL Energy Systems Integration Facility. His past I2SL technical sessions include "Energy Arbitrage" and "Exhale-It's all About Ventilation"

Cindy is a Principal and Director of Engineering for SmithGroupJJR Chicago, with over 16 years in sustainable design. She has designed over 10 projects that are pursuing or have achieved LEED-certified status, including the first Platinum LEED-certified building, Chesapeake Bay Foundation's (CBF) Philip Merrill Environmental Center. She is currently involved in the design of CBF's Brock Environmental Center, a net-zero energy project, which is seeking Living Building Challenge certification.

 

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