Safely Achievable Reductions in Exhaust Fan Energy on Laboratory Buildings
Chet Wisner, Ambient Air Technologies, LLC
Fred Bockmiller, University of California at Irvine
Marc Gomez, University of California at Irvine
Laboratory buildings typically use the majority of electric power on research and university campuses, primarily to run HVAC systems. The study reported here was sponsored by the University of California (UC) at Irvine to characterize the energy savings that are reasonably and safely available through simple modifications of the existing exhaust systems on these buildings. Three laboratory buildings on the UC at Irvine campus were selected as representative of modern design practices. These buildings were studied using wind tunnel testing to determine whether the electric energy used to run their exhaust fans could be safely reduced through relatively minor modifications. Wind tunnel testing had been used in the initial design of each building. It was found that on average each building could save about 50 kilowatts (438,000 kilowatt-hours per year) and $50,000 per year. Payback periods for the required capital investments were estimated to range from one-and-a-half to five years. The exhaust system modifications required to achieve these savings ranged from simple stack height extensions and installation of variable frequency drives to more complex dynamic control of fan speed in response to real-time wind conditions. Ensuring the continuing safety of those working in and around the buildings tested was of paramount importance. To provide confidence in the safety of the exhaust system renovation and to verify the accuracy of the wind tunnel test results, a tracer gas field study of exhaust plume dispersion was conducted for one of the buildings. The emissions-producing activities of each laboratory building were evaluated to specify appropriate minimum plume dispersion required to ensure safe conditions in and around the building. A morning roundtable session will discuss the implementation of these results at UC Irvine and at other campuses and facilities.
The results reported demonstrate that the energy savings are reasonably and safely achievable on existing laboratory buildings, which often use the majority of electric power on a campus.
Biographies:
Chet Wisner is the president of Ambient Air Technologies, LLC, a Colorado-based firm specializing in wind-tunnel modeling of laboratory and healthcare facilities. He has played an active role in the air quality portion of the environmental industry for more than 35 years. Applying his experience and expertise in meteorology, engineering, and physics to physical modeling using scale models in a boundary-layer wind tunnel, he has personally managed or directed many wind tunnel studies. Mr. Wisner coauthored a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-recommended protocol for the use of environmental wind tunnel studies to determine plume downwash characteristics for input to EPA's own regulatory dispersion models. He was responsible for some of the largest air quality monitoring networks in the United States, and has conducted numerous field studies of atmospheric dispersion. Mr. Wisner's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics from UC Berkeley, a Master of Science degree in meteorology from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and a Master of Business Administration degree from UC Los Angeles. He is an active member of several professional organizations including ASHRAE, the Air & Waste Management Association, and the American Meteorological Society, and has been a speaker at the Labs21 Annual Conference for the past several years.
Fred Bockmiller has over 25 years of experience in design, construction, operations, maintenance, and renovation of energy and power infrastructure. He is a registered professional engineer, certified energy manager, and LEED Accredited Professional. Graduating with high honors from the California Maritime Academy, Mr. Bockmiller holds unlimited operating licenses in Marine and Steam Engineering. Working at UCI since 1988, he is the principal engineer in the Facilities Management Department. Actively involved in all aspects of facilities management, from initial planning through final acceptance of new facilities, to operation, maintenance, and renovation of the entire campus and its extensive utility infrastructure, he has been a driver behind the development set of design standards that have allowed UCI to be at the forefront of wise energy use and the construction of durable, cost-effective research, office, instructional, housing, and athletic facilities. While working at UCI, Mr. Bockmiller has completed graduate supervision and management certifications.
Marc Gomez is the director of environmental health and safety at the University of California at Irvine. He has over 27 years of experience working in private industry, health care and the academic environment. Mr. Gomez holds certifications in Industrial Hygiene, Safety and Risk Management. He has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan.