Date of Award

Summer 1987

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Petrie, Thomas W.

Second Advisor

Linehan, J.

Third Advisor

Elkouh, A.

Abstract

Building energy analysis for energy estimation and, subsequently, energy conservation studies use various methodologies such as the degree-day method, bin method, variable base degree-day method, variable base-bin method, modified bin method and the hourly method (as used in DOE-2, etc.). Mainframe and microcomputer programs utilizing the above methods have been developed for energy calculations. A list of such programs, the contractors and the principal investigators has been provided in Table - 1. Of particular interest here, is a simplified energy analysis method (ASEAM), utilizing a modified bin method. Annual energy estimation is done for a sample building using a VAV system having a cooling plant consisting of a centrifugal chiller with a water cooled condenser, and a heating plant consisting of a natural-gas fired boiler. The focus is on estimation of cooling energy requirements with ASEAM modified to include: throttling of 'leaving chiller water temperature', corrections for "off-design" operation of the chiller and cooling tower requirements. Such a model used in predicting consumption makes the simplified estimate truer to actual conditions, logical, and hopefully more accurate. Cooling energy predictions 'before' and 'after' modelling of the cooling tower and chilled water throttling have been done on a sample building and compared to results for the same building modelled on DOE-2. Information input in simplified methods, such as ASEAM is not at all extensive when compared to DOE-2. Yet, good comparisons in cooling energy requirements to predictions of DOE-2 can be seen with the chiller model modified to simulate cooling tower operation and off - design leaving chilled water temperatures.

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