Simplified Ceiling Radiant Cooling Panel and Enthalpy Wheel Models for Dedicated Outdoor Air System Design
Open Access
- Author:
- Jeong, Jae-Weon
- Graduate Program:
- Architectural Engineering
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- March 30, 2004
- Committee Members:
- Stanley Allan Mumma, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
William P Bahnfleth, Committee Member
Dr Jelena Srebric, Committee Member
Fan Bill B Cheung, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Cooled Ceiling
Radiant Cooling
Indoor Air Quality
Dedicated Outdoor Air System
Enthalpy Wheel
Energy Conservation - Abstract:
- The significant energy savings and excellent thermal and environmental benefit potential of dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) operating in parallel with ceiling radiant cooling panels (CRCP) is widely recognized. Most of technological barriers have been overcome by recent research, resulting in increasing interest on the part of the HVAC industry. However, the universal lack of appropriate DOAS/CRCP design tools is holding the technology out of the marketplace. The central thrust of this research is to provide simple and practical design tools needed to bring this DOAS/CRCP cooling technology into the HVAC system community. In this research, simplified yet reliable CRCP and enthalpy wheel models were developed by statistically analyzing the performance data generated by established analytical or numerical models for each device. Using the 2k factorial experiment design method, the major design parameters and their combinations which show significant effects on the CRCP and enthalpy wheel performance were identified. And then, linear regression correlations for each device were derived as a function of those selected design parameters. The proposed correlations for the top insulated and free hanging type CRCP can estimate the panel cooling capacity not only for the natural convection condition but also for the mixed convection condition. And the proposed enthalpy wheel correlations return the sensible and latent effectiveness for the normal operating speed (i.e. 20rpm) as a function of six known variables; incoming OA and EA temperature and relative humidity, face velocity, and air flow ratio. The total effectiveness can also be calculated once the sensible and the latent effectiveness are determined. The panel cooling capacity and enthalpy wheel effectiveness values predicted by the proposed correlations corresponded well to the manufacturer¡¯s data, other existing models, and preliminary experimental research results found in the literature. The general DOAS/CRCP system design procedures and economical enthalpy wheel control strategy for DOAS operation were also proposed in this research. Those will be a useful tool for the engineers who have been forced to design the DOAS/CRCP system on the basis of qualitative merits, limited experience, and conservative estimates. Ultimately, the highest barrier to the wide spread of the DOAS/CRCP system, that is, unfamiliarity of HVAC designers and contractors with the new system concept will be conquered.