Performance and sustainability assessment of energy options for building HVAC applications

In this study, a building with a volume of 351 m³ and a net floor area of 117 m² is considered as a case study with the indoor and exterior air temperatures of 20 and 0 °C, respectively. For the heating applications, four options are studied with (1) a heat pump, (2) a condensing boiler, (3) a conventional boiler and (4) a solar collector, which are driven by renewable and non-renewable energy sources. An energy and exergy analysis is employed to assess their performances and compare them through energy and exergy efficiencies and sustainability index. Energy and exergy flows are investigated and illustrated. Also, the energetic and exergetic renewability ratios are utilized here along with sustainability index. The results show that overall exergy efficiencies of heat pump, condensing boiler, conventional boiler and solar heating systems are found to be 3.66, 3.31, 2.91, and 12.64%, while the sustainability index values for the four cases considered are calculated to be 1.039, 1.034, 1.030 and 1.144, respectively. So, solar collector-based heating system gives the highest efficiency and sustainability index values.     

居民用户天然气供暖方案

以包头市北部新区居民用户的天然气供暖方案为例,对比分析了燃气壁挂炉供暖、燃气壁挂炉与太阳能联合供暖、模块式燃气锅炉楼栋供暖、燃气区域锅炉房供暖、燃气热泵空调供暖、燃气冷热电三联供、天然气红外线辐射供暖7种供暖方案的技术特点,对比较适合居民用户供暖的前4种方案进行了工程建设造价和运行费用对比分析。燃气壁挂炉供暖方案工程造价最低,运行费用较少,节能效果较好;燃气壁挂炉与太阳能联合供暖方案工程造价最高,但其运行费用最少,节能效果最佳。     

The impact of energy efficient refurbishment on the space heating fuel consumption in English dwellings

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of a major domestic energy efficiency refurbishment programme on domestic space heating fuel consumption. The case study dwellings were monitored either before or after (or both) the introduction of energy efficiency retrofit measures such as cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, draught stripping and energy efficient heating system. Property and utility consumption data were collected and half-hourly living room and main bedroom temperatures were monitored for 2–4 week period over two winters from a total of 1372 households selected from five major urban areas in England. Space heating fuel consumption was normalized to account for variation in the indoor–outdoor temperature difference and the dwelling floor area. The findings show that cavity wall and loft insulation can reduce the space heating fuel consumption by 10% in centrally heated properties and 17% in non-centrally heated properties. However, the introduction of a gas central heating system, although theoretically more efficient, has no significant impact in reducing fuel consumption even after adjusting for increased internal temperature.     

某公寓楼太阳能热水系统改造可行性分析

针对某公寓楼热水系统使用现状,拟将原系统单一热源(电热锅炉)改造为以太阳能热水系统为主,电热锅炉为辅的热源.太阳能是最为环保的绿色能源之一.根据该公寓楼建筑特点及具备的改造条件,确定最为合理的太阳能热水系统方案,在实现节能环保的基础上降低运行成本.     

新疆严寒地区供暖系统节能改造效果分析

针对新疆严寒地区普遍存在供暖系统能耗大、供热效率不高的问题,对既有供暖系统实施节能改造。本文以新疆克拉玛依市的南泉锅炉房供暖系统节能改造为例,通过对节能改造后效果分析发现:在供热锅炉上安装节气装置并对其进行密封保温改造,对热效率的提高、节气效果的增强都有显著作用;通过给热水循环泵加装变频器,将供热系统由原来的集中质调节方式改为分阶段变流量质调节方式,从而有效地节省了电力,降低了耗气量。经过节能改造后的南泉锅炉房供暖系统,解决了能耗大、供热效率不高的问题。     

Control of heating systems in residential buildings: Current practice

Heating is the most important energy consumer for households in Belgium. The primary energy consumption of a heating system is determined by the net energy demand of the building, but also by the efficiency of the equipment and the way it is used by the inhabitants.

To estimate the potential primary energy savings, today's situation should be analysed first. Therefore, the results of two surveys are combined to sketch current practice in Belgium. The most common systems in Western Europe, i.e. gas boilers combined with radiators, are then simulated to test their performance in dwellings with varied insulation quality. Typical internal heat gains and set temperature profiles are included, but the influence of the inhabitant behaviour on the heating efficiency is not studied as such.

The results show that current practice does lead to important energy losses, resulting in overall efficiencies as low as 30%, but improvements are possible by using intelligent controllers. However, correct boiler sizing and a sound combination of boiler and heat emitter control are still required to ensure high heating system efficiencies, especially for better insulated buildings with a high heat balance ratio.     

Comparison of energy efficiency between variable refrigerant flow systems and ground source heat pump systems

With the current movement towards net zero energy buildings, many technologies are promoted with emphasis on their superior energy efficiency. The variable refrigerant flow (VRF) and ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are probably the most competitive technologies among these. However, there are few studies reporting the energy efficiency of VRF systems compared with GSHP systems. In this article, a preliminary comparison of energy efficiency between the air-source VRF and GSHP systems is presented. The computer simulation results show that GSHP system is more energy efficient than the air-source VRF system for conditioning a small office building in two selected US climates. In general, GSHP system is more energy efficient than the air-source VRV system, especially when the building has significant heating loads. For buildings with less heating loads, the GSHP system could still perform better than the air-source VRF system in terms of energy efficiency, but the resulting energy savings may be marginal.     

Design optimisation for a low energy home in Sydney

A simple model for a detached house in Sydney is optimised using a building energy simulation program to reduce the annual heating and cooling requirement to the point where a heating and cooling system is no longer necessary. A net present cost analysis, including the construction cost, the HVAC capital cost, and the electricity cost for space heating and cooling, is used to conduct the optimisation. The insulation thickness of the walls and roof, the window type, the thickness of an internal thermal mass wall, and the night ventilation air change rate were varied in the optimisation. Results for the best performing optimisation cases are presented and compared with the net present cost for a similar house, designed to meet the BASIX energy efficiency requirement for New South Wales. The best performing optimisation cases are shown to have a lower net present cost than the equivalent BASIX compliant house. With a view towards creating an operationally zero energy house, an optimisation case with a very low space energy requirement is selected and a photovoltaic system is sized to cover the remaining household electricity consumption over the course of a year.     

冷凝式锅炉辅助太阳能供热系统性能分析

根据我国北方太阳能供热的特点，提出了冷凝式锅炉辅助太阳能热水器供热系统，分析了该系统的特点；并与其他两种热源辅助太阳能热水器供热系统(电加热器和家用燃气锅炉辅助太阳能热水器供热系统)进行了经济性和环保性比较。     

Instrumentation strategies for energy conservation in broiler barns with ventilation air solar pre-heaters

At the present consumption rate, world fossil-fuel reserves are expected to be depleted by 2050 unless their consumption is optimized and supplemented with renewable energy sources. The objective of this project was to evaluate the performance of a simple data acquisition system installed to conduct an energy balance and identify energy saving strategies in two commercial broilers barns with ventilation air solar pre-heaters. Located near Montreal, Canada, the two identical barns were instrumented for inside and outside air conditions, ventilation rate and energy recovery by the solar air pre-heaters. Whereas the temperature, relative humidity and radiation sensors were reliable, inside air temperature stratification complicated energy balance analyses and broiler heat production rate calculations. Lack of room air mixing resulted in the loss of 25 and 15% of the generated heater load and recovered solar energy. The proper monitoring of all environmental conditions required their measurement every 5 rather than 20 min. Instead of using a data transmission service found to be unreliable in rural areas, all data loggers were downloaded onto a portable computer every 45 days during regular instrument maintenance. Accordingly, room air mixing is recommended to facilitate energy balance studies and improve the efficient use of heating energies.     

中国传统民居中的被动节能技术

传统民居采取与当地气候相适应的策略,通过自身建筑的处理,以较低的能耗创造出相对适宜的居住环境,对如今的建筑节能仍有积极意义。该文分别从传统民居的用材、保温隔热、自然通风、太阳能利用与遮阳等几个方面分析了中国传统民居中的被动节能技术,以期对现代建筑的节能设计有所启发。     

The use of a heavy internal wall with a ventilated air gap to store solar energy and improve summer comfort in timber frame houses

This paper considers supplementary heating and cooling within timber frame houses. The transmission of solar energy to an internal concrete cavity wall by air is analyzed. The objective of this work was initially to study the dynamic insulation in timber frame houses. The initial studies showed that it is more efficient to recover solar energy rather than heat losses, which is the principle of dynamic insulation. Clearly, the thermal regulations lead to lower heat losses through walls by conduction. Due to these factors we have decided to study a wall with an integrated solar air collector and a heavy ventilated internal wall. This internal wall, which is used to store solar energy will allow the reduction of heat demand in winter and will improve thermal comfort in summer because thermal mass increases and ventilation during the night will cool the internal wall. We have selected a closed loop air circulation system because, with an air to air heat exchanger, it can be proved to be more effective and the risk of unhealthy air pollution is reduced because the flow of fresh air will not pass through the ventilated air gap. We are constructing an integrated air collector prototype.     

居住建筑围护结构的节能问题

从适宜居住的角度讲,我国绝大部分地区的居住建筑都要采取一定的技术措施来保证冬夏两季的室内热舒适环境。冬夏两季室内维持的温度与室外的温度有很大的差别,这个温差导致能量以热的形式流出或流入室内,采暖,空调设备消耗的能量主要就是用来补充这个能量损失的。在相同的室内外温差条件下,建筑围护结构保温隔热性能的好坏,直接影响到流出或流入室内的热量的多少。建筑围护结构保温隔热性能好,流出或流入室内的热量就少,采暖,空调设备消耗的能量也就少;反之,建筑围护结构保温隔热性能差,流现或流入室内的热量就多,采暖,空调设备消耗的能量也就多。我国现行的居住建筑节能设计标准对建筑围护结构保温隔热性能提出了明确的要求,按照节能设计标准的要求去设计,新建的居住建筑就能比具有传统围护结构的同类建筑节约25％－35％的采暖,空调能耗,而且节能的潜力还十分巨大。     

建筑节能技术在山东德州“新湖春天”工程中的应用

结合德州新湖春天节能建筑的工程实例,分析节能材料在围护结构各部位的应用,介绍了外墙外保温技术.LOW-E镀膜反辐射中空玻璃、屋顶地面保温技术、地热-太阳能热水技术、太阳能光伏电技术、地板辐射采暖技术、地热梯级利用等节能技术的综合利用,并简略叙述了该项目所具有的推广价值,通过工程实践证明,建筑节能技术的应用将产生良好的经济效益和社会效益.     

Enhancing the sustainability and energy conservation in heritage buildings: The case of Nottingham Playhouse

Today, there is a growing interest in developing energy efficient buildings since it is estimated that buildings account for about 40% of the total primary energy consumption in the world. In relation to existing buildings, energy efficiency retrofits have become an important opportunity to upgrade the energy performance of commercial, public and residential buildings that may reduce the energy consumption, demand and cost. In this paper we cover the energy efficiency deep retrofit process that has been carried out for Nottingham Playhouse theatre building for the aim of enhancing its environmental performance and analysing the energy efficiency gained after implementing certain proposed modifications. It is a nationally protected historic building, listed as Grade II1 on The National Heritage List for England (NHLE). The building has had insulation enhancement, doors modifications, solar energy installations, energy-saving lights, in addition to improved heating and air conditioning system. The paper presents a novel methodology; and its results indicate significant improvements in the building's energy performance which is demonstrated using infrared thermographic images and data logger sensors where significant energy savings to the building's thermal performance are obtained. The energy saving measures have been completed while maintaining the heritage building's general appearance and architectural features, which have received a Commendation Certificate from The Nottingham Civic Society for this achievement.     

蓄热型空气式太阳能集热-空气源热泵复合供暖系统在寒冷地区的应用研究

设计了一种蓄热型空气式太阳能集热-空气源热泵复合供暖系统.该系统具有太阳能供热、太阳能辅助热泵供热和热泵供热3种运行模式,可根据环境工况及供暖负荷的变化自动切换运行模式,保证室内供暖的稳定性.在通辽市的实验研究结果表明:在整个供暖季内,该系统可持续提供42.6 ℃的热水,维持室内温度在21.3?24.1 ℃之间;平均C...     

中国传统民居院落与气候浅析

中国大部分地区的民居都采用了院落式布局方式。不同地域的民居院落为了适应当地的气候条件、社会风俗、生活习惯等呈现出千姿百态的形式,其中气候因素起到了关键作用。该文通过我国不同气候区的6个典型民居院落,分析庭院面积、庭院形状、庭院周围建筑外墙、开窗、屋顶形式与气候的关系。     

各气候区被动建筑节能技术适用性分析

被动式建筑节能,是通过利用自然气候资源的生态建筑设计原理,赋予建筑本身节能自然特性而实现的建筑节能,因而更为绿色环保,更有利于人类生存环境的可持续发展,成为建筑节能积极倡导的方向。针对中国各气候区典型城市的气候特点进行被动式太阳采暖、自然通风、蓄热墙体、诱导+夜间通风、直接蒸发冷却和间接蒸发冷度这六种被动式建筑节能技术适用性进行分析,并对各气候区的各种被动式建筑节能技术的适用性进行对比。     

An approach for the evaluation of energy and cost efficiency of glass façades

Glass façades, particularly in high-rise buildings, increase in energy consumption for heating, cooling and ventilation. This causes too high running cost of mechanical systems. Double skin glass façade is a system that decreases these disadvantages, by providing natural ventilation, preventing solar heat gain, controlling daylight, etc. This paper aims to investigate the appropriateness of double skin glass façades in moderate climate, such as Istanbul, in terms of the energy and cost efficiency when compared to single skin glass façades. For this purpose, an approach is proposed to determine the efficient alternatives. It comprises to generate standard façade alternatives by considering the objectives, constraints and performance criteria, and to evaluate their energy and cost efficiency for both single and double skin glass façades. In conclusion, the most energy efficient double skin glass façade is about 22.84% more efficient than the most energy efficient single skin glass façade is. Additionally, the most cost efficient single skin glass façade is about 24.68% more efficient than the most cost efficient double skin glass façade is.     

Occupant behaviour in energy efficient dwellings: evidence of a rebound effect

The energy required for space heating has been significantly reduced in recent decades by making use of insulation and more efficient heating and ventilation systems. Even so, wide variations in energy consumption are still observed between similar dwellings and between actual and predicted levels. It is thought that these variations stem from differences in occupant behaviour, the structural quality of the building, and a rebound effect. This paper statistically examines differences in occupant behaviour in relation to the building characteristics of the housing stock in the Netherlands and explores the possible existence of a rebound effect on the consumption of energy for space heating. Rebound effect can be defined as the increase on energy consumption in services for which improvements in energy efficiency reduce the costs. We found that although energy consumption is lower in energy efficient dwellings, analysis of the behaviour variables indicates their occupants tend to prefer higher indoor temperatures and to ventilate less. This finding might be related to a rebound effect on occupant behaviour. However, the improvement of thermal properties and systems efficiency still lead to a reduction on energy consumption for heating.