1998 ashrae technology awards

8/11/2019 1998 ASHRAE Technology Awards

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A S HRAE JO UR NA L

4 6 AS HR AE J ou rna l Ma r c h 1 99 8

The most difficult challenge for James Dawson’s retrofit for the London Re- gional Art and Historical Museums in Ontario, Canada, was to install pipingwhile the gallery was open without disrupting ceiling and art gallery wall ar-eas. Meticulous advanced planning was necessary to meet this objective.

Ross D. Montgomery chose ice storage technology instead of a traditional chiller plant design for a campus that includesan elementary and middle school.

1998 ASHRAE Technology AwardsATLANTA—Thirteen ASHRAE mem-

bers received a 1998 Technology Awardfor their contribution to innovative de-

signs that comply with ASHRAE Stan-

dards for indoor air quality and energy

efficiency. This is the 18th year that these

awards have been presented. The winners

were recognized in January at the

ASHRAE Winter Meeting in San Fran-

cisco. Plaques are also awarded to the

building owners for their support of in-

novative technologies.

The ASHRAE Technology Awards, es-

tablished in 1981, were originally known

as the ASHRAE Energy Awards. In 1991,the name was changed to reflect the in-

clusion of indoor air quality and innova-

tion in the award’s criteria.

The winning projects are selected

through chapter, regional and interna-

tional contests by judges picked for their

expertise in the respective categories.

The Technical, Energy and Govern-

ment Activities (TEGA) Committee at

ASHRAE coordinates the competition

and judges the entries on the following

criteria: energy efficiency, indoor air

quality and thermal comfort, innovation,operation and maintenance, cost effec-

tiveness and quality of presentation.

Presented here is a brief look at each

winning project. Starting with this issue,

the projects will be featured individuallyin ASHRAE Journal through December.

The following article was published in ASHRAE Journal, March 1998. © Copyright 1998 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

It is presented for educational purposes only. This article may not be copied and/or distributed electronically or in paper form without permission of ASHRAE.



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To address the disparate heating needs of the supercenter ’s grocery section and the rest of the store, Mukesh KumarKhattar chose to use an integrated water loop heat pump system.

The 1998 Winners

CateCateCateCateCategor gor gor gor gor y 1 - Commercial Buildingsy 1 - Commercial Buildingsy 1 - Commercial Buildingsy 1 - Commercial Buildingsy 1 - Commercial Buildings

First Place (New): Wayne S. Evans, Member ASHRAE, The

Hiller Group

Evans designed the mechanical systems for an expansion of the Educational Testing Service’s campus in New Jersey. Thefirst phase includes two office buildings, each with 105,000 ft2

(9755 m2) of office space. A 13,000 ft2 (1207 m2) mechanicalequipment room in the basement of one building serves both

buildings and has the capacity to serve a future third building.The project utilizes electric rotary screw chillers and a ther-

mal energy storage system that produces ice during the low-costoff-peak hours. The ice melts during the day to replace or supple-ment the normal source of chilled water and supplies 20% of thetotal ton hours needed on a design cooling day. The use of the icestorage saves operating costs and allows periodic maintenance of

the chiller in the cooling season. The low-temperature air allowedsmaller ductwork and AHUs to be installed which reduced con-struction and fan operating costs. The system has a simple payback of 3.1 years and a life-cycle payback of 5.2 years.

Second Place (New): Mukesh Kumar Khattar, P.E., Mem-ber ASHRAE, Electric Power Research Institute

Khattar designed an innovative HVAC/refrigeration systemfor a Wal-Mart supercenter in Oklahoma. The supercenter con-tains 204,000 ft2 (18 951 m2) of grocery, retail, stock and officespace. The disparate heating needs between the grocery sec-tion and the rest of the store presented a design challenge, whichKhatter addressed by using an integrated water loop heat pump

system. Features of the system include: space conditioning andrefrigeration on a shared water loop, a non-CFC dual-path wa-ter source heat pump that dehumidified and cooled fresh air separately from recirculated air, a desuperheater using refrig-eration waste heat for water heating, and variable amounts of fresh air controlled via CO

2 and humidity sensors.

DOE-2 modeling predicted that the base case HVAC andrefrigeration use would constitute 5.06 million kWh (18 mil-lion MJ) annually, while the energy used by the integrated sys-tem was predicted to be only 3.90 million kWh (14 millionMJ)—a savings of 23%. The integrated approach to theHVAC&R system created an energy-efficient and environmen-tally responsible store.

Third Place (Existing): Cynthia A. Callaway, P.E., Mem-ber ASHRAE, Kevin Davis, P.E., Member ASHRAE,Southland Industries, and Arman Nehzati, Member

ASHRAE, Edison Envest

Callaway, Davis and Nehzati modified the systems of theChet Holifield Building in California, which was converted froma manufacturing facility into general office space in 1974. Thesix-story building has a total floor area of 1,054,420 ft2 (97 956m2) of which 915,320 ft2 (85 033 m2) has to be conditioned.The project’s goals were to address the issues of overall siteefficiency, outdoor air rates, employee comfort complaints andelectric utility bills. The design team added a more efficient

chiller and a 1.12 million gallon (4.23 million L) chilled wa-ter storage tank to meet the facility’s cooling needs while shift-

ing most of the energy consumption to less costly off-peak hours. The primary pumping system was converted to a pri-mary-secondary system with variable speed secondary pumps,which reduced the minimum horsepower from 150 hp to 15hp (111 kW to 11 kW).

The air handling systems were modified by decommission-ing one air handler, opening the isolation damper, reducingthe motor size and resheaving the remaining air handler, andair balancing the system to the required airflow. The majority

1998 Technology Award Judges

• Ron Brown, P.E., Member ASHRAE, American Electric Power,

chair of ASHRAE Technical Committee (TC) 9.4, Applied Heat

Pump/Heat Recovery Systems.

• Lester Nakata, Member ASHRAE, Oahu Sales, Inc., chair of

1997-98 Refrigeration Committee and member of TC 10.07, Com-

mercial Food and Beverage Cooling Display and Storage.

• Ray Patenaude, P.E., Member ASHRAE, Alco Control Divi-

sion of Emerson Electric, 1997-98 Region XII Director and Re-

gional Chair, Multi-Disciplinary Standards Member.

• Kenneth Peet, P.E., Member ASHRAE, LSE Engineering,

member of TC 9.9, Building Commissioning.

• Thomas Reinarts, P.E., Member ASHRAE, Keller & Gannon,

vice chair of the Technical, Energy and Government ActivitiesCommittee (TEGA).

• Jack Roberts, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Fanning, Fanning and

Associates, Inc., member of TC 4.10, Indoor Environmental

Modeling, TC 4.6, Building Operation Dynamics, and TC 4.2,

Weather Information.

• William Strunk, Member ASHRAE, The Trane Company, past

chair of TEGA.

• Pam Conway, Member ASHRAE, URS Greiner, Inc., special-

izes in preconditioned air systems including ethylene glycol pip-

ing distribution systems and centralized thermal energy storage.



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A S H R A E T E C H N O L O G Y A W A R D S

of light fixtures were retrofitted, which produced savings of

1.21 million kWh (4.36 million MJ) annually. A DDC systemwas installed to control the AHUs, chiller plant and thermalenergy storage system. The project resulted in a 29% reduc-tion in energy consumption that saves $433,130 annually inelectric bills.

Category II – Institutional BuildingsCategory II – Institutional BuildingsCategory II – Institutional BuildingsCategory II – Institutional BuildingsCategory II – Institutional Buildings

First Place (New): Blair Thomas McCarry, P.E., MemberASHRAE, Keen Engineering Company

McCarry designed an HVAC system for a 390,000 ft2 (36230 m2) library building in Ontario, Canada that includes anunderfloor supply air distribution system, ice storage system,low temperature supply air system and dynamic thermal stor-age. Heating is provided through heating water heat exchang-ers. The unique underfloor system uses a low pressure, floor plenum approach with an access floor consisting of removable panels that provide easy access to wiring and equipment. Theunderfloor system provides good indoor air quality and lower cooling energy usage. The systems also create a drier interior condition to support the preservation of the books. The ex- posed concrete ceiling absorbs radiant heat during the day, and

on high cooling days the fans use outdoor air to purge the heat

during the night.Simulations indicate that the ice storage and low tempera-

ture air systems would save $250,000 (Canadian dollars) incapital costs and save $20,000 in operating costs annually. For more information about this project, see page 78.

Second Place (New): Ross D. Montgomery, P.E., MemberASHRAE, Siebe Environmental Controls

Montgomery designed the HVAC system for the ManateeEducation Center in Florida. This campus consists of a 103,114ft2 (9579 m2) elementary school and a 166,162 ft2 (15 436 m2)middle school. The campus operates under parameters set forth

by the Collier County Schools Energy Conservation plant.

Montgomery chose the more energy-efficient ice storage tech-nology instead of a traditional chiller plant design. The ice stor-age system makes it possible to substantially decrease the inte-rior humidity level, which is especially necessary in Florida. ADDC system is programmed to operate the AHUs and unit ven-tilators only during the school day hours.

The system saves $47,000 annually in energy costs. Because

Blair Thomas McCarry designed an underfloor supply airdistribution system for a 390,000 ft 2 (36 230 m 2 ) library building. Removable panels provide access to the underfloorwiring and equipment, resulting in flexibility for adding newcomputers and other equipment.

David Dinse replaced the two-pipe chilled water system at a 26-year-old high school with a geothermal heat pump system, geothermal heat exchanger and variable flow pumping.

Wayne S. Evans designed the mechanical system for twooffice buildings owned by the Educational Testing Service.Evans used a system with two rotary screw chillers and 16ice storage tanks that has a simple payback of 3.1 yearsand a life-cycle payback of 5.2 years.

See Tech Awards, Page 51



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A S H R A E T E C H N O L O G Y A W A R D S

the electric utility offered an incentive payment, the simple payback is about 1.5 years.

Honorable Mention (Existing): William P. Taillie, Mem-ber ASHRAE, Genesee Heating

Taillie designed a retrofit of the Sisters of MercyMotherhouse in New York. The 230,824 ft2 (21 443 m2) facil-ity was built in the 1930s and is used as a school, nursing homeand convent. The retrofit changed the conventional vacuumreturn system so that when the heat demand is low, the vacuumon the return system reduces the pressure in the boilers andeventually creates a vacuum in the boilers themselves. There-fore, the boilers, under high vacuum, produce steam at tem-

peratures lower than 150°F (66°C) and still comfortably heatthe building.

The lower boiler temperatures reduce standby loss and theshorter burner running times save electricity and reduce equip-ment wear. The lower temperature also uses less fresh water

make up which reduces the amount of chemicals used. A DDCcontrols the boilers and the vacuum pumps. The cost of adding

boiler controls to the boilers in vacuum was $8,600. The facil-ity is saving $9,437 per year, which is a simple payback of 0.91 years.

CateCateCateCateCategor gor gor gor gor y IV – Industrial Fy IV – Industrial Fy IV – Industrial Fy IV – Industrial Fy IV – Industrial Facilities or Processesacilities or Processesacilities or Processesacilities or Processesacilities or Processes

First Place (Existing): Alfred E. Guntermann, P.E., FellowASHRAE, Guntermann Engineering

Guntermann designed a replacement chiller system for alarge industrial facility in Connecticut that manufactures foamrubber pillows and mattresses using refrigeration units to pro-

duce –20°F (−

28°C) glycol, which freezes the latex foam compound. The amount of chiller energy to make a pillow or mat-tress includes aluminum molds that are glycol-to-latex rubber heat exchangers, latex rubber compound, pump energy anddead load glycol. Chiller capacity was increased from 180 tonsto 240 tons (633 to 844 kW). Since the new screw compres-sors are more reliable than the original reciprocating compres-sors, the manufacture was able to utilize the full 240 tons (844kW) to increase production.

The installed cost for the new screw chiller system with avariable speed drive, evaporative condensers, two new me-chanical equipment rooms, ventilation systems, ammonia de-tection systems, plus piping modifications was $800,000. Theannual cost of the original chillers was $235,100 as compared

to the new system’s $85,491 annual cost. The $149,625 an-nual savings provide a 5.35 year simple payback. Also, theannual production rate was doubled by increasing the pump-ing system for an additional $135,000. The new system wouldhave an annual energy cost of $238,817 compared to the origi-nal chiller’s equivalent annual cost of $522,747. The combinedinitial cost of $935,000 and annual savings of $283,930 pro-vides a payback of only 3.29 years.

Honorable Mention (Existing): Brian O’Donnell, MemberASHRAE, Robert N. Greenwald, P.Eng., MemberASHRAE, Prism Engineering, Ltd.

O’Donnell and Greenwald designed an energy management

retrofit for the Vancouver Operations Centre in Vancouver,

B.C. that was constructed in 1969 with a floor area of 1,006,000ft2 (93 457 m2). The building holds 4,500 employees withsome areas of the building continuously occupied. The retro-fit was implemented on the building’s lighting, HVAC and con-trol systems. New T8 fluorescent lamps, high efficiency MetalHalide fixtures and lighting controls were installed resultingin an energy reduction of 43% of the previous lighting de-mand. Reducing the lighting load also reduced heat gain to theinterior, which lowered its cooling load by 15%.

The dual-duct HVAC system was converted to a VAV sys-tem, 28 variable speed drives were installed on supply and re-turn fans, solar film was added to the windows to allow four rooftop units to be shut down and the building automation sys-tem was expanded by 150 points.

The total retrofit cost was $1.9 million (Canadian dollars).The electrical utility contributed $750,000 as part of their de-mand side management program. Post-retrofit reduction in costsfor 1996 were $555,800. The result is a simple payback of twoyears after the utility rebate.

CateCateCateCateCategor gor gor gor gor yyyyy V – PubV – PubV – PubV – PubV – Publicliclicliclic AssembAssembAssembAssembAssemblllllyyyyy

First Place (New): Robert Towell, P.E., Member ASHRAE,Robert Towell & Associates

Towell designed an HVAC system for the Trans WorldDome’s addition at America’s Center in St. Louis. The 1.7million ft2 (157 930 m2) exhibition hall and football stadiumincludes the exhibit floor, meeting rooms, truck dock, admin-

istrative offices, spectator seating, restrooms and concessions.The building layout was very favorable for a reverse return piping arrangement. The cooling plant includes six 1,250 ton(4396 kW) and one 500 ton (1758 kW) water-cooled centrifu-gal refrigeration machines with individual chilled and con-denser water pumps. Luxury suites have their own air-condi-tioning units so that the suites can be used for special functionswithout starting a larger system.

The heating system incorporates a two-stage heat exchanger with the second stage designed to sub-cool the condensate to150°F (66°C), resulting in 10% less steam consumption. Roof-mounted fans provide a smoke control system that furnishesone million cfm (471 900 L/s) for exhibit floor space exhaust.The fans are also used for general ventilation.

Harry John Boody used a total systems design approachfor a three-level 12,936 ft 2 (1200 m 2 ) student housing apart-ment building to create an energy efficient, environmen-tally-sensitive structure with good IAQ.

Tech Awards, From Page 49



52 A SH R AE J ou r na l M a r c h 1 9 9 8

Robert Towell designed an HVAC system for the Trans World Dome sta-dium and exhibition hall. The over-hanging band near the top providesa location for supply air ductwork tothe upper seating and a horizontaloutside air intake underneath.

Honorable Mention (Existing): James Dawson, P.Eng.,

Member ASHRAE, Rose Technology Group, Ltd.

Dawson designed the retrofit for the London Regional Artand Historical Museums, which contain over 20,000 artifacts.The goals of the project were to improve space conditions,minimize energy consumption and maintenance costs withoutimpacting the aesthetics of the interior or exterior of the facil-ity. The most difficult challenge was to install hot water pipingwhile the gallery was in operation and without disrupting ceil-ing and art gallery wall areas. Meticulous planning and specialfeatures such as drain pans under piping and coils in gallerywalls were used to satisfy the unique needs of the museum.

The building’s humidity and dehumidification systems couldnot maintain the 50% rh needed to preserve the artifacts. The

project team installed a new compressed air atomizing systemto provide economical humidification. Other aspects of theretrofit include installing a gas-fired hydronic heating system,adding new ductwork to allow free cooling and adding a mo-torized isolation valve to the chilled water system to lower thesupply water temperature. Energy savings in 1996 were$169,460. The payback of the total project cost is projected to

be five years.

CateCateCateCateCategor gor gor gor gor yyyyy VI – ResidentialVI – ResidentialVI – ResidentialVI – ResidentialVI – Residential

First Place (New): Harry John Boody, Member ASHRAE,Energy Innovations by Harry Boody

Boody designed the systems for a three-level 12,936 ft2

(1200 m2) student housing apartment building in Greensboro, N.C. The total conditioned space is 103,488 ft3 (2 930 780 L).Boody used a total systems design approach to create a com-fortable, energy efficient and environmentally-sensitive struc-ture. Energy saving features of the apartments include sealingwindows with a foam rubber material, custom fitting each pieceof insulation and using 1.5 ton (5.28 kW) heat pumps and alow velocity duct system for each apartment.

To ensure good indoor air quality, bathroom fans were replaced with ERV exhaust air outlets. Indoor stale air is ex-hausted across the energy core, thereby reclaiming the exhaustenergy into the pre-filtered incoming fresh air. The fresh air isthen fed directly into the HVAC system return plenum to be

distributed throughout the apartment. The additional cost to

implement this total systems design was $21,720, which in-creased the mortgage payment by $213 per month. However,monthly energy and interest tax savings were $223. The projectis expected to have a tax-free return on investment of 10%over the life of the mortgage.

CateCateCateCateCategor gor gor gor gor yyyyy VII –VII –VII –VII –VII – Alter Alter Alter Alter Alter natinatinatinatinativvvvve and/or e and/or e and/or e and/or e and/or

Renewable Energy UseRenewable Energy UseRenewable Energy UseRenewable Energy UseRenewable Energy Use

Second Place: Thomas A. Talley, P.E., Member ASHRAE,

T.A. Talley, Jr. and Co.

Talley designed the HVAC retrofit for a 60,000 ft 2 (5574

m2

) office building that was built in 1973 in Virginia. The origi-nal HVAC system consisted of an all-electric water source heat pump system with closed-circuit cooling tower and electric boiler. The replacement system consists of a closed loop, ver-tical bore, geothermal heat pump system with a geothermal

borefield located beneath the parking lot. By using the exist-ing piping system, the new geothermal heat pumps were re-

placed on a unit-by-unit basis and required only minimal shut-down of the HVAC system. The replacement of the units re-duced maintenance costs by $125,000 per year. The removalof the tower and boiler further reduced maintenance costs. Thetotal cost to replace the system was $585,000; total annual sav-ings are $192,000 resulting in a simple payback of three years.

Third Place: David Dinse, P.E., Member ASHRAE, Ten-

nessee Valley Authority

Dinse designed the replacement heating and cooling systemfor a high school in Tennessee. The 160,000 ft2 (14 864 m2)school was built in 1971 and used a two-pipe chilled water system for cooling and electric resistance heat. The replace-ment system consists of a geothermal heat pump with a closedloop geothermal heat exchanger and variable flow pumping.The annual energy and maintenance savings for the school are$37,000 resulting in a simple payback of six years. The schoolsystem is so pleased with the performance of the new systemthat they have installed the system in two other locations.

1998 ashrae technology awards

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