 Building Science at UC Berkeley: Research
Reducing Fan Energy in Built-Up Systems (Phase II) Edward Arens, Department of Architecture & Director, CEDR Fred Bauman (Co-Principal Investigator), Research Specialist, CEDR Charlie Huizenga, Research Specialist, CEDR California Institute for Energy Efficiency In May 1990, a multi-year collaborative research project with Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara and Humboldt State University was initiated with the goal of improving the energy efficiency, peak-load implications, and cost-effectiveness of thermal energy distribution systems in California. The project is funded by the California Institute for Energy Efficiency (CIEE), a California utility sponsored organization. CEDR researchers are involved with two of the four subprojects contained within the overall scope of work: localized thermal distribution (LTD) for office buildings, and efficient thermal energy distribution (TED) in commercial buildings. Work on the LTD subproject was completed in the previous year, and work continued during the last year on the Fan subproject. Over the past year we have developed a series of monitoring and analysis techniques for assessing fan performance in medium to large commercial buildings. These techniques include simplified measurement of fan power, fan operating patterns, variable air volume (VAV) operation, economizer operation, system pressure, and system air flow. Our field work using these methods suggests that there is significant potential to improve energy, comfort and indoor air quality performance by optimizing the design and operation of air handling systems. Examples of system inefficiencies that these methods have uncovered include oversized fan motors, non-modulating variable air volume systems, high system pressure, dirty or plugged coils, poorly-operating controls, and poorly balanced, inadequate or excessive air flow. Most of these problems result not only in excessive energy consumption, but in reduced thermal comfort and indoor air quality for the occupants. This project addresses current building technology issues which are critical to California's energy future. It encourages the development of collaborative relationships with the building industry, increasing the likelihood of industry co-funding, and providing an avenue to disseminate relevant research results.
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