HEATING AND COOLING GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

Stephan Richter, Ph.D

GEF Inginieur, Germany

Scot Duncan
Retrofit Originality Incorporated, USA

Central Vs Decentralized Systems

Heating and cooling generation and distribution can be among the major contributors to the
installations energy waste and inefficiency. With new construction and major retrofits projects as well
as major utility modernization projects central systems are economical and shall be considered for the
whole installation or a part of it if the heating density is higher than 40,000 MBtu/ (h sq. mile), and the
cooling density is higher than 68,700 MBtu/ (h sq. mi.) or 5,750 tons/ (h sq. mile).

When not proven otherwise, central plants shall be designed for combined heat and power
(CHP) generation or tri-generation (heating, cooling and power generation), which has an
enormous potential for increased thermal efficiency, fuel reliability and reduced environmental
impacts.
Central plants with multiple cooling units are preferred, to permit loss of the largest unit while
maintaining at least 65% design capacity. Where the master plan calls for multiple buildings in an area,
in the design provide for future expansion of the central plant. Water cooled compressors are preferred
over air cooled systems and when feasible rejected heat shall be utilized.

Heating Systems
With utility modernization projects, existing heating systems currently using steam as a heating media
shall be converted to variable-temperature-variable-flow medium (<270oF) or low temperature (<190oF)
hot water. Thus reducing operation and maintenance costs, and allowing the use of less expensive,
more efficient piping material. Systems with condensing boilers are to be designed with lower operating
return hot water temperatures, i.e. <55 C (130 F), and use hot water reset to take advantage of the
higher efficiencies of condensing boilers.

Steam needs shall be evaluated and, when absolutely necessary, provided by local steam
boilers. Use onboard steam generators on equipment requiring steam or a small steam boiler
just for the year-round steam load. Hot water system experience fewer problems related to
expansion and contraction, have fewer corrosion problems, and are much easier to control, all
of which result in low maintenance costs. Use boiler with the thermal efficiency 90% Et.
Solar-assisted systems shall be considered as alternatives or to compliment conventional
boiler systems.
Conversion of steam systems may require some changes in the pipe distribution and new
requirements for heat exchange equipment at the customer interface and in the central heating
plant. In new construction and steam to hot water conversion projects, a so-called indirect
compact substation shall be used. Figure 1 shows an example of the building interface
installation:

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

The main parts of the customer interface are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

DH control for the secondary side (Figure 1, component a)

Control valve (Figure 1, component b)
Differential pressure control, flow rate control (Figure 1, component c)
Heat meter (Figure 1, component d)
Plate heat exchanger (Figure 1, component e).

Figure 1. Photo of a modern, state-of-the-art DH compact station.

Both the DH control for the secondary side (a) and the control valve (b) adjust the secondary system
flow according to the outside air temperature.
Furthermore, the control valve is used to program a time-dependent adjustment, e.g., the day/night
shift, the so called night-time heating reduction.
The differential pressure control, flow rate control (c), is used to control the flow rate. Therefore, a
certain flow rate limitation is fixed while the differential pressure is variable. When the differential
pressure increases, the controller shuts according to its setpoint; similarly when the differential pressure
decreases, the controller opens.
The heat meter (d) is used both for billing and to control the flow rate. Typically, at OCONUS
installations, the utility owns the heat meter while the customer owns the compact station.
The plate heat exchanger (e) is shall be specified to decouple the primary DH distribution system from
the secondary building side. This is important since the secondary building piping cannot bear up the
relative high temperatures and pressures of the primary DH side.
Hot water in the building can be supplied either to radiators or to coils of the air heating systems. An
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Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

admix control reduces the flow temperature in the secondary loop according to the ambient
temperature. The secondary loop can handle different control programs, e.g., for weekend or nighttime
heating reduction.
With the central heating system, domestic hot water preparation is also an admix operation controlled
by the DH control unit for the secondary loop (e). In this loop, the lowest temperature is limited by
hygienic conditions. Thus, the lowest flow temperature in the DH system is limited to 160 F (70 C)
since the domestic hot water must have a temperature higher than 140F (60 C). The flow temperature
must periodically be raised to 175F (80 C) to boost the domestic hot water to 160 F (70 C) (the
required temperature to kill legionella) for thermal disinfection.
Pipes for Hot Water Distribution Systems. Pre-insulated bounded pipes (Figure 2) shall be used for
both medium and low temperature hot water systems. These pipes consist of a steel medium pipe and
a plastic (i.e., polyethylene) jacket pipe. The insulation between the two pipes is made from a
polyurethane (PUR) heat insulation foam. The pipes are pre-insulated in the factory and the PUR foam
is a rigid material that bonds the outer jacket with the internal (medium) pipe. Because of the adverse
consequences to the energy efficiency and pipe integrity of leaks, the pipes will include an integral leak
detection and location system.
Using these pipes will reduce the number of manholes and the size of the manholes which are currently
about 1515 ft. In addition, the manholes can be covered by an iron cap. Currently the existing
manholes are open due to ventilation requirements. Thus surface water and rain can easily flood the
manholes and reduce the lifetime of the pipes due to external corrosion.

Figure 2. Photo of pre-insulated bounded pipes (pipe on the left is unused and is equipped with a leak
detection system; pipe on the right was in use for about 30 years in a DH system with sliding flow
temperatures [about 80 C/130 C]).

The most important limitation of the pipe is its maximum temperature restriction of 285 F, which
minimizes the aging of the PUR foam caused by exposure to the high temperatures.

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

Figure 3. Trench/canal for a buried pre-insulated pipe

The pipes are buried in frost-free depth in an open trench (Figure 3). After the laying of the pipe with a
length of some 15 to 30 ft, the single pipes are connected through welding. Those weld joins are tested
with radiation and evacuation tests. Afterwards, the PE jacket pipes are connected with shrinking
bushings. Finally, the space between the medium pipe and bushings is foamed in place. Figure 4
shows different precast fittings, elbows and branches. Finally, the trench is filled with sand and
compressed to bury the pipes. When the pipes are completely buried, the trench is further filled and
prepared for the desired surface, which may be a street, pathway or grassland.

Figure 4. Pre-cast fittings and elbows of pre-insulated bounded pipes.

It is absolutely critical that QC and QA be provided during the pipe installation to ensure the proper
installation. Key issues are the welding quality, bevel seams, the bushings and the foaming in back, the
sand bed, the proper connection of the leak detection system and the expansion cushions.
4

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

HOT WATER SYSTEMS

The use of hot water has a significant impact on energy consumption. Therefore, it is essential to
reduce hot water use. The following should be standard procedure:
The following limits of Hot Water temperatures shall be set at points of use:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Administrative use or general cleaning: 35 C /95 F.

Shower facilities: 43.3 C / 110 F.
Automatic dishwashing in dining facilities: 60 C / 140 F.
Final rinsing of dishes and kitchen utensils in dining and diet kitchen: 82.2 C / 180 F.
Hot water is not authorized in the following areas:
a. Retail areas, except for food handling areas.
b. Warehouses.

To maximize water use efficiency and energy conservation:

Shower heads with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm shall be used. There are two basic types of low-flow
showerheads: aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating showerheads mix air with water, forming a misty
spray. Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water. In a humid climate, use of a
laminar-flow showerhead is preferable because it won't create as much steam and moisture as an
aerating one;
For dishwashing, use low-flow pre-rinse spray valves with a flow rate of 1.6 gallons per minute or less,
and a cleanability performance of 26 seconds per plate or less, based on the ASTM Standard Test
Method for Performance of Pre-Rinse Spray Valves.
Cold water shall be used in lieu of hot water whenever possible.

COOLING SYSTEMS
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 provides mandatory efficiency requirements for cooling equipment
(section 6.8). Equipment must meet or exceed the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) or energy
efficiency ratio (EER) for the required capacity. The cooling equipment should also meet or exceed the
integrated part-load value (IPLV) where applicable. However, requirements to use in Federal Buildings
only Energy Star or FEMP designated products are considerably more stringent than Standard 90.12007 (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/eep_requirements.html)
For central refrigeration air-conditioning systems, provide freeze protection for all exposed piping and
components for outdoor packaged chiller units.
Air handling units of the single zone building cooling systems in hot and humid climates (zones 1a, 2a,
and 3a) shall be designed with a reheat coil to ensure that the supply air temperature is above the dew
point. Variable temperature chilled water single zone units are also not acceptable without a reheat coil.
Use the following chilled water systems design and retrofit guidance to achieve better
performance and energy efficiency.
1. Use Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) for the Primary Chilled Water pumps above 5 HP
2. A VFD allows the equipment speed to be controlled to match the need of the loads it serves, rather than
running at full speed any time it is running. Installation of VFDs on the primary chilled water pumps will
allow the speed of the pumps to be varied in response to changes in the cooling loads and chilled water

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

system temperature differentials. Since the power demand of the primary chilled water pump motor
varies approximately to the 2.5 power with speed (it is not quite a cubic relationship in the installed world),
reducing the pump speed to 70% when the chiller load is around 70% will result in a primary chilled water
pump energy savings of approximately 55% to 60%. At low loads, reducing the speed to 50% when the
chiller load is around 40% or less will result in a primary chilled water pump energy savings of
approximately 80%. Since the chillers spend the majority of their time operating below 70% of their
design cooling capacity, the system energy savings can be substantial.
3. Use Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) for the Condenser Water Pumps
A VFD allows the equipment speed to be controlled to match the need of the loads it serves, rather
than running at full speed any time it is running.
Installation of VFDs on the condenser water pumps will allow the speed of the pumps to be varied in
response to changes in the cooling loads. Since the power demand of the condenser water pump motor
varies approximately to the second power with speed, (due to the fixed minimum lift conditions of an
atmospheric cooling tower, the savings does not correspond to a cubic relationship) reducing the speed
to 70% when the chiller load is around 70% will result in a condenser water pump energy savings of
approximately 50%. At low loads, reducing the speed to 50% when the chiller load is around 50% or
less will result in a condenser water pump energy savings of approximately 75%. We typically do not
recommend taking the condenser water pump speed down below approximately 50%, as the savings
are minimal below that level, and we need to pay attention to the minimum allowable flow rate over the
cooling towers, which is typically in the 50% of design flow range.
The pump energy savings ratio for the condenser water pump is slightly different than it is for the
primary chilled water pumps, as the condenser water pumps have a fixed minimum lift required to move
water up over the top of the cooling towers, and there is no static regain for water falling through a
cooling tower as there is with primary chilled water pumps operating in a closed loop. Since the chillers
spend the majority of their time operating below 70% of their design cooling capacity, the system
energy savings can be substantial.
4. Cooling Load Based Optimization. Cooling load based optimization strategies should be incorporated
into the control routines for the CHWS temperature set-point, the chilled water differential pressure
setpoint and the condenser water temperature setpoint (for water cooled equipment) to reduce chiller and
pumping system energy waste, while improving the control system response at the cooling loads. The
load based optimization strategies should also incorporate chiller staging routines that take best
advantage of the installed equipment. Self tuning loops should be incorporated that will adjust the system
to accommodate continuous changes in the load and weather.
One such system which incorporates these concepts is the Load Based Optimization System (LOBOS),
which takes data from the air handling units that are controlled from the same DDC control system as
the chiller plant, and uses this data to raise the chilled water supply temperature as high as possible, to
save chiller energy, while lowering the chilled water system differential pressure as low as possible, to
save pumping system energy.
These resets are accomplished while still maintaining the required supply air temperatures at the air
handling units feedback from the cooling loads is required for best system performance.
The system also resets the condenser water supply temperature setpoint to reduce chiller energy by
lowering the condensing pressure of the refrigerant, without wasting cooling tower fan energy.
Increasing the chilled water supply temperature (within reason, comfort and humidity control limitations)
can reduce energy consumption on constant speed centrifugal chillers by up to 20%, and by up to 40%
or more on variable speed centrifugal chillers.
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Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

Reducing the chilled water system differential pressure (within reason, comfort and humidity control
limitations) can reduce energy consumption on variable speed chilled water pumping systems by up to
50% at light loads.
Differential pressure is what forces cold water from the chiller plant through the chilled water distribution
piping system to the air conditioning systems to provide cooling to the end use loads. A system does
not need the same differential pressure when it is 70F and dry outside as it does when it is 90F and
raining outside.
A reset strategy based on the needs of the end use loads can reduce pump energy by 40% or more,
depending upon the diversity of the loads.
Efficiency and load based reset strategies should be incorporated into the control routines for the
cooling towers. Reducing the condenser water supply temperature (within reason and equipment
limitations) can reduce energy consumption on constant speed centrifugal chillers by up to 30%, and by
up to 60% or more on variable speed centrifugal chillers.
An additional benefit associated with resetting the chilled water supply temperature and differential
pressure is that cooling coil control valve response and thus system temperature control are much
better when these strategies are incorporated.
When cooling loads are light but the differential pressure setpoint is at 40 PSID, and the CHW supply
temperature is at 42F, most of the cooling coil control valves will be operating at or near shutoff.
Valves operating near shut off provide very imprecise temperature control, resulting in large swings in
the leaving air temperature from the air handling units, and over- and under-dehumidification. If the
CHW supply temperature is increased and the differential pressure is decreased, the valves will open
up and operate closer to mid-stroke or even further open, where their control can be very accurate.
Figure 5 shows the trend of supply air temperature vs. supply air temperature setpoint

Figure 5. Supply air temperature vs. supply air temperature setpoint. Red =
Supply air temperature, Green = Supply air temperature setpoint

During the day, the CHWS temperature setpoint and differential pressure setpoint are reset based on
the loads. At approximately 19:00, the system is operated in a fixed temperature and DP setpoint
mode. It can be seen that the supply air temperature control stays within approximately 0.5F until
19:00, when the swings exceed 5F, due to the CHW control valve at the AHU being near shut off.
7

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

Optimized chiller equipment staging can reduce the energy consumption penalty imposed by running
too much constant speed equipment by over 50%.
Figure 6 shows an example of Load Based Optimization System (LOBOS) reset strategies in operation.
Temp
Scale

kW/ton
Scale

Condenser water return temperature

Condenser water supply temperature

Chiller kW per ton of cooling
Chilled water return
temperature
Chilled water supply temperature

Figure 6. Results of a test run to see what effects changing the condenser
water temperature setpoint would have on VFD chiller system efficiency.

The red line is the condenser water temperature with a system using the Load Based Optimization
System (LOBOS) control system, which determines less wasteful, more efficient operating points
for the HVAC system based on the actual cooling loads of the facility.
The blue line is the chiller efficiency in kW per ton.
The green line is the chilled water supply temperature.
The test shown in the trend log screen shot, shows that the chiller energy efficiency is running at
approximately 0.33 kW per ton, prior to the start of the test.
This is excellent efficiency, as most chillers installed today operate between 0.60 and 1.5 kW per
ton of cooling.
With LOBOS, the condenser water temperature is running at approximately 68F, while the chilled
water temperature is running at approximately 50F.
We manually raised the condenser water setpoint to 80F from the automatically controlled setpoint
of 68F to determine what effect a normal operating strategy would have on chiller system
performance. Many facilities routinely operate their condenser water systems at between 80F and
85F, which are the typical design points for chillers when they leave the chiller factory.
As can be seen, the chiller efficiency was made dramatically worse when the CDWS temperature
was raised by 12 degrees, increasing from 0.33 kW per ton to 0.45 kW per ton, using 36% more
energy to deliver the same amount of cooling. The chiller energy increased from 332 kW to 452 kW,
an increase of 120 kW. There was a savings in cooling tower energy of approximately 40 kW since
we raised the condenser water temperature setpoint, but the net effect on the system was an
increase of 80 kW, or approximately 21% more energy to provide the same level of cooling.
When the condenser water temperature was released back to LOBOS operating controls, the
efficiency was returned to the previously obtained levels.
This also shows that a facility can be designed with excellent cooling equipment, but if it is operated
and controlled in a normal manner, the efficiency can suffer in a rather dramatic fashion compared
to the potential efficiency.

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

LOBOS Control Screens

Chiller Plant Tuning Graphic - Simple Four adjustments - how fast

the Differential Pressure and Chilled water supply temperature are
adjusted when the loads are increasing and decreasing.

AHU Tuning Graphic - Simple Six adjustments Setpoints for fan

speed and return air temperature setpoint, and how fast the static
pressure and supply air temperature setpoints are adjusted when the
loads are increasing and decreasing.

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

AHU Setup Screen

This screen lets you set

the level of importance
for each AHU a lab unit
gets greater weight than
a less critical unit, the
further out units get
more weight than the
close in units, and big
AHUs get more weight
than smaller AHUs.

Use High Efficiency Dehumidification Strategy. When air handling units are being replaced, or
where there is a need for dry, non-saturated supply air, the installation of High Efficiency
Dehumidification Systems, in either Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) or Variable Air Volume
(VAV) design iterations should be utilized.
Although the airside of the HVAC systems is not a direct chiller plant energy efficiency project, the
design and operation of the airside has a substantial impact on the performance of the chiller plant. The
chiller plant is operated to respond to the needs of the end uses, (the air handlers serving the occupied
spaces) so if the end use air handlers are inefficient at transferring heat due to their design or small
cooling coils, colder water and higher flow rates of chilled water will be required. This can create a very
inefficient cooling system, and can contribute directly to the Low Delta T Syndrome.
Air distribution systems that have normal designs and cooling coil sizes have a detrimental effect on
chiller plant performance.
For example, a cooling coil that requires 42F chilled water supply temperature and provides a 54F
return water temperature to meet cooling loads and provide adequate dehumidification will cause the
chiller plant to use 25% to 40% more energy than a cooling coil selected to provide the design supply
air temperature and the design dehumidification load with 50F chilled water supply and 70F chilled
water return will require. If a HEDS designed AHU is utilized, the chiller plant savings will increase by
another 25% or more.
When design dehumidification loads exist, there is typically the need for some form of reheat energy to
temper the air entering the spaces. Reheat energy typically comes from a new source of energy,
typically a boiler plant connected to steam or hot water sourced re heat coils, or electric strip reheat
coils.
Cold, saturated air entering a humid space can cause condensation to form on surfaces that it comes in
contact with, creating wet spots and all of the problems that go along with water on surfaces in
occupied areas, so some form of re-heat or a method to decrease the relative humidity of the air
entering the space is required.
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Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

For a system such as a DOAS design, or a VAV system serving a barracks facility, the design day
chiller plant and boiler plant energy savings associated with a HEDS system can be in excess of 50%
when compared to a typical design.

High Efficiency Dehumidification

System

Supply air temperature is 10F above the dewpoint temperature.

For DOAS-HEDS, the supply air temperature can be 20F above the
dewpoint temperature.

Variable Volume System Performance Comparison

"Normal HVAC" vs. "HEDS"

Entering Conditions

Leaving Conditions

% Design CFM

DB

WB

DB

Dewpoint

100%

78

65

65.1

55

75%

77

64.5

65.7

55

50%

76

64

67.2

55

25%

75

63

68.1

55

% Design CFM
100%

Normal AHU System

Chiller Plant Load + Reheat
Energy (BTUH)

High Efficiency Dehumidification

System (HEDS)
Chiller Plant Load + Reheat
Energy (BTUH)

HEDS %
Energy
Savings

460013

219240

52%

75%

340795

148330

56%

50%

227500

81250

64%

25%

108160

30400

72%

11

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

DOAS Performance Comparison

"Normal DOAS" vs. "HEDS-DOAS"

Entering Conditions
CHWS
Temperature
at Unit
45F

Leaving Conditions

DB

WB

DB

Dewpoint

98

82

65

45

Normal DOAS System

Chiller Plant Load + DX
Subcooling + Reheat Energy
(BTUH)

CHWS
Temperature
at Unit
45F

High Efficiency Dehumidification

System (HEDS-DOAS)
Chiller Plant Load + DX
Subcooling + Reheat Energy
(BTUH)

1561813

HEDS %
Energy
Savings
28%

1126150

High Efficiency Dehumidification System

Energy Savings vs. Design Airflow @ 100% reheat to
65F/68F Typical for DOAS, Barracks, labs,
manufacturing, underfloor air distribution systems, etc.
High Efficiency Dehumidification SystemEnergy Savings @ 100% Reheat to 65F/68F
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1

Percent of Design Airflow

Percent of Cooling and Re-heat Energy Saved

12

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

High Efficiency Dehumidification System

Energy Savings vs. Design Airflow @ 25% reheat to
65F/68F Typical for facilities that need minimal reheat.
High Efficiency Dehumidification SystemEnergy Savings @ 25% Reheat to 65F/68F
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1

Percent of Design Airflow

Percentage of Cooling and Reheat Energy Saved

Install a Continuous Commissioning, Monitoring and Verification System to Maintain Savings

Persistence of the Chiller Plant and HVAC Systems. Essentially, this consists of installing accurate
temperature sensors on the inlet and outlet of each chiller and heat recovery unit evaporator and
condenser, installing an accurate low range differential pressure transducer across the evaporator of
each chiller and heat recovery chiller and using the differential pressure to calculate the flow rate
through the chiller, installing a kW transducer on each chiller, installing kW transducers on each pump
and cooling tower fan and air distribution fan, or, if they are powered by Variable Frequency Drives,
obtain the kW from the VFD over an RS 485 or other network connection. Air handlers that are
equipped with economizers must also be equipped with return air and mixed air temperature sensors,
and accurate supply air temperature sensors. If there is budget available, large AHUs should have DP
transducers installed across the coils, and inlet and outlet water temperature sensors so that tonnage at
the AHUs can be calculated as well. Software would then be implemented to calculate the efficiency of
each piece of equipment, and then trends and alarms would be set up so that there would be a
historical database of equipment and system performance. The alarms would be triggered when the
system or equipment started operating outside the boundaries set during system startup.
Install Water Source Heat Pumps (WSHPs) To Augment the Capacity of the Hot Water Boiler,
and To Reduce the Cooling Load on the Existing Chiller Systems When Heat Is Required.
A 20 ton WSHP can deliver approximately 320,000 BTUH of heat when it is loaded up.
In many cases, the chilled water temperatures that are delivered to the facilities may be too high to
adequately cool the facility, and may also be too high to adequately dehumidify the building. In these
cases, small WSHPs can be used to reduce the CHWS temperature entering the building while
simultaneously dumping the excess heat into a water storage tank for the domestic water loads.
In cases like these, dry coolers should be installed to act as a heat rejection source for the WSHP when
the domestic water system can no longer accept any more heat, but there is still a need for the cooling
system capacity/temperature to be augmented.
Develop an HVAC and Control System Design Criteria for New and Retrofit Projects.
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Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

A design standard should be developed with substantial input from the operating staff, and from Subject
Matter Experts familiar with dehumidification and control system design and function in the field.
Once implemented, the savings associated with standardized system designs and installations will
result in millions of dollars per year in avoided energy, maintenance and biological remediation costs.
A design standard will also lessen the costs to perform system design and engineering reviews, as
standardized designs will be able to be utilized by the local design engineering firms.
This will have the added benefit of educating these firms for work in the private sector, allowing their
clients to reduce the lifecycle costs of their facilities, and helping America to reduce energy waste and
remain competitive with other nations.

AHU and Their Cooling Coils Retrofit Strategies

1. The AHU should be configured in a blow thru configuration, rather than a draw thru configuration. The
fans should be upstream of the cooling coils, blowing through them (see Table 1).
2. Provide cooling coils that meet the desired leaving air temperatures with 50 F entering chilled water
temperature and as close to 70F leaving chilled water temperature as possible.
3. The maximum cooling coil face velocity should be 350 feet per minute. For blow through and 300 feet per
minute for draw through.
4. The desired fans are direct drive plug fans.
5. The cooling coils should be 8 rows deep.
6. The cooling coils should have 12 fins per inch.
7. The maximum leaving air temperature should be 55F.
8. The minimum fin thickness is 0.008"
9. The minimum tube wall thickness is 0.028"
10. The minimum tube diameter is 5/8"
11. The coils shall be equipped with individually replaceable return bends of no less than 0.035" thickness
12. Hairpin return bends are not acceptable.
13. Provide stainless steel coil casings and intermediate tube supports
14. The maximum height between drain pans should be 24". Provide coils that have drain pans that
completely pass through the cooling coil finned surface area.
15. The coil air pressure drop should be lees than 0.8" wc.
16. The coil water pressure drop should be less than 15'.
17. Provide low pressure drop (2 PSID maximum) automatic control valves for the cooling coil duty. Desired
valves are pressure independent characterized port ball valves - Belimo or equivalent, designed for
outdoor duty. Provide with a sun/rain shield for the actuators.
18. Insulation system should be vapor tight and aluminum skinned.

14

Energy and Water Conservation Design Requirements for SRM Projects

Table 1. AHU blow thru configuration.
Parameter

Typical Design
Draw Thru 6 Row 550 FPM

Near-Optimal Design
Blow Thru 8 Row 350 FPM

77F
64.8F
77F
64.8F
52.5F
51.5F
55
45
54
9

77F
64.8F
79.5F
66F
55F
54F
55
45
69.2
24.2
169%
8
-21%
0.64
-49%
24.4
-65%
296000
-6%

Mixed Air Temperature DB

Mixed Air Temperature WB
Coil Entering DB
Coil Entering WB
Coil Leaving DB
Coil Leaving WB
Air Handling Unit Supply Air Temperature (F)
Chilled Water Supply Temperature (F)
Chilled Water Return Temperature (F)
Chilled Water Temperature Differential (F)
CHW TD % Change
Cooling Coil Water DP (ft H2O)
CC DP % Change
Cooling Coil Air DP (InWC)
CC DP % Change
Coil GPM Required
Coil GPM % Change
Total BTUH
BTUH % change (Iess over-dehumidification)

10.1
1.26
70
315000

15