PCM Installation at Three National Parks Initial Results Brian L. Cook National Park Service August 10, 2016

Transcription

1 Session: Phase Change Material for Building Envelope PCM Installation at Three National Parks Initial Results Brian L. Cook National Park Service August 10, 2016 Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, Rhode Island

2 Introduction Tested phase change material, BioPCM TM, to vet as an energy conservation measure. Locations tested The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM, Gatlinburg, TN) Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (HOBE, Daviston, Alabama) Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve (TIMU, Jacksonville, FL) 2

3 Summary Results GRSM 11% increase in heating efficiency 13% increase in cooling efficiency TIMU 2.5% increase in cooling efficiency Heating efficiency not tested HOBE 1.3% decrease in cooling efficiency Heating efficiency not tested 3

4 GRSM: Photographs 4

5 GRSM: Methodology and Results Maintenance Breakroom Building, approximately 3,800 ft 2 facility with 2,400 ft 2 of BioPCM TM coverage March 2, BioPCM TM installed Above 5/8 acoustic tile Failed attempt at calculations, realized hobo loggers were needed to calculate the baseline. May 23, Hobo data loggers installed on HVAC units and baseline calculated. May 27 to July 13, Post-BioPCM TM data collected a total of 6 weeks and 5 days 5

6 GRSM: Methodology and Results Since hobo loggers were not installed pre- BioPCM TM installation, we used the following strategy to assess effectiveness. Baseline kwh calculated by [Metered kwh] - [Monthly HVAC kwh by hobo loggers]. Pre-install and post-install months with the closest CDD and HDD identified, and kwh/dd compared to assess efficiency. 6

7 GRSM: Methodology and Results Pre-installation and post-installation months with closest degree day (DD) totals were compared Results Heating 11.0% more efficient Cooling 13.1% more efficient 7

8 TIMU: Photographs 8

9 TIMU: Methodology and Results Ranger Station, an approximately 1,000 ft 2 building section with 500 ft 2 of BioPCM TM coverage May 26, Hobo data loggers installed on air conditioning unit June 16, BioPCM TM installed June 18 to July 10, Post BioPCM TM installation data collected, a total of 3 weeks and 1 day 9

10 TIMU: Methodology and Results Results: 2.5% more efficient 10

11 TIMU: Discussion of Results 11

12 TIMU: Discussion of Results 12

13 TIMU: Discussion of Results Need to control thermostat and behavior It was discovered on June 17 th that the thermostat setting had been changed from 74 to 70 the previous day due to a meeting. For this reason we did not use the data from June 16 th and June 17 th. Data suggested similar sudden increases in HVAC usage that would have confused product performance. Pre-install data (see regression analysis next slide) indicated a moderate relationship between CDD and kwh More data logging time needed to devalue some of the natural data fluctuation 13

14 TIMU: Discussion of Results Pre-Installation CDD, kwh, and kwh/cdd 14

15 HOBE: Photographs 15

16 HOBE: Methodology and Results Ranger Station, a 936 ft 2 building with 450 ft 2 of BioPCM TM coverage. May 25, Hobo data loggers affixed to air conditioning unit June 14, BioPCM TM installed June 15 to July 10, Post BioPCM TM installation data collected, a total of 3 weeks and 4 days. 16

17 HOBE: Methodology and Results Results: 1.3% less efficient 17

18 HOBE: Discussion of Results 18

19 HOBE: Discussion of Results Post Installation HVAC Regression Total kwh Linear (Total kwh) y = x R² = HVAC KWH CDD 65 19

20 HOBE: Discussion of Results Need to control thermostat and behavior Building wasn t controlled during the testing period and issues such as manipulation of the thermostat (i.e., occupants changing thermostat setpoints), changing usage patterns such as meetings in the space, increased occupancy after hours could have caused this. More data logging time needed to devalue some of the natural data fluctuation Post-installation weather was 25% hotter than preinstallation weather. Because regression analyses R 2 values so poor, reject conclusions. 20

21 Conclusions The GRSM and TIMU studies were both of value, and indicated BioPCM should be considered as an energy conservation measure. The pre-installation data at HOBE was poor and the study s results were not of value. Higher confidence in results by: Controlling building operations (thermostat, employee behavior, etc.) Longer duration of studies to collect more data 21

22 Questions Brian Cook National Park Service Southeast Region Environmental Management Branch Chief