Engineering Commons^™

Measured Impact Of Advanced Windows On Cooling Energy Use, Florida Solar Energy Center, Michael Anello

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A significant portion of Florida's residential building stock consists of single-family homes with clear, single-pane, aluminum frame windows. Such windows can lead to considerable heat gain during the hot Florida summer. A side-by-side field test in two identical homes was conducted to evaluate the impact of high performance windows on space cooling demand under realistic conditions.

Evaluation Of Energygauge Usa, A Residential Energy Design Software, Against Monitored Data, Florida Solar Energy Center, Brian Fuehrlein

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A new software, EnergyGauge USA®, is being developed for calculation of energy use in residential buildings. A simplified user interface allows buildings to be quickly defined and evaluated. Utilization of the DOE-2.1E energy simulation engine brings the computing power of hourly simulation to designers and raters. The software has enhancements to better simulate duct systems, air infiltration, attic and foundation thermal performance, heat pump part load characteristics and internal moisture capacitance.

A recurring question with building energy software, regardless of the calculation rigor, is the relative accuracy of the estimates, particularly for cooling loads. To address this question, the software …

Cool Neighborhoods: The Measurement Of Small Scale Heat Islands, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jeffrey Sonne

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Rapid population influx in many Sunbelt cities has led to demands for converting natural areas to housing, many times by clear-cutting large tracts of land. This trend may be affecting the climate for existing and future residents and increasing energy bills. The heat island for large cities has been documented, however the impact of tree canopy on micro-climates in suburban environments has not been researched as much. Tree canopy in micro-climates has implications, both for preserving trees within recently constructed developments, as well as for tree-planting programs. To address this issue, temperature measurements were made over a one year period …

Performance Assessment Of Photovoltaic Attic Ventilator Fans, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Controlling summer attic heat gain is important to reducing air conditioning energy use in homes in hot-humid climates. Both heat transfer through ceilings and to attic duct systems can make up a large part of peak cooling demand. Attic ventilation has long been identified as a method to abate such heat gains. We present test results from using the photovoltaic (PV) attic ventilator fans in a test home to assess impact on attic and cooling energy performance.

Building Envelope Air Leakage Failure In Small Commercial Buildings Related To The Use Of Suspended Tile Ceilings, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Recent research over the last few years is providing a better understanding about the building envelope of small commercial buildings. These buildings have very similar construction to single-family residential buildings, but unlike residential buildings, they usually have a suspended tile ceiling between the conditioned space and ceiling or attic space. Testing indicates that the building envelope in small commercial buildings is substantially less airtight than residential buildings and the cause is associated with the suspended ceiling. Ceiling airtightness test results from two buildings are presented in this paper and show that they are very leaky. The pathways in the ceiling …

Best Practice For The Location Of The Air And Thermal Boundaries In Small Commercial Buildings, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Suspended t-bar ceilings are common in commercial buildings. Research has found that these ceilings are very leaky, and several problems arise from this. If the space above the ceiling is vented to outdoors, the entire building becomes leaky. Furthermore, if the insulation is located at the ceiling rather than the roof, then the ceiling space will be hot (summer), and if the ceiling space is also vented to outdoors, then the ceiling space will be hot and humid. The thermal and humidity conditions of the ceiling space have important implications for space conditioning loads, building ventilation rates, and indoor relative …

Solar Swimming Pool Heating In Florida: Collector Sizing And Economics, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Cromer

FSEC Energy Research Center®

There are over 300,000 swimming pools in Florida, and most of them must be heated during winter months to maintain comfortable swimming conditions. For the average user, temperatures ranging from 78 °F to 80° F for spring and fall and 76° for winter are usually considered comfortable. This publication presents a simple method that can be used to determine the solar collector area (within ± 20 percent) needed to heat a swimming pool to comfort conditions assuming average weather patterns.

Factors Influencing Water Heating Energy Use And Peak Demand In A Large Scale Residential Monitoring Study, Florida Solar Energy Center, Matthew Bouchelle

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A load research project by the Florida Power Corporation (FPC) is monitoring 204 residences in Central Florida, collecting detailed end-use load data. The monitoring is being performed to better estimate the impact of FPC's load control program, as well as obtain improved appliance energy consumption indexes and load profiles. A portion of the monitoring measures water heater energy use and demand in each home on a 15-minute basis. The paper summarizes the various impacts identified on water heating energy use and demand.

Florida Homeowner's Manual For Energy Efficiency, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Most homeowners would like to save on their monthly expenses. One of these expenses - the utility bill - costs the average Florida homeowner five percent of his/her total annual after-tax income. Currently, Floridians are paying about eight cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for electricity. Without close monitoring, electrical uses such as air conditioning can easily push utility costs over $150 per month. Effective conservation measures involve using household appliances less frequently and servicing them properly. These measures will improve their performance as well as their useful life - a real savings over the long run. Also, when you use …

Florida Photovoltaic Buildings Program: Status Report, Observations And Lessons Learned, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jennifer Szaro

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida PV Buildings Program is a collaborative effort among the Florida Energy Office of the Department of Community Affairs (FEO/DCA), Sandia National Laboratories, the photovoltaic industry, nine end-user groups, and the Florida Solar Energy Center. It complements the federal government's Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSRI), which calls for one million solar installations in the U.S. by 2010. Based on the present level of activity and assuming a relatively small growth rate, it is estimated that approximately 140,000 solar pool and domestic water heating systems will be installed in Florida by 2010, as well as 20,000 utility-interactive rooftop photovoltaic systems.

Photovoltaic Applications For Disasters Course Manual, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This workshop training manual provides information for disaster relief and emergency management organization on using photovoltaic systems to supply electrical power for their every day operation in a disaster. The general public and the PV industry will also benefit from this information. Topics presented in the workshop manual will include emergency management operations, energy needs analysis, photovoltaic technology, system performance, reliability, maintenance, selection criteria, applications, and equipment specifications.

Field Evaluation Of Ultrasound Enhancement Of Permeable Treatment Walls, Aamod Sudhakar Sonawane

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to demonstrate the application of ultrasound to field sites having problems with precipitation build up and corrosion. PTW s are passive reactive walls containing zero-valent iron metal for in-situ remediation of contaminated groundwater. However, loss of reactivity over time due to build up of corrosion and other precipitates on the iron surface is a major concern. Ultrasound energy has been established as an effective tool for revitalizing iron surface. This research applied ultrasound energy to a zero-valent iron wall constructed below the ground surface to remove precipitates and iron corrosion, increasing iron reactivity. Two …

Crash Quality- An Approach For Evaluating Spending On Quality Improvement Initiatives, Labiche Ferreira

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The quality movement has become popular among corporations big and small for one reason: empirical evidence suggests that quality and productivity (and hence profitability) are linked. Unfortunately, while many firms accept that quality and productivity go together, few actually track the gains associated with their quality improvement programs. Companies also tend to spend on quality improvement with no indication or estimation of the impact of funding on the targeted process. It would be of great value to know: (1) the impact of spending to enhance the product/process quality level, and (2) the point at which expenditures for quality improvement are …

A Hierarchical Channel Selection Scheme For Macro/Micro Cellular Networks, Ayesha Zaheer

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Hierarchical channel allocation schemes for cellular networks offer a promising approach to solve the pressing problem of increasing the cellular servicing capacity in spite of the limited radio spectrum available. We propose a hierarchical channel selection scheme for handling handoffs and new calls in micro/macro cellular systems. The scheme is intended to improve the performance and quality of service of these systems by increasing the cell channel utilization, reducing the handoff blocking probability and improving the responsive to new calls.

The proposed scheme is based on several design enhancements including an overflow buffer, which is used for handoff calls that …

Signal Integrity In Deep Submicron Cmos Chip Design, Jignesh Suresh Sonchhatra

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Advancement in CMOS technology has become a driving force in the advancement of today's IC design arena. In the past few years, considerable research has been done on the CMOS devices and circuits. Constant efforts have been made to realize smaller and smaller devices by reducing the channel length of the transistors and scaling down various other device parameters. Consequently, various problems have arisen such as interconnect delay, signal integrity and signal coupling.

The purpose of this thesis is to review and understand current problems in IC design and come up with various solutions to them. Efforts have been made …

An Assessment Of Building Energy Efficiency Options At Horn Island Ranger Station, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida Solar Energy Center, Stephen Barkaszi

FSEC Energy Research Center®

As requested by Joe Martin of the National Park Service (NPS), Southeast Support Office, researchers from the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) conducted a building energy efficiency assessment for the ranger station on Horn Island, Mississippi. The assessment included audits and inspections of the energy systems, building thermal performance, appliances, and energy use patterns. FSEC researchers Stephen Barkaszi and John Harrison conducted the audits and on-site inspections June 29 and June 30, 1999. The purpose of the assessment was to evaluate the facility and to present recommendations for improving the energy efficiency of the building. This report summarizes the information …

Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing Research Summary Of Fy1998 Activities (July 1998 - August 1999), Florida Solar Energy Center, Janet Mcilvaine

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The objectives of this work are to increase the market share of energy-efficient housing by conducting field testing and monitoring, research, development, design assistance, and training activities in partnership with housing manufacturers, production builders, non-profits and related members of the housing industry.

Evaluation Of Energy Efficient Improvements To Portable Classrooms In Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Michael Callahan

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Florida has over 25,000 portable classrooms in use around the state. Energy costs for these structures exceed $20 million a year - or about 11% of all energy-related expenditures for educational facilities. Research has also shown interior ventilation rates in these classrooms typically fall far below the recommended levels in ASHRAE Standard 62-1989.

To explore ways in which costs might be reduced and the physical learning environment improved, we conducted a two year experiment in two highly instrumented portable classrooms at Silver Sands Middle School in Volusia County. A series of retrofits, aimed to cut energy use and improve ventilation …

Diagnostic Test Report On Florida Power Corporation's 15-Kwp Amorphous Silicon Photovoltaic System, Florida Solar Energy Center, Fsec Pvdg Division

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Florida Power Corporation (FPC) owns and operates a 15-peak-kilowatt (kWp) amorphous silicon photovoltaic (PV) system at its Econ substation in Orlando, Florida. The PV system, commissioned on August 23, 1988, was designed to generate power that would be injected directly to the FPC electric grid. The Solar Progress Generating Station was developed as part of FPC's interest in new power generation technologies. The PV system design and installation was a collaborative effort among FPC, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).In March 1999, FPC informed FSEC that the PV system …

Evaluation Of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems At The Nature Conservancy - Disney Wilderness Preserve, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents the results of an evaluation of two grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems installed at the Disney Wilderness Preserve, in Kissimmee, FL. Conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), this evaluation consisted of visual inspection of the equipment and installation, as well as electrical performance measurements on the PV array and operating system. Following lists the key results from this evaluation.

• The two grid-connected PV systems at this site were functioning properly and their operational performance is within expectations. The photovoltaic array installation is generally pleasing and complete, and uses listed equipment (PV panels, inverter and combiner box). …

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition Experiment Using The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite - Lessons Learned, Florida Solar Energy Center, Carol Emrich

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Satellite Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) of a Photovoltaic (PV)/diesel hybrid system was tested using NASA's Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) and Ultra Small Aperture Terminal (USAT) ground stations. The setup consisted of a custom-designed PV/diesel hybrid system, located at the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), which was controlled and monitored at a remote hub via Ka-band satellite link connecting two USATs in a SCADA arrangement. The robustness of the communications link was tested for remote monitoring of the health and performance of a PV/diesel hybrid system, and for investigating load control and battery charging strategies to maximize battery …

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition Experiment Using The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, Florida Solar Energy Center, Carol Emrich

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Satellite Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) was tested using the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) Ka-band signal and Ultra Small Aperture Terminal (USAT) ground stations. The SCADA system included a photovoltaic (PV)/diesel hybrid power generator designed to provide electricity to a rural community in a developing country. End-to-end baseline hardware checkout experiments have been completed. Results show that continuous two-second data transfers for real time monitoring can be completed with an error rate of less than 1%. The system recovers from simulated perturbations quickly and gracefully. Specifically, normal operation is resumed within 36 seconds following loss of power to …

An Assessment Of Renewable Energy Options At Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park And Preserve, Florida Solar Energy Center, Gerard Ventre

FSEC Energy Research Center®

At the request of Brad Richie, NPS Alaska Support Office and manager of the Brooks Camp relocation project, a renewable energy team (RET) from the Department of Energy/Federal Energy Management Program (DOE/FEMP) conducted an on-site power system assessment at Brooks Camp. The assessment included:

• An evaluation of the current electrical loads at the site,
• An evaluation of the current facility power system,
• A review of the plans for the relocated facility and planned power needs,
• An assessment of the renewable resources and possible siting options, and
• The identification of potential opportunities for renewable power systems.

The RET activities were coordinated …

User Evaluation Of Prototype Pv Equipment For Disasters, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods and tornados, can happen at any time, destroying homes and businesses. One such disaster, Hurricane Andrew, devastated South Florida in 1992, leaving several hundred thousand people homeless. Many people were without electrical service, functional water and sewage systems, communications and medical services for days and weeks in the aftermath of the storm. Emergency management teams, the military, and countless public and private organizations staged a massive relief effort.

In response to the Hurricane Andrew disaster, the staff at the Florida Solar Energy Center, with assistance from Sandia National Laboratories, transported PV-powered equipment to Miami …

Installing Photovoltaic Systems: A Question And Answer Guide For Solar Electric Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Fsec Photovoltaic Division

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This Question and Answer Guide for Solar Electric Systems addresses general considerations about photovoltaics (PV) technology and requirements for installing photovoltaic power systems, including building-integrated applications. Contained in this guide are commonly asked questions about the technology, and responses based on current state-of-the-art equipment and industry design practice.

Program Plan For Photovoltaic Buildings In Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Gerard Ventre

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This document outlines plans developed by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to support photovoltaic (PV) building applications in the State through the next decade. Implementation of the plan will be a collaborative effort among the Florida Energy Office (FEO) of the Department of Community Affairs, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), the photovoltaic industry, nine end-user groups, and FSEC.

Recommendations For Maximizing Battery Life In Photovoltaic Systems: A Review Of The Lessons Learned, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report contains notes, observations and recommendations about the use of batteries in small stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems. The conclusions of this work are based on the results of more than a decade's worth of battery testing at the Florida Solar Energy Center and related work with Sandia National Laboratories, the PV industry and user groups. The most critical findings were the relationship between battery state-of-charge and battery life and the importance of an adequate PV array-to-load ratio.

Pv Lighting Systems For Bcc - Evaluation Of Vrla Batteries And Pwm Controls, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents the initial seven-month performance summary for these 15 PV lighting systems, for the period February 13 through September 15, 1997. During this time, the systems were configured with three types of valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries (five systems using each type of battery), all operating with pulse-width-modulated (PWM) battery charge controllers. Details of the system configurations are presented in this report. Prior to initial operation, extensive baseline data was collected on the individual components installed in each system. This data included battery capacity and high-rate load measurements, battery weights, charge controller set points, PV array currents and …

Energygauge Usa: A Residential Building Energy Simulation Design Tool, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is developing a new software (EnergyGauge USA) which allows simple calculation and rating of energy use of residential buildings around the United States. In the past, most residential analysis and rating software have used simplified methods for calculation of residential building energy performance due to limitations on computing speed. However, EnergyGauge USA, takes advantage of current generation personal computers that perform an hourly annual computer simulation in less than 30 seconds. A simplified user interface allows buildings to be quickly defined while bringing the computing power and accuracy of an hourly computer simulation to …

Energy And Resource Assessment Of The Caribbean Marine Research Center, Lee Stocking Island, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A project is being coordinated by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) with the Perry Foundation and the Caribbean Marine Research Center (CMRC) on Lee Stocking Island in the Bahamas. The purpose of the research is to demonstrate energy and water savings associated with efficient technologies in an isolated sub-tropical climate. The project is being used as a test case to examine how energy and resource independent eco-tourism projects might be successfully accomplished in Florida and other Caribbean locations.

FSEC plans to monitor energy and water consumption in two buildings at the center. The VIP (Scientists' quarters) building has been …