Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Theoretical & Computational Investigation Of Algorithms For Simultaneous Heat & Moisture Transport In Buildings. Task 2 Final Report, Milestone #218 & 220 Combined. Iv (Copies 1ref, 2,3), Florida Solar Energy Center, Alp Kerestecioglu

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In keeping with the national energy policy goal of fostering an adequate supply of energy at a reasonable cost, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) supports a variety of programs to promote a balanced and mixed energy resource system. The mission of the DOE Solar Buildings Research and Development Program is to support this goal, by providing for the development of solar technology alternatives for the buildings sector. It is the goal of the Program to establish a proven technology base to allow industry to develop solar products and designs for buildings that are economically competitive and can contribute …

Whole-Building Moisture Experiments And Data Analysis. Draft Task 1 Final Report, Milestone #219. February 5, 1988. 91 P., Florida Solar Energy Center, Adel A. Kamel

FSEC Energy Research Center®

For four months (August -November) in 1987 whole -building moisture capacitance experiments were done on a townhouse in Cocoa, Florida. The experiments were designed to: 1. Observe the response of a building to imposed moisture flux 2. Determine the moisture storage capacity of the building and furnishings 3. Evaluate simple models designed to predict the response of room air humidity ration to pulses of moisture 4. Assess two innovative approaches to cooling (off-peak cooling and DESRAD) The results of the tests indicated that moisture storage in the furnishings is much greater than moisture storage in the air. The bare building …

Rbs Technology: Task 3 Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The purpose of this report is to discuss the current state of attic radiant barrier system (RBS) technology. Concepts, research issues and experimental test results are presented and discussed.

Radiant Barriers: A Question And Answer Primer, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Attic radiant barriers made of aluminum foil are becoming a popular way for homeowners to save energy and money in Southern states. They are increasing in popularity for two reasons. First, tests by the Florida Solar Energy Center and other groups show that they work. Second, manufacturers are improving the quality of radiant barrier materials.

To most homeowners, attic radiant barriers are a new energy conservation concept; many of them have questions about how radiant barriers work and how to use them. This Energy Note answers some of the most commonly asked questions. It also recommends ways to install radiant …

Procedures For Calculating Natural Ventilation Airflow Rates In Buildings. 03-87, Florida Solar Energy Center, Subrato Chandra

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This is the final report of ASHRAE research project 448-RP "Building Pressure Distribution for Natural Ventilation" initiated in October 1985. The objective of the research was to review the worldwide data on building pressure coefficient and to assimilate the data for use in hourly calculation of natural ventilation airflow rates in buildings. This report is organized in two parts. Part 1 is written for the user who wants to use the information. Part 2 provides the background and research data analysis which was conducted to come up with the Part 1 information.

Field Data Delivery - Thermal Performance Field Monitoring Of Various Conservation Construction Techniques. Final Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Cromer

FSEC Energy Research Center®

No abstract provided.

Heat Pipe Application Program, Florida Solar Energy Center, Mukesh Khattar

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center has begun a project to develop a high efficiency air conditioner/dehumidifier using heat pipes between the warm return and cold supply air streams. Such systems will save energy in hot, humid climates.

Radiant Energy Transfer And Radiant Barrier Systems In Buildings, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In Florida and other southern climates we depend on a number of strategies to keep heat out of buildings. Mostly, these affect heat gains by conduction or convection. In the average house, insulating walls and ceilings primarily restricts conduction. Double-glazed windows restrict both conductive and convective heat gain. We have largely ignored radiation - the third means of heat transfer - except in using window treatments and coatings that reflect, absorb or shade from solar energy. But research points to exciting potential for reducing heat gain in buildings by controlling radiation transfer in walls and ceilings through the use of …

Techniques For Shading Residential Walls And Windows, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Solar radiation is a major heat source in buildings - welcome in cold weather but a summertime problem. Florida's long cooling season and short heating season increase the importance of protecting windows, walls and sliding glass doors during hot weather, while still permitting solar heat to enter a building during cold weather. cooling and heating energy savings of 10% - 20% are possible through good shading strategies. Properly designed roof overhangs can provide adequate sun protection, especially for south-facing surfaces. Vertical shading devices such as trees, trellises, trellised vines, shutters, shading screens awnings and exterior roll blinds are also effective. …

Solar Water Heater Troubleshooting Checklist, Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Lists the Symptom, Component, Possible Cause, and Remedy/Check of possible solar hot water heater problems.

Solar Ovens And Cookers, Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Solar ovens work much like solar collectors used in domestic water heating systems. Both collect solar radiation, convert it to heat and transfer it to another substance. Solar ovens, however, focus the sun's rays with reflective surfaces on one point. The object of the sun's energy in the solar oven is the food.

Recipes For Solar Cooking, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jo Townsend

FSEC Energy Research Center®

As energy extension agent for the University of Florida Extension Service, Jo Townsend serves as the energy educator to small businesses in central Florida. She conducts employee programs on energy conservation in the workplace. She received her B.S. in home economics from Florida State University and her M.E. from the University of Central Florida. Formerly a home economist for the Florida cooperative Extension Service, Townsend researched and tested recipes for use in microwaves when they first gained popularity. She has been a consultant to Southern Living magazine and to Florida's seafood industry. For the last year, she has tested recipes …

Cooling With Ventilation, Florida Solar Energy Center, Subrato Chandra

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In keeping with the national energy policy goal of fostering an adequate supply of energy at a reasonable cost, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) supports a variety of programs to promote a balanced and mixed energy resource system. The mission of the DOE Solar Building Research and Development Program is to support this goal by providing for the development of solar technology alternatives for the buildings sector. It is the goal of the Program to establish a proven technology base to allow industry to develop solar products and designs for buildings that are economically competitive and can contribute …

Latent And Sensible Load Distributions In Conventional And Energy Efficient Residences. Final Report, January 1983 - January 1986. 05-86., Florida Solar Energy Center, Alp Kerestecioglu

FSEC Energy Research Center®

To develop a method to characterize the cooling load distributions in conventional and energy efficient residences, specifically as related to building dehumidification loads, as they pertain to the potential for the use of gas-fired dehumidification and cooling equipment.

Air Conditioner Fan Speed Controller For Comfort And Dehumidification, Florida Solar Energy Center, Mukesh Khattar

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Air conditioners perform the dual functions of cooling and dehumidifying. Many air conditioner units do not adequately dehumidify the air in Florida's humid climate. The quest for higher energy efficiency ratings (EER) has produced units that perform poorly in moisture removal. What follows is a simple and cheap method to increase the moisture removal performance of any air conditioner.

Fans To Reduce Cooling Costs In The Southeast, Florida Solar Energy Center, Subrato Chandra

FSEC Energy Research Center®

During the hot, humid summer months in the southeastern U. S., air conditioning costs are a substantial part of the average home's utility bill. In Florida, for example, air conditioning accounts for about 30 percent of the annual utility bill for an all electric house. Fans can help lower air conditioning costs.

There are three generic types of fans to reduce summer air conditioning costs: air circulating fans to create air motion which increases comfort, whole house fans to promote fresh air exchange, and attic vent fans to lower attic temperatures.

Window Treatment For Energy Conservation, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This Energy Note gives the non-technical reader a clear look at windows - how to get the most from them in cooling, heating, ventilating and illuminating the home. Although most of the points are applicable anywhere in the country, emphasis is on summer solar heat gain experienced in buildings in Florida. Two common features of Southern building style are large window areas to let the light and breezes in, and shading devices or window films to keep the hot sunshine out. This energy note addresses design guidelines and strategies as well as shading devices and window films for existing windows.

Designing And Installing Radiant Barrier Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A radiant barrier system is, in general, a layer of foil facing an airspace, installed in the envelope of a building. Such systems are very effective in impeding radiant heat transfer and consequent heat gain, especially in southern residences. Before designing and installing a radiant barrier system, you should become familiar with the concept of radiant energy transfer. Design Note 6, Radiant Energy Transfer and Radiant Barrier Systems in Buildings, is required reading if you are not familiar with this concept.

Solar Distillation Of Water, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center receives frequent requests for information about solar distillation for purifying water. Distillations is one of many processes available for water purification, and sunlight is one of several forms of heat energy that can be used to power that process. Sunlight has the advantage of zero fuel cost but it requires more space (for its collection) and generally more costly equipment.

To dispel a common belief, it is not necessary to boil water to distill it. Simply elevating its temperature, short of boiling, will adequately increase the evaporation rate. In fact, although vigorous boiling hastens the …

Sun Position In Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Described herein is a procedure for determining the path of the sun through the Florida sky relative to a solar collector array, a window, a skylight or an entire building - information needed by architects, engineers and others for shading and orientation calculations involved in active and passive building design. It can be used for positioning exterior shading devices for maximum benefit. This information can also be used to pinpoint solar collector shading problems.

Open-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, Florida Solar Energy Center, Magdy Girgis

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In May 1983 the Florida Solar Energy Center(FSEC) received $ 328,000 from the federal Solar Energy Research Institute in Colorado to determine the feasibility of an Open-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) concept. The objective of the project is to assess the economic and technological viability of the conceptual design of an Open Cycle OTEC power plant. FSEC and Create R&D Inc., Hanover, New Hampshire, bring together complementary skills and experience in resource assessment, component design, system engineering and project management. FSEC also will study possible sites for an OTEC plant in Florida as part of a complementary project funded …

Photovoltaics: A Question And Answer Primer, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ingrid Melody

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Of all the solar energy technologies, photovoltaics (PV) show the greatest promise for worldwide acceptance and application. Their universal appeal lies in the fact that they generate electricity from the sun. Working photovoltaics have no moving parts, are relatively simple in design, need very little maintenance and are environmentally benign. They simply and silently produce electricity whenever they are exposed to light.

Passive Cooling Ideas For The Southeast, Florida Solar Energy Center, Chris Beck

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A passively cooled home is one which is kept relatively comfortable through natural means. Homeowners in the Southeast have been using passive building techniques in order to live more comfortably during hot, humid seasons since the early 1900's. The concept of designing for minimum use of artificial cooling and heating systems is not new, but with the advent of sophisticated mechanical air-conditioning and heating systems and the availability of inexpensive fossil fuels in the '40s and '50s, builders began bypassing passive techniques. Too many of today's homes are designed with more concern about accommodating a mechanical conditioning system than with …

Designing And Installing Commercial Solar Pool Heating Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Douglass E. Root

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Solar heating of swimming pools is an economically attractive utilization of Florida's abundant solar resource. The temperature requirement is lower than that of domestic or service water heating, lower than that for building heating and far lower than that for solar powered air conditioning. Florida's year-round mild and sunny climate allows swimming during much of the winter, so a properly heated pool is economically attractive.

A Checklist For Building An Energy Efficient Home In Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Michael Houston

FSEC Energy Research Center®

To design and build an energy-efficient home in Florida, seriously consider each of the steps listed here. Some are common sense, most are relatively inexpensive, and all add up to much lower energy bills. In fact, by following this checklist, you could expect to be very comfortable year round in your home and save about 30%-50% on your utility bills.

Photovoltaic Cells: Common Power Source For Tomorrow?, Florida Solar Energy Center, Arthur Litka

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The word "photovoltaic" combines the scientific terms "photo", meaning light, and "voltaic", meaning voltage. Together, the terms mean voltage generated by light energy. Specially treated silicon, or another substance, is manufactured in such a way that when light strikes it electricity is produced. The cells have no moving parts, and they are durable. They are commonly called solar cells.

Passive Cooling And Human Comfort, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Comfort within buildings is primarily controlled by four major factors: air temperature, mean radiant temperature, humidity and airflow. Each can have a dominating effect. Their effects are not necessarily additive and practically never linear. There are, additionally, other factors which affect comfort including clothing, activity level and climatization. Some psychological triggers, such as certain colors, also seem to affect comfort, and "state of mind" can have major effects on individual comfort sensations. Comfort zones, therefore, are very generally defined as the zone in which 80 percent of the population will experience the sensation of thermal comfort.

Concepts In Passive Design #2: Devices For East And West Shading, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A major source of heat in buildings is direct solar radiation through east and west windows--welcome heat energy in cold weather, but a summertime problem. Since Florida has such a long cooling season and generally a short heating season, it is especially important to protect east and west walls, windows, and sliding glass doors from the summer sun while allowing adequate light to enter the building year-round. From a lighting standpoint, natural daylight is on the whole quite good but it can produce unwanted heat and visual glare if not properly controlled.

Concepts In Passive Design #3 Passive Cooling Categorizations, Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Editor's Note: While passive solar heating is relatively well evolved, passive cooling is only on the threshold of development, and many of its terms are new to the practicing professional. At the Fourth Annual Passive Cooling Conference this problem was addressed by William W. Holmes of the University of Nebraska with the presentation of a 10-point categorization of cooling techniques. We are indebted to Mr. Holmes for this contribution to the emerging field of passive cooling and present it here as a point of departure and working vocabulary for the design professional.

Concepts In Passive Design #1 Roof Overhangs, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A major source of heat in buildings is direct solar radiation through windows--welcome in cold weather, but a problem in hot weather. Since Florida has such a lengthy cooling season, it is most important to protect windows from the sun; however, there are times between November and March when some heat is needed. Fortunately, the change in the sun's path from summer to winter is such that a properly designed roof overhang can protect south-facing windows from the high summer sun, yet allow the lower winter sun to come in.