Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Semi-Annual Program Progress Performance Report For University Transportation Systems, Pppr#4, October 2015, Florida Solar Energy Center, David L. Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A summary of the major activities reported in the following pages is as follows. In the research area, the collection and analysis of data from the Nissan funded DC fast charger at FSEC (Project #3), the development of a student and faculty battery laboratory at Tuskegee University (Project #8), the opening of a new University of Hawaii battery test lab (Project #9), a computer model to optimize electrical costs for Tallahassee StarMetro buses (Project #14), and the installation and beginning of data collection from the FSEC wireless charging laboratory (Project #15). Detailed industry interactions for the period included Nissan, NovaCharge, …

Why Doesn't 25 Years Of An Evolving Energy Code Make More Of A Difference?, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This paper was presented at the 2015 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference (BECC). New and more stringent building energy codes are implemented with the assumption and expectation that significant energy conservation will occur. While simulation and various analysis methodologies may be reasonably sound at estimating the energy impact, the actual impact is largely dependent upon new code enforcement and occupant behavior. This work is based upon the research question: Do homes built to a newer energy code deliver measurable energy savings compared to homes built to a much earlier energy code? This residential research study was focused on comparing …

Simulating The Energy Performance Of A Foam Roof System, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jeffrey Sonne

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Annual residential simulations were run in 13 US cities to determine the energy savings of using an insulated foam tile roof in retrofit applications where ceiling insulation was only R-11 or R-19. Variations included leaving the attic vented and sealing the attic space.

Sunsense/Sunsmart Plus-Up Schools Program Final Inspection Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, Susan Schleith

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report provides information regarding the photovoltaic systems that are associated with the 2014 Sunsense/Sunsmart School Plus-UP program. Dave Click led the project as Principal Investigator and technical expert. Susan Schleith, participated as Co-Principal Investigator and education/school liaison. Four schools participated in the program. Each of the photovoltaic systems installed at the schools was inspected by the University of Central Florida's Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), as well as the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). This report details the results of the final inspections associated with National Electric Code (NEC) and performance testing as required by the Sunsense/Sunsmart Schools Plus-UP …

Investigation Of The Effectiveness And Failure Rates Of Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation Systems In Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jeffrey Sonne

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents the results of a field investigation of the effectiveness and failure rates of whole-house mechanical ventilation systems installed in Florida homes over the last 15 years. The report includes homeowner survey and ventilation system testing results and code modification recommendations based on study findings.

Cooling And Heating Season Impacts Of Right-Sizing Of Fixed- And Variable-Capacity Heat Pumps With Attic And Indoor Ductwork, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The U.S. Department of Energy's research team Building America Partnership for Advanced Residential Construction implemented two phases of experiments to examine the cooling and heating seasonal and peak demand performance of a variable-capacity 2-ton SEER 22 heat pump versus a 3-ton variable-capacity SEER 21 heat pump with attic ducts and indoor ducts. The experiments also compared the cooling and heating seasonal and peak demand performance of 2-ton versus 3-ton fixed-capacity SEER 13 heat pumps with attic ducts and indoor ducts.

Developing Exhaust Air Energy Recovery Credits For The Florida Energy Code, Florida Solar Energy Center, Bereket Nigusse

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) or Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) devices recover energy from building's exhaust air to precondition outdoor air. Energy savings of ERV/HRV devices were determined for various commercial buildings in Florida climate using whole building energy simulation tool. The annual HVAC energy percent savings due to ERV/HRV device were calculated from HVAC energy use of a standard reference building without and with ERV/HRV device using EnergyPlus. The annual HVAC energy savings potential (ERV Credits) will be used for code compliance calculation when a compliance software does not have ERV modeling capability. The ERV/HRV credits were reported by building …

Maximum Energy Efficiency Cost Effectiveness In New Home Construction, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

EnergyGauge® USA (v.4.0.00) is used to examine the cost effectiveness of high performance homes that are improved to significantly exceed the minimum requirements of the 2015 IECC. The objective of the study is to determine the maximum level of energy efficiency that can be considered cost effective to the consumer. For these purposes, it is the cost effectiveness of the entire package of measures that is considered by the analysis rather than the cost effectiveness of individual measures. Optimization and rank ordering of the individual improvement measures in the package is not considered by the analysis.

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Semi-Annual Program Progress Performance Report For The Electric Vehicle Transportation Center Pppr#3, Florida Solar Energy Center, David L. Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This document covers the program activities of the University of Central Florida's Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (EVTC) for the 6 month period of October 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015. The Electric Vehicle Transportation Center supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic goal of planning for near-term integration of alternative fuel vehicles as a means to build a sustainable transportation system. The project objectives are to evaluate technologies, standards and policies to ensure seamless integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into a complex transportation network and electricity grid. The EVTC will bridge the gap between deployment of electric vehicles and the …

Electric Vehicle Sales For 2014 And Future Projections, Florida Solar Energy Center, David L. Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The object of this research is to assess the current status and to predict the future penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) within the U.S. market. The prediction method is based on EV yearly sales giving the cumulative vehicles on the road for 2010 through 2014 and the growth rates for these five years. Using these growth values, the future ten year values are calculated. The EV sales results for 2014 in the U.S. show that 118,773 vehicles were sold as compared to 96,700 vehicles in 2013. This gives a one year sales growth rate of 23%. The total cumulative number …

Investigating Solutions To Wind Washing Issues In Two-Story Florida Homes, Phase 2, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

With U.S. Department of Energy goals of reducing existing home energy use by 30% and new home energy use by 50%, it is imperative to focus on several energy efficiency measures, including the quality of air and thermal barriers. This report provides results from a second-phase research study of a phenomenon generally referred to as wind washing. Wind washing is the movement of unconditioned air around or through building thermal barriers in such a way as to diminish or nullify the intended thermal performance. This study focused on the impact of poorly sealed and insulated floor cavities adjacent to attic …

Electric Vehicle Charging Technology Analysis And Standards, Florida Solar Energy Center, J. Doug Kettles

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report accesses the technologies and standards associated with Electric Vehicles (EVs), Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) and the related infrastructure. A review of infrastructure, highway and vehicle safety standards are included in the paper. The report also evaluates the barriers and challenges of deploying an expanded network of EV charging stations and makes recommendations to help standardize and expedite EVSE infrastructure deployment to support the accelerating growth of EVs. The study focuses on EVSE and the infrastructure for Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs); collectively known as Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PEVs). The results are restricted to …

Self-Study Review Florida Solar Energy Center (Fsec) University Of Central Florida (Ucf), Florida Solar Energy Center, James Fenton

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This document has been prepared for the use of the Florida Solar Energy Center's (FSEC's) External Review Team, 7-Yr. Review. The document follows an outline provided by the University of Central Florida. With added sections addressing FSEC's strengths, weaknesses and opportunities

Fuel Cells As Electric Vehicle Range Extenders, Florida Solar Energy Center, R. Paul Brooker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Fuel cells were modeled as range extenders for electric vehicles. In this application, the fuel cell would supplement a medium sized (16kWh) battery in order to increase the range of the electric vehicle. The fuel cell range extender is compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) based range extender in terms of vehicle fuel economy and cost per mile driven. Since the fuel cell is about 40% more efficient than the ICE, the fuel economy of a fuel cell range extender was estimated to be 68 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe), while the economy of an ICE range extender …

Scheduling And Cooperative Control Of Electric Vehicles' Charging At Highway Service Stations, Florida Solar Energy Center, Azwirman Gusrialdi

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This is a re-print version of a publication for the 53rd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Los Angeles, California, USA, December 15-17, 2014. Due to their limited ranges, electric vehicles (EVs)need to be periodically charged during their long-distance travels on a highway. Compared to the fossil-fuel powered vehicles, the charging of a single EV takes much more time(up to 30 mins versus 2 mins). As the number of EVs on highways increases, adequate charging infrastructure needs to be put in place. Nonetheless waiting times for EVs to get charged at service stations could still vary significantly unless an appropriate …

Phased Retrofits In Existing Homes In Florida Phase I: Shallow And Deep Retrofits, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building America program, in collaboration with Florida Power & Light (FPL), is conducting a phased residential energy-efficiency retrofit program. This research seeks to establish impacts on annual energy and peak energy reductions from the technologies applied at two levels of retrofit ' shallow and deep, with savings levels approaching the Building America program goals of reducing whole-house energy use by 40%. Under the Phased Deep Retrofit (PDR) project, we have installed phased, energy-efficiency retrofits in a sample of 56 existing, all-electric homes. End-use savings and economic evaluation results from the phased measure packages and …

Second Semi-Annual Program Progress Performance Report For University Transportation Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, David L. Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (EVTC) supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic goal of planning for near-term integration of alternative fuel vehicles as a means to build a sustainable transportation system. The project will evaluate technologies, standards and policies to ensure seamless integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into a complex transportation network and electricity grid. The EVTC will bridge the gap between deployment of electric vehicles and the traditional transportation system.

The EVTC's goals were described in detail in the previous Program Progress Performance Report. These goals have not changed significantly and this report provides updates to each of …

Electric Vehicle Life Cycle Cost Assessment, Florida Solar Energy Center, Richard Raustad

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (EVTC) has developed a life cycle cost (LCC) model to include all reasonable costs associated with vehicle ownership over a 5, 10, 15, or 20-year period. The EVTC LCC model compares ownership costs of conventional vehicles to plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Internal combustion engines using gasoline, ethanol, or diesel are considered. The analysis includes costs for tires, insurance and maintenance, federal incentives, state tax, dealership fee, and financed interest payments. Traction battery replacement costs are difficult to ascertain yet are included to investigate their impact on overall life cycle costs. Economic factors used …

An Analysis Of Fuel Cell Vehicle Models By Major Automakers, Florida Solar Energy Center, Nan Qin

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use hydrogen as fuel and exhaust only water. They provide driving ranges and fueling times comparable to gasoline vehicles. Despite the advantages, FCEVs have been in and out of spot light of the auto industry for the past several decades. The information on the development of fuel cell vehicles by major automakers is disparate. This report systematically examined the technical developments of FCEVs since the introduction of the first lab-based fuel cell vehicle in 1966. It included an overview of 117 FCEV models from 31 automakers. It should help the stakeholders to gain an insight …

Achieving Challenge Home In Affordable Housing In The Hot-Humid Climate, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Beal

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction (BA-PIRC) worked with two affordable housing builders who pursued and achieved CH certification. Both builders needed very few changes to reach CH; however, both were already certifying homes under the ENERGY STAR® for Homes Standard v.3.1. Habitat for Humanity affiliates’ mortgage terms are 0% interest over a 30-year mortgage to qualified buyers. To improve relevance of the study to the general homebuilding community, the cost-effectiveness calculations herein are based on a code-minimum reference rather than the builders’ standard practice (ENERGY STAR), and projected first year cash flow is provided for both the …

Cost Effectiveness Of 2015 Iecc Compliance Using The Hers Index, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The EnergyGauge HERS software tool is used to examine the 2012 IECC Standard Reference Design (IECC SRD) configuration for three-bedroom, one-story 2000 ft² and three-bedroom, two-story 2,400 ft² single-family homes in sixteen representative U.S. cities. The energy use of the 2012 SRD homes is compared against the energy use of homes complying with the 2015 IECC using the ERI compliance method. HERS simulations for each home are conducted for both a best case home orientation and a worst case home orientation. Improvements to the 2012 IECC SRD homes are made such that the HERS Index for the homes …

Investigation Of Potential Benefits Of Revising Exception 1 Under Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, Section 101.4.7.1.1 Duct Sealing Upon Equipment Replacement, Florida Solar Energy Center, Janet Mcilvaine

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Section 101.4.7.1.1, Duct sealing upon equipment replacement (Mandatory), of the 2012 Supplement to the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation went into effect briefly in 2013. The new section required sealing of accessible ducts at the time of HVAC equipment replacement. Exception #1 however, eliminates the requirement for ducts in conditioned space, and by doing so, effectively eliminates the sealing requirement for building cavities in conditioned space that are used as air distribution paths. However, test results show that these building cavities are often connected to adjacent unconditioned spaces, in effect they are not really in the conditioned space because they …

Initial Testing Of A Unitary Hvac System Advanced Control Module, Florida Solar Energy Center, Richard Raustad

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Testing of a unitary HVAC system advanced control module and the results.

Assessment Of Energy Efficient Methods Of Indoor Humidity Control For Florida Building Commission Research, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This research project was conducted with the primary objective to identify approaches and technologies which can achieve energy-efficient latent cooling in light of code requirements that may increase overall ventilation rates in new Florida homes. This report covers the work of two primary efforts of completing a literature review and testing a few space conditioning methods in a mechanically ventilated building. Results from a literature review provide a list of various approaches to managing the latent load in homes with emphasis on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In addition to a literature review, controlled experiments using four different approaches to space …

A Review Of Home Airtightness And Ventilation Approaches For Florida Building Commission Research, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jeffrey Sonne

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This research project was conducted with the primary objectives of 1) providing a literature review, examination of experimental data, and calculations of energy impacts of using or not using various types of ventilation systems and 2) developing alternative approaches to achieving acceptable levels of ventilation while avoiding the risks associated with super-tight home enclosures and potential mechanical system failures. The report includes discussions of pertinent airtightness and mechanical ventilation topics and provides recommended ventilation practices for Florida.

Flexible Residential Test Facility: Impact Of Infiltration And Ventilation On Measured Cooling Season Energy And Moisture Levels, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Air infiltration and ventilation in residential buildings is a very large part of the heating loads, but empirical data regarding the impact on space cooling has been lacking. Moreover, there has been little data on how building tightness might relate to building interior moisture levels in homes in a hot and humid climate. To address this need, BA-PIRC has conducted research to assess the moisture and cooling load impacts of airtightness and mechanical ventilation in two identical laboratory homes in the hot-humid climate over the cooling season.

Semi-Annual Program Progress Performance Report For University Transportation Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, David L. Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Electric Vehicle Transportation Center's (EVTC) vision is to transform the country's transportation network into a fully integrated "smart" electric vehicle deployment system coupled with a "smart" electric grid achieved with maximum efficiency and minimum time and disruption.

To accomplish the EVTC vision, the Center's goals are to serve as the focal point for the U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic goal of planning for near-term integration of alternative fuel vehicles as a means to build a sustainable transportation system. The project will evaluate technologies, standards and policies to ensure seamless integration of EVs into a complex electricity grid and transportation …

Technical And Business Solutions For Zero Net-Energy Ready And Zero Net-Energy Homes In The Hot Humid Climate, Florida Solar Energy Center, Eric Martin

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Department of Energy's Challenge Home program provides a standardized platform for application and marketing of Building America innovations in new residential construction and is intended to facilitate delivery of zero net-energy ready and zero net-energy homes that also meet goals for durability, quality, affordability, and comfort. The Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction, one of the Building America research team leads, has partnered with several builders in the hot-humid climate, as they work through the process of adopting Challenge Home. This paper serves to identify viable technical pathways to meeting the Challenge Home criteria in this region and …

Hydrogen Fueling Stations Infrastructure, Florida Solar Energy Center, Nan Qin

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) can provide customers with the benefits of low to zero greenhouse gas emissions, high performance, and comfort without compromising range and refill time. With three major automakers (Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota) planning to introduce consumer FCEVs by the end of 2015, FCEVs will play an increasingly important role in the electric vehicle arena. Building hydrogen fueling infrastructure has been identified as a major obstacle in FCEV commercialization. This report is part of an ongoing effort within an Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (EVTC) project: "Fuel Cell Vehicle Technologies, Infrastructure and Requirements." This report is based on …

Energy And Peak Power Reduction From Air Misting Products Applied To Commercial Condensing Units In Hot And Humid Climates, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A proprietary research project was conducted to evaluate the potential annual and peak energy reduction resulting from the addition of a water misting system applied to supermarket condenser coils in the Florida Power and Light service territory. Tests were performed to evaluate the performance of a mist system under various outdoor conditions over an eight-month period in a hot and humid climate zone. The project measured an average of 2.8% percentage energy savings and average 3.2% utility peak demand reduction. The report discusses why hot and humid climates can expect much lower savings compared to hot and arid climates. One …