Operation and maintenance of passive cooling systems

Imprint
Published and produced by: sterreichische Energieagentur Austrian Energy Agency Otto-Bauer-Gasse 6, A-1060 Vienna, Phone +43 (1) 586 15 24, Fax +43 (1) 586 15 24 - 40 E-Mail: office@energyagency.at, Internet: http://www.energyagency.at Editor in Chief: Dr. Fritz Unterpertinger Authors: Ralf Cavelius (IZES), Dr. Lorenzo Pagliano (eERG), Eugenijus Perednis (LEI), Graham E.F. Read (NIFES), Charlotta Isaksson (AEE INTEC), Mrton Varga (AEA) Project management: Mrton Varga Reviewing: Mrton Varga Layout: Simone Biach Produced and published in Vienna The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Reprint allowed in parts and with detailed reference only. Printed on non-chlorine bleached paper.

II

Content
1 Operation and maintenance in general .................................................................. 1
1.1 1.2 1.3 Buildings in general..............................................................................................1 Initial Monitoring ...................................................................................................1 Continuous monitoring ........................................................................................2

Specific operation and maintenance aspects of the technologies discussed in the previous reports.......................................................................... 3
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Solar and External heat gains Control Technologies .......................................3 Heat Transfer through the Envelope...................................................................3 Reduce Internal Load............................................................................................3 Passive cooling solutions ....................................................................................4 Solar cooling .........................................................................................................8 Reversible heat pumps for heating and cooling................................................8

1 Operation and maintenance in general

Having followed an active strategy for passive cooling, the whole building becomes to the cooling system, including the occupants. This complex system needs some understanding in order to operate well. In the following chapter, we outline the most important aspects as well as common mistakes and ways to avoid them.

1.1 Buildings in general

Reduce internal loads in the night, too: This way, night cooling can be more effective (There are various means to reduce stand-by loads, from central switches to switchable plugging devices: For more details, see the internal loads chapter). Do not open windows when outdoor air is warmer than indoor air. The fresh breeze you feel brings even more heat into the building. Moreover, the air at sun-shone faades can be very hot, because it has been heated up by the wall surface. Instead of opening windows, the fresh breeze can be produced by movable fans. Make sure that night ventilation can take place. If air inlets and outlets do not open and close automatically, make sure that windows will be opened and closed at the appropriate time. Instruct cleaning personnel in optimal ventilation: In summertime: Open windows in the evening and secure that somebody closes them in the morning again. In wintertime: Close all windows when leaving the rooms. Every season: Close all bottom-hung windows

Close the doors to the staircase. Staircases are very high indoor spaces where hot air gathers in the top. Leaving open the doors in the top floors, would allow this hot air to get into occupied rooms, where it causes heat discomfort.

1.2 Initial Monitoring

In the first time operating a complex system, monitoring its performance is of utmost importance. Only if cooling performance, energy consumption and disturbances are continuously monitored, can you detect mistakes that influence this performance. The necessary parameters are the following: Operation times Energy consumption Indoor air quality (room temperature, humidity, pollution)

Already with the elimination of useless operating times one can achieve significant energy savings: Turning off the AC system during nights, weekends and holidays reduces cooling energy consumption by up to 30%. Monitoring the indoor air quality provides information
1

about whether the system works properly or not. Displaying the energy consumption can help discover programming mistakes, as a case from Austria shows: Austrian case study, from the EIE-project AuditAC: A hospital installed a new cooling system. The owners decided to monitor its performance and energy consumption. After three months of operation they detected that the tolerance levels for heating and cooling were too narrow, so that the system oscillated between heating and cooling. After re-programming the system, the hospital could reduce its heating & cooling energy demand by 80%. When operating a more complex system, the monitoring and fine-tuning in the first operation phase will be even more important. While much work can be done by simulations, the finetuning mostly need to take place in the practice.

1.3 Continuous monitoring

Continuous monitoring can help to detect breakdowns early and thus avoid bigger problems. In addition, it helps to optimise the energy use and detect unnecessary running time of devices. In order to have a comprehensive monitoring, one should measure and record: The electric energy used by the building in intervals of 15 minutes The corresponding indoor comfort parameters (Temperature, humidity)

By evaluating these records, one can see what is actually happening in the building and can better understand the building services.

2 Specific operation and maintenance aspects of the technologies discussed in the previous reports
2.1 Solar and External heat gains Control Technologies
Solar Control Glazing Cleaning as standard glazing. Sun shading devices Some external blinds may have disadvantages related to maintenance problems or shorter lifetime, but new smart designs that resist to high wind speed are available in the market. A description of some innovative sun shading products developed by a collaboration between Fraunhofer ISE and a German company is available on http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de

2.2 Heat Transfer through the Envelope

Insulation About operation and maintenance of insulation we can observe the following aspects: Moisture control: the presence of condensation and mould can be avoided in the first place by limiting the humidity level in the building, which is strongly dependent on the building type and the activities of the occupants. In general it can be stressed that the humidity level in a building is determined by: the humidity level of the outdoor air, the moisture production in the building and the ventilation rate. An insulation layer can alter the hygrometric regimen; in planning step it is necessary to considerer this aspect. Regulation of ventilation: if a building have high internal gains, it is necessary to evacuate them: natural ventilation represent a simple technique to reach this objective. Internal gains: insulation can reduce the buildings ability to lose heat; it is necessary to decrease the heat from appliances, persons and lighting systems.

Thermal mass The life-cycle of PCMs is not completely defined. This aspect is object of research.

2.3 Reduce Internal Load

Energy efficient office equipment The full energy saving potentials can be achieved only by reducing the power consumption in every mode (operating, standby/sleep and off mode) and decreasing the total hours of the mode with higher power consumption or the total operating hours. Intelligent office equipment with high efficient power management can support the rational use of energy in buildings, but nevertheless the direct interaction between user and office equipment puts a relevant role to all user specific measures.
3

Energy efficient lighting With the passing of time, luminaries and room surfaces get dirty. In addition, the light output from lamps decreases as they age. The luminance from a lighting installation therefore decreases. Lack of maintenance means that a lighting installation is not performing at its best, energy and money are being wasted. Many installations are poorly maintained and simple cleaning of lamps and luminaries can often substantially improve the lighting of the space so that the benefits of consuming energy to produce light are fully realised. Maintenance requirements should be considered when installations are designed. Luminaries that are easily accessible are more likely to be cleaned regularly and have their lamps replaced. Some luminaries are designed specifically to reduce the need for maintenance, e.g. selfventilated luminaries resist the accumulation of dirt on optical surfaces. In addition, maintenance costs can be reduced by group replacement of lamps in the regular cleaning routine, and with the selection of long-life products for lamps, luminaries, ballasts and control devices. Plug-in systems and lamp lifts for high rooms make maintenance much easier, and save also a considerable amount in maintenance costs.

2.4 Passive cooling solutions

Evaporative cooling Evaporative cooling systems require more maintenance than conventional air- conditioning systems. However, maintenance costs are difficult to estimate. The extra cost is for preventive care needed to drain the systems and flush the wetted media to prevent accumulation of mineral deposits. This is particularly important when the evaporative cooler is turned off at the end of summer. Properly maintained, the mechanical reliability of these systems is on a par with conventional systems. With 20 years, the lifetime of this technology is comparable to conventional systems. However, as indirect coolers have a more complex technology, their investment maintenance, operation and repair costs are higher. Radiative cooling The radiation system is mostly unsusceptible against outside influences. Only system parts like filters, especially for water driven systems, have to be cleaned at least twice a year. However, debris on the roof etc. may decrease the radiation capacity, so the radiator should be kept free of it.

Table 2.4-1: Maintenance frequency of radiation systems (WhiteCap)

Night ventilation While naturally ventilated buildings will have some operational and maintenance issues e.g. if mechanically operated window hoppers are used for night ventilation, the O&M issues will be minimal compared to that of a mechanically ventilated building. Fans, motors, pulleys, filters all require fixed periodic maintenance routines to ensure that the mechanical systems are working at optimum efficiency. Systems with heat recovery coils or pumps, steam injection for humidification, cooling batteries and other control requirements such as modulating valves will all require regular maintenance or the systems will soon deteriorate. Often overlooked is the need to keep ductwork, grilles and heating/cooling batteries clean and free from obstructions. If not, blockage will occur that will inevitably reduce the system efficiency. Mechanical ventilation systems are able to provide closer control of the area and are less susceptible to sudden changes in ambient weather conditions. Earth to Air Heat Exchangers Earth to air underground heat exchangers do generally not need much maintenance. There have not been any reports about considerable contamination. On several older systems, the concentration of fungus spores and bacteria in the air was measured. The measurements demonstrated that the quality of the air was better after the heat exchanger than in the outdoor air. However, in order to avoid possible breakdowns, we recommend to check the ground register and other ventilation components on a regular base. Checking the inlet areas, funnels and ventilation units is most important. It is also important to optically check systems, which are penetrated with ground water on regular basis. The cleaning water can run out of the piping system if this has an incline of approximately 1%. The inlet parts, especially of large systems, should be placed far away from objects, which could pollute the air (firewood storage etc.). The filters installed in the systems are in general sufficient enough to keep contaminants out of the pipes. The pressure drop and the contamination of the filters should be observed and the filters should be changed or cleaned if necessary. Fine filters can be applied to reduce the amount of spores and bacteria if hygienic requirements are high.

Deep energy sonds Maintenance is recommended after 5 years of operation, but does not necessarily have to be carried out. Difficulties with the operation can occur, depending on the co-operation between manufacturer, installer and operation personnel. A pre-requisite for a working system is a well working control system, which can be easily operated by the users. The sometimes occurring failure to deliver hot water instead of cool is more likely to be the result of inadequate control settings than of a malfunction in the system itself. Groundwater, Sea, Lake water cooling No general information available. Two case studies describe O&M issues, too: Sea water cooling in Stockholm: Since its entering into operation in 1987 the system was reliably interrupted only by minor problems. In 1987 and 1988 one of the wells had problems with clogging. After a second cleaning procedure, the problems did not occur anymore. The heat pumps, however, had problems until 1991 caused by oil leaks and compressor failure. This was repaired by the supplier under guarantee. Between 1987 and 1990 the total downtime for the three heat pumps was at about one month per year. After that period the reliability of the pumps was high. Groundwater cooling at Groene Hart Hospital in Gouda, Netherlands: During the 2 years of operation, no serious defects or shortcomings have been found. Cooling Towers Regular maintenance will optimize heat transfer and help a cooling tower operate more efficiently. It also identifies strategies for upgrading cooling tower performance. Table 2.4-2 provides a guide for a cooling tower monitoring program. Larger, more complicated cooling towers with special filters or controls will demand a more comprehensive maintenance program.

Table 2.4-2: Recommended Minimum Monitoring Schedule Daily Visually inspect the equipment to verify that it is working properly. Check to see if chemical supply is adequate. Investigate anything which appears unusual or which may indicate changing conditions. Record the daily volumes of makeup and blow down water. Significant variations in the daily flow may be indicative of system malfunctions or changed conditions. Check pH and conductivity of the cooling water. Significant variation from normal may indicate malfunctions or changed conditions requiring further investigation and/or chemical feed rate adjustment.

Weekly

Monthly

Have a system expert: Inspect the system, checking for proper equipment functions and physical evidence of corrosion or fouling. Perform chemical testing on cooling system water to check water quality and report results and recommendations. Check conditioning chemical dosages and adjust feed rates. Check and report corrosion rate

Semiannually or annually

Special care should be taken for the following causes of poor performance: Scale Deposits: When water evaporates from the cooling tower, it leaves scale deposits on the surface of the fill from the minerals that were dissolved in the water. Scale buildup acts as a barrier to heat transfer from the water to the air. Excessive scale build-up is a sign of water treatment problems. Clogged Spray Nozzles: Algae and sediment that collect in the water basin as well as excessive solids get into the cooling water and can clog the spray nozzles. This causes uneven water distribution over the fill, resulting in uneven air flow through the fill and reduced heat transfer surface area. This problem is a sign of water treatment problems and clogged strainers. Poor Air Flow: Poor air flow through the tower reduces the amount of heat transfer from the water to the air. Poor air flow can be caused by debris at the inlets or outlets of the tower or in the fill. Other causes of poor air flow are loose fan and motor mountings, poor motor and fan alignment, poor gear box maintenance, improper fan pitch, damage to fan blades, or excessive vibration. Poor Pump Performance: An indirect cooling tower uses a cooling tower pump. Proper water flow is important to achieve optimum heat transfer. Loose connections, failing bearings, cavitations, clogged strainers, excessive vibration, and non-design operating conditions result in reduced water flow, reduced efficiency, and premature equipment failure.

2.5 Solar cooling

Absorption Refrigeration Machines The system pressure and the chemical stability of solvent and refrigerant have to be inspected at least once or twice a year. Due to incomplete sealing of the system, the solvent degrades gradually and expanded maintenance and analysis of the solvent has to be carried out about every 5,000 operation hours. Moreover, for operating temperatures of more than 100C special inspections are mandatory e.g. in Germany (TV). For H2O/LiBr absorption chillers, the pressure needs to be checked daily or weekly. Corrosion protection needs to be checked at the beginning of operation. The lifespan of absorption chillers is about 15 to 25 years. Absorption chillers with the working pair H2O/LiBr tend to have a longer lifespan than systems with a NH3/H2O working pair.

2.6 Reversible heat pumps for heating and cooling

Operation The use reversible heat pumps offers the possibility to have one technical installation to provide heating and cooling. Further on, the hydraulic installations for heat transfer to the rooms (panel heating, thermal mass activation) offer the possibility to provide winter heating and summer cooling in one go, which means to use synergies of existing installations. The dimensioning of a reversible heat pump should always be subject to the heat demand of the building. Its active cooling potential should be used for peak demand in combination with a function for natural (passive) cooling when the temperature of the heat sink is sufficiently low. The performance of heat pumps is affected by a large number of factors: annual heating and cooling demand and maximum peak loads; the temperatures of the heat source (sink) and heat distribution system; the auxiliary energy consumption (pumps, fans, supplementary heat for bivalent system etc.); the technical standard of the heat pump; the sizing of the machine in relation to the heat demand and the operating characteristics of the heat pump; the control system.

Maintenance Generally heat pumps need reduced service in comparison to standard heating systems. Service intervals constitute up to ten years relating to closed cool circle. Depending on contamination at the heat transfer units (evaporator / condenser) shorter intervals can be necessary. Especially for maintenance of energetic efficiency regular inspections and demand-oriented services of the heating system are to recommend.