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CRITICAL ISSUES RELAED TO THE APPLICATION OF DEMAND CONTROLLED VENTILATION (DCV)

ABSTRACT Either too little or too much fresh air will affect the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of a building. Over ventilation will results in high energy consumption and inadequate ventilation leads to poor indoor air quality. Also low ventilation will affect occupant discomfort and health problems. To ensure adequate air quality in buildings, ASHARE recommends minimum ventilation rates. To meet this standard the designer has to consider maximum occupancy while calculating fresh air quantity, as if the zone were always at full occupancy. But the real thing is occupancy will mostly be variable and hence the CO2 concentration inside the room will be lower than the design conditions. As a result, in many cases, has been buildings are over ventilated. To make a balance between IAQ and energy consumption, Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) will be a better solution. Even if the DCV gives lot of savings on energy side, we should analyze the critical issues related to it. Application of DCV just based on occupant density is not a good practice. The energy savings should be analyzed before applying DCV to a particular zone. KEYWORDS ASHARE-American Society of Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning Engineers LEED- Leedership in Energy & Environmental Design USGBC- US Green Building Council DCV- Demand Controlled Ventilation IAQ- Indoor Air Quality CO2-Cabon Dioxide O2-Oxygen WHO-World Health Organization OSHA-Occupational Safety and Health Administration NIOSH-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ACGIH-American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygieists INTRODUCTION Demand Controlled Ventilation is one of the most commonly used energy saving tool in Heating Ventilation And Air-Conditioning (HVAC) especially in Green Projects. While talking about energy efficiency, the first thing that come in to our mind is nothing but DCV. As per US Green Building Council (USGBC LEED IEQ CR 2.0) DCV is mandatory for zones having an occupant density less than 40 sqft/person. Studies shows that the indoor air quality (IAQ) levels inside a room is proportional to Carbon Dioxide (CO2) concentrations. And this will depends on the occupant density, as humans consuming Oxygen (O2) while inhaling and releasing CO2 while exhaling. The demand for fresh air is predicted by CO2 concentration in the air. ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality describes the CO2 concentration levels that should be maintained in zone. Inorder to maintain the required amount of CO2 Concentration inside the zone (as per occupant density) we have to inject modulated amount of fresh air and can be achieved by the application of DCV.

INDEX

1. Importance of measuring CO2 2. Demand controlled ventilation 3. Air balance analysis on dcv operation 4. Infiltration and IAQ 5. Infiltration and hvac heat/cool loads 6. DCV and energy savings 7. Conclusion 8. References

IMPORTANCE OF MEASURING CO2 Carbon dioxide is a gaseous component of the earths atmosphere. It is a main byproduct in combustion processes and natural metabolism of living organisms. We inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide while respiration. The concentration of CO2 in natural ambient air is about 350 to 450 ppm. Heavily industrialized or contaminated areas may periodically have a CO2 concentration up to 800ppm. The levels of outdoor CO2 concentration are higher in areas where traffic is very high. Carbon dioxide is harmless in small quantities, but in high concentrations it is fatal. Although carbon dioxide is colourless and odorless, an increased CO2 content makes it apparent because humans will notice increased fatigue and reduced concentration. CO2 is not seen as indoor air pollution but it is a suitable tracer gas for indicating possible micro-organisms generated by people that contributes to deteriorated comfort. This is why a higher level pure CO2 is permitted in industrial environments where process generated CO2 dominates more. Even if CO2 itself is not dangerous gass in normal concentrations, it is frequently used as a reference of an indicator for indoor air quality and ventilation performance. This is due to the fact that while exhaling CO2 we emit many other microorganisms. When concentrations of these organisms permitted to increase in a room, occupant complaints about tiredness, headache, etc. A high CO2 level in a room occupied by a lot of people indicates that the air is likely to be contaminated. 40,000 ppm 1000 ppm 400 ppm Propotion in exhaled human breath Maximum recommented CO2 level in a room according to ASHARE Fresh natural ambient air DEMAND CONTROLLED VENTILATION As the name implies, Demand Controlled Ventilation is a tool for fine tuning the ventilation or fresh air intake rate as per the demand. The demand for fresh air is predicted by CO2 concentration in the air. Studies shows that the indoor air quality (IAQ) levels inside a room is proportional to CO2 concentrations. And the CO2 concentration will depends on the occupant density as humans consuming O2 and releasing CO2 while inhaling and exhaling. ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality describes the CO2 concentration levels that should be maintained in zone. The components of DCV systems are 1 CO2 Sensor 2 Motorized Fresh Air Damper 3 Controller Case1: When CO2 concentrations are above the limit When CO2 concentrations are above the limit, the system will work as a normal system i.e., fresh air damper will be in open position. It will allow the design fresh air flow to the system.

Case 2: When CO2 concentrations are below the limit When CO2 concentrations are below the limit, the system will close the Fresh air damper to prevent further addition of fresh air to the system and thereby reduces fresh air load on the system. The DCV system can give more savings on warm and humid climates. An AHU with 1000cfm fresh air can save 3 KWH (approx) by blocking Fresh air, depending on ambient conditions. AIR BALANCE ANALYSIS ON DCV OPERATION Consider a HVAC system serving canteen, having a supply CFM of 10000, fresh air of 1000 and an exhaust through kitchen (cooking area) near the canteen of 900 CFM. 100 CFM is for maintaining a positive pressure of 0.05 in (canteen doors are glass double doors which opens to the outside ambient conditions). Now consider the DCV operation there. On normal operation, ie DCV opens the fresh air damper Supply air = Return Air + Fresh Air =9000 + 1000= 10000CFM Return Air = Supply air Exhaust - Exfiltration = 10000 900 100 = 9000 CFM When required ppm level is achieved DCV closes fresh air, but still exhaust fan is running which sucks 900 CFM. So if you substitute these numbers in above air balance equations Supply air = Return Air =10000CFM Return Air = Supply air Exhaust - Exfiltration = 10000 900 100 = 9000 CFM

The above calculation shows that air balance conditions are not achieved. So by rearranging the above equation Return Air = Supply Air Exhaust + Infiltration = 10000-900+900 = 10000CFM Now the air balance conditions are achieved. From the above equation it is clear that some air is added to the zone evenif fresh air is blocked at system level. The air is added to the zone through the glass doors. This is nothing but infiltration. Buildings are not air tight and it is really a challenge for engineers to avoid infiltrations perfectly.But infiltration in large quantities should be avoided. . INFILTRATION AND IAQ Even if the DCV gives the savings on energy side, the potential IAQ issues related to it should be addressed. In design stage Fresh Air rate is calculated by globally accepted ASHRAE standard 62.1 or to maintain slightly positive pressure, whichever is greater. ASHARE standard is used for maintaining IAQ as per the occupant density, and purpose of maintaining positive pressure for avoiding infiltration. Infiltration is nothing but air infiltrating to the zone through cracks, door openings etc on building envelope from outside ambient conditions or from other zones due to differential pressure across zones. The problem with the infiltrated air is that the incoming air unfiltered. It will destroy the IAQ levels inside the zone. Evenif the outside air having low CO2 content, the outside air is polluted by dust and other airborne particles which needs to be removed through high efficiency filtration techniques. The entrapment of these polluted air having lots of dust, will cause severe health problems. So infiltration must be avoided to maintain proper IAQ. INFILTRATION AND HVAC HEAT/COOL LOADS The infiltration by large quantity will lead to imbalances in RH due to the variation of sensible heat ratio from design conditions. Letus consider the above example to analyze how the heat/cool loads on the zones are affected by DCV operation. Design Outside Conditions(Summer) 95 Drybulb Temperature Humidity ratio 136 grains/lbs Inside Conditions 75 Dry bulb Temperature Humidity ratio 66 grains/lbs Heat Load Estimation Summary when DCV opens fresh air damper(Design condition) Grand total Heat 2,80,000 BTU/HR. Room Total Heat 2,08,800 BTU/HR Room Sensible Heat 2,06200 BTU/HR

Room Latent Heat 2,600 BTU/HR SHF 0.987 ADP 54.9 Dehumidified CFM 10,000 At Selected ADP 54 Dehumidified CFM 9570 Heat Load Estimation Summary when DCV closes fresh air damper In DCV operation as illustrated in the section Air balance analysis on DCV operation,when fresh air is closed, 900 CFM air infiltrates from outside. Grand total Heat 2,79,900 BTU/HR. Room Total Heat 2,74,400 BTU/HR Room Sensible Heat 2,27,300 BTU/HR Room Latent Heat 47,100 BTU/HR SHF 0.828 ADP 51.33 Dehumidified CFM 9362 At selected ADP 54 Dehumidified CFM 10,550 Here the ADP goes below the selected ADP, resulting in an inbalance in RH. In Monsoon conditions RH control will be a real challenge. DCV AND ENERGY SAVINGS Demand Controlled Ventilation is one of the most commonly used energy saving tool in Heating Ventilation And Air-Conditioning (HVAC). Application of DCV just based on occupant density is not a good practice. The energy savings should be analyzed before applying DCV to a particular zone. As illustrated in the section Airbalance Analysis on DCV operation, evenafter closing fresh air, the fresh air load added to the zone which questions the energy savings by DCV. In such a case DCV willnot give you any savings on energy as fresh air load on the zone is independent of DCV. The fresh air load will always be there in the zone either DCV is on or off due to uncontrolled infiltration. CONCLUSION DCV is perfect Energy saving system For zones which doesnt have any exhaust system. If occupant is not going to stay on a ventilated zone for a long period of time, make up air can be through proper filtration and a little conditioning like winter heating where ambient conditions are in extreme. For zones which incorporates exhaust system with DCV system sothat it can switch off the exhaust when DCV closes fresh air Incase exhausting air from conditioned zone is unavoidable then you can go for energy recovery devices rather than DCV. In some cases like exhaust air from conditioned zone is used to offset heat generated in ventilated space both DCV and energy recovery devices are not favourable.

DCV should not be made mandatory by just considering occupant density. In some cases especially when the zone is having a passive or active exhaust system which is not incorporated with DCV, DCV should be replaced by energy recovery devices. REFERENCES [1] ASHRAE 62.1 by American Society of Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning [2] ASHRAE 90.1 by American Society of Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning [3] LEED Reference Guides

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