TUTORIAL PROBLEMS – BLOCK 5EM

5.1 Figure below shows the plan of an office having an internal environmental
temperature of 20˚C when the external air temperature is -1˚ C.

Assume TWO air changes per hour, calculate the heating load in kW.

Use the following data:

area of each window 4 m 2 .
area of each door 3 m 2 .
height of ceiling 5 m.

U values (W/m2 K)

Floor 1.45
External Walls 1.50
Partition Walls 1.50
Windows 6.00
Doors 2.50
Ceiling 1.45

Corridor t = 18˚C

Partition Partition
10 m

15 m

t = 20˚ C
t = 20˚ C t = 20˚ C

Window External air 0˚C

ANS.( 22.5 kW)

Hint for solution :

QFab = sum ( A.U. D T ) for all walls, windows, door, floor and roof

Qv = 0.335 N V D T

Qtotal = Qfab + Qv
5.2 A GYM 40m x 20m x 7m. If the outside air supply temperature is 10oC,
determine the ventilation heat load for this building assuming that the indoor air
temperature is maintained at 17 oC, and the air is changed once every two hours.

ANS ( 6.5 kW)

Hint for solution :

Use Qv = 0.335 N V ∆T

5.3 (a) Calculate the heat loss through a wall ( 105 mm common brick, k=0.84
W/mK; and 10 mm plaster, k = 0.6 W/mK ) total area of 100m2, containing a
10% area of single glazed windows, if the inside air and the outside design
temperatures are 20, -1 oC respectively.
(b) In order to reduce the heat loss of the building described above, the
following two suggestions are to be considered: -
(i) To double-glazed (13mm air cavity) windows?
(ii) To build an outer shell made from a 105mm common brick
separated by a 50mm cavity filled with polystyrene.
Evaluate each scheme and comment on the results.
ANS. ( 6.8 kW, solution (ii) is superior)

Hint for solution :

FOR the original building

Calculate total thermal resistance, Rtotal
Calculater U = 1/ Rtotal and calculate Q = A.U.dT
Redo the above for the modification, calculate Qnew
Compare the two on basis of smaller Q.
5.4 The lighting requirements of a Sport centre are being met by 200-60W standard
light bulbs. The lights are close to completing their service life, and are to be
replaced by 30W high-efficiency fluorescent lamps; Both can be purchased in
quantity at a cost of £1.00 and £9.00 each, respectively. The facility operates
2800 hours a year and all of the lamps are kept on during operating hours.
Taking the unit cost of electricity to be 7p/kWh, determine whether the
investment in the fluorescent lights is justifiable.
ANS. ( yes, payback 1.4 years )

Hint for solution :

Use the following expression for calculating cost

Wattage h
Cost = NumberofUnits × × × £ / kWh
1000 y

use the following expression for payback period calculation, it is the simple payback:

capitalInvestment
Payback period =
saving / y

5.5 You are given the task of purchasing a replacement for a boiler for the
swimming bath of a large sports complex; the present heating bill is £2000/year
and the current boiler has a 50%. There are two types available on the market,
with the following specifications tabled below,
Select the best option, justify by calculations your answer.

Boiler type Capital cost Efficiency %

Conventional £3600 75
Condensing £4000 92

ANS. ( condensing )

Hint for solution :

See problem 5.4 hints

 5.6 An exercise room has 10 weight-lifting machines and 10 treadmills
each equipped with a 3 kW motor ( efficiency of utilisation of 80%). During
peak evening hours, all pieces of exercising equipment are used continuously,
and there are also four people doing light exercises while waiting in line for one
piece of the equipment. Determine the rate of heat gain of the exercise room
from people and the equipment at peak load conditions. Assume the average
heat loss for this type of activity is 525 W per person.

ANS. ( 36.6 kW )

Hint for solution :

& motors = (No of motors) x W

Use Q & motor

& people = (No of people) x Q

The heat gain from people is: Q & person

Then the total rate of heat gain:- Q & motors + Q

& total = Q & people