Energy and Building

Energy and Building (280 - 16846)
Study: Bachelor in Energy Engineering
Semester 2/Spring Semester
4th Year Course/Upper Division

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE COMPLETED:

Thermal Engineering
Fluid Transport and Hydraulic Machinery
Solar Energy

Competences and Skills that will be Acquired and Learning Results:

At the end of the course the students will be able to:
- Understand the relationship between buildings, energy consumption and environmental impact.
- Deal with building energy codes and standards: find information and establish compliance.
- Set up models for building energy simulation.
- Determine thermal loads in buildings.
- Know the principles of heating and cooling equipment.
- Know the renewable energy systems and their integration in buildings.
- Design and size HVAC systems.
- Knowledge in lighting systems (technology and operation).
- Know the main lighting control systems.
- Incorporation of photovoltaic systems in buildings. Dimensioning and installation design.
- Knowledge of photovoltaic calculation software.
- Knowledge in engine control

Description of Contents: Course Description

1. Energy Consumption in Buildings
Building energy use, environmental impact and sustainability. Energy sources, primary/final energy, CO2 emissions. European energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD), certification of new and existing buildings, energy rating/labeling, nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB), energy audit. Energy codes for buildings, Código técnico de la edificación ¿ Ahorro de energía (CTE-HE), ASHRAE standard 90.1.
2. Heating and Cooling Loads
Outdoor design conditions, climatic zones, typical meteorological year (TMY). Indoor comfort conditions, air quality, ventilation (CTE-HS3). Heat transfer through building envelope, insulating materials, U-value. Glazings, shadings, solar heat gains (SHGC). Passive heating and cooling, bioclimatic design. Internal loads, latent heat, psychrometric chart. Building energy simulation tools.
3. Refrigeration and Heat Generation
Vapor compression cycle, refrigerant charts, coefficient of performance (COP). Compressor, condenser, evaporator. Electric heat pumps. Electric heaters. Natural gas and fuel-oil boilers. Service water heating (SWH). Renewable energy systems: solar thermal (CTE-HE4), solar cooling (absorption cycle), biomass, geothermal. Thermal energy storage (TES), district heating and cooling (DHC), combined heat and power (CHP).
4. HVAC Systems
Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), decentralized vs. centralized systems, zoning. Direct expansion systems. Air-and-water systems, fan-coils. All-water systems: pumps, pipes, radiators, radiant panels. All-air systems: air handling unit (AHU), fans, ducts, diffusors.
5. Lighting systems.
Main types of lamps. Parameters of visual comfort. Luminaires and lighting systems. Regulation of lighting (regulation 0-10 V, DSI regulation, regulation DALI).
6. Photovoltaic Systems
Types of photovoltaic cells. Installation configuration (panels, wiring, protections and investor). Resource assessment, integration into the building.
7. Engine control systems in buildings.
Regulation of motors in HVAC systems (variable flow hydraulic, variable flow in air).
8. Power factor compensation.
Concept of power factor compensation. Estimation of consumption of reactive power. Capacitor banks and its regulation.

Learning Activities and Methodology:

The learning methodology includes:
1. Lectures in which the course contents are presented.
2. Workshops, usually held in a computer room, where each student works on their projects.

Assessment System:

Continuous assessment based on the delivery of a final project.
Mid-term tests and oral presentations could also be scheduled.
Each student will be assigned a building case study, in which the student will apply the knowledge gained during the course.
To check the progress, there will be two mid-term assignments that will be part of the final project report:
1. Building model and annual energy demand (compliance with building codes).
2. Thermal loads and HVAC equipment selection.
3. Lighting system design.
4. Lighting control systems associated with the system proposed.
5. Incorporation of a photovoltaic system on the building.

Besides the above, the final project report must contain the simulated energy consumption and the building rating/label.
% end-of-term-examination: 0 %
% of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...): 100 %

Basic Bibliography:

A. Soteris. Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems . Academic Press. 2014
Anna Yudina. Lumitecture: Illuminating Interiors for Designers and Architects . Thames & Hudson. 2016
F.C. McQuiston, J.D. Parker, J.D. Spitler.. Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning: Analysis and Design. John Wiley & Sons. 2005
Harry Box. Set Lighting Technician's Handbook: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution . Elsevier Inc.. 2010
Michael Boxwell. olar Electricity Handbook ¿ 2014 Edition: A Simple Practical Guide to Solar Energy Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar Electric Systems. Greenstream Publishing . 2014
T.A. Reddy, J.F. Kreider, P.S. Curtiss, A. Rabl.. Heating and Cooling of Buildings: Design for Efficiency. Taylor & Francis. 2010
W.T. Grondzik. Air-conditioning System Design Manual. ASHRAE. 2007

Additional Bibliography:

ASHRAE. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. ASHRAE. 2013