Salk Hall Laboratory
Chris Kelly
Mechanical Eplee
AE Senior Thesis 2011
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
• Approximately 82,000 GSF
• Provide additional research laboratories for the
Schools of Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, and the
Graduate School of Public Health
• Dates of Construction: Nov 2010-April 2012
• Anticipated Total Cost: $42,095,739
Render of Salk Hall
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
• Located just north of the existing Salk Hall
Complex
• Reinforce pedestrian access east and west
across the site
• Research laboratory
• 5 Floors above grade + Mechanical Penthouse
Connection Between Existing
Salk Hall & The Addition
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
• Administrative and Office Spaces
• Environmental & Specialized Control Rooms
• Intent to earn LEED Certification
• Exterior skin is a combination of terra cotta rain
screening, zinc panel cladding, glass, and light
toned bricks.
East-West Access Between
Buildings
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
• High Air Change Rates
• ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Considerations
• University of Pittsburgh Lab Standard
• Dilution Ventilation
ASHRAE does not specifically address
laboratories in Standard 62.1_2007.
University standard of 6-10 ACH Occupied, 4
ACH unoccupied
Fume Hood Exhaust System
Occupancy Sensors incorporated as part of the
BOD
High Carbon Emissions due to large volumes of
outdoor air that need to be conditioned
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
• High Internal Cooling Loads
• Linear Equipment Corridor
• Typical 6-8 watts/SF
• Elevated lighting densities
• Need for year round cooling in many
conditioned zones within Salk Hall
Ballinger’s Architectural Model
of the Salk Hall Addition
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Indoor Design Conditions
Outdoor Design Conditions
Summer Design Criteria: 91°F DB, 72°F
Winter Design Criteria: 3°F DB
Temperatures as per the ASHRAE Fundamentals 0.4/99.6%
condition for Pittsburgh, PA
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
HVAC System Design Summary
• Three Identical 29,000 CFM Air Handling Units
• All Units are 100% OA (Per University Standard)
• Each AHU includes a Total Energy (Enthalpy)
Recovery Wheel
• Exhaust air is discharged through high plume dilution
exhaust fans
B.O.D. HVAC System
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
AHU Design Summary
• MERV 7 Pre-filter, MERV 14 Final Filter
• Steam Preheat Coil Section (Frost Prevention)
• Supply Fan with VFD (Blow Through Configuration)
• Humidifier section along with a CHW cooling coil
Typical BOD Air Handling Unit
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Terminal Unit Design
• Phoenix Venturi Control Valves
• Envirotec Variable Air Volume Boxes
• Fan Coil Units (Local Cooling in Linear Equipment
Corridor)
• Fan Powered Boxes (Conference Room)
Phoenix Variable Air Volume
Control Valve
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Hydronic Systems Design Information
• Chilled Water supplied by Peterson Event Chiller Plant
• The PEC Plant will be expanded to include a 1200 ton
chiller, a 1100 cooling tower, and a primary pump
• CHW services AHU cooling coils and F.C.U.s
• The Process Chilled Water loop will be isolated from
the campus system via a plate and frame heat
exchanger
Split-Refrigeration Diagram
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Hydronic Systems Design Information (Part II)
• Hot water heating system will consists of two shell-andtube, LPS-to-hot water heat exchangers.
• Two Primary Pumps have been provided
• Secondary pumps will be provided for the perimeter
radiation system.
• Reheat coils and other heating equipment will be
provided with two-way control valves (Return Side)
HVAC Control Strategy
The laboratory’s airflow control system was designed with
Phoenix Controls’ analog air valves with Automated Logic
BAS DDC controllers, performing the laboratory airflow
and temperature control.
Phoenix Valves are also utilized on with fume hoods in
order to maintain a local face velocity across the sash of
the fume hood
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Neutral Air
• Need for large quantities of outdoor air for ventilation
purposes gave way to the design of AHU’s that
produce neutral air
• Air that is slightly lower than room temperature but has
been dehumidified in order to maintain the RH of the
building
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Dual Wheel Air Handling Units
• Passive Total Energy Recovery
• Conventional Cooling Coil
• Passive Dehumidification Wheel
• Heating Coil
SEMCO PVS AHU
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Psychometric Chart Functions
Psychometric Chart Key
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
AHU Summary
• (2) 33,000 CFM Air Handling Units
• (1) AHU to serve ventilation system
• (1) AHU to handle the thermal comfort load by
providing Neutral Air to the active chilled beam terminal
units
Re-Design Indoor Design Conditions
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Demand Control Ventilation
Achieving the safe reduction or variation of air change
rates in laboratories can represent the single greatest
approach for reducing energy consumption
The University of Pittsburgh’s laboratory ACH standard is
6-10 ACH.
The intent of minimum ventilation rates is to rapidly clear
a contaminated room of fugitive emissions, lab spills, or
vapors generated by bench-top work.
How do we lower ventilation rates?
• Can we simply lower the ventilation rate?
• What about decreasing the unoccupied ventilation
rate?
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
ANSWER: AIRCUITY
Sensors that directly measure the quality of air
Detect contaminant levels of VOCs, ammonia, various
chemical vapors, and particulates.
A study presented at the 2009 Winter ASHRAE
conference showed a greater than 10-1 reduction in lab
background concentrations after increasing the ventilation
rate from 4 to 8 ACH.
Sensors determine whether or not a Laboratory zone is
determined to be “Clean”.
If contaminant levels are above a given concentration
level, the aircuity system signals the ventilation system to
operate at 100%.
Aircuity’s “Smart Lab” Demand Control Ventilation system
will be incorporated in the re-design.
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Active Chilled Beams
Each beam must meet its respective peak sensible load
Primary airflow sized according to the amount of air
needed to meet the Peak Latent Load per space
KEY: Using water warming than typical 45°F CHW
KEY: Avoiding Condensation within the beam
Active Chilled Beam Diagram
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Fume Hood Exhaust
Adequate “pull” is required to remove fumes
Face velocity is measured in FPM at the vertical sash
plane
A low flow fume hood is one that has had the exhaust
volume reduced by operating through a smaller sash
opening
Low velocity fume hoods can maintain an appropriate
capture rate with face velocities as low as 60fpm
Laminar vs.
Turbulent Flow
Typical Fume Hood
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Hydronic System Re-Design
A Double Bundle HRC adds a second heat-recovery
condenser to collect the heat normally rejected to the
cooling tower
When a heating load exists, water flows through the
cooling condenser and is adjusted so that the chiller
rejects less heat to the cooling tower
Ideally, the HRC can produce condenser water as high as
130°F
Double-Bundle Heat Recovery Chiller
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Condensing Boilers
Reduce hot water system design temperature
Dew point for flue gases from the combustion of natural
gas is around 135°F. These gases contain carbon dioxide
and water vapor. (Carbonic Acid)
Max efficiency of non-condensing boiler = 87%
Supply temperatures as low as 130°F
Aerco’s BMK Condensing Boiler
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
TRACE 700 vs. ASHRAE RSTM Spreadsheet
Commercial Software vs. ASHRAE Spreadsheet
NW Laboratory includes high internal loads, 2 exterior
facing walls, and a 20 person occupant density
“Identical” Design Inputs
TRACE 700 vs. RSTM Load Calculation
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
BOD Simulated Results
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Re-Design Simulated Results
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
BOD Simulated Results
16,003,220 Lbs. of Pollutants
Re-Design Simulated Results
14,876,242 Lbs. of Pollutants
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Comparison
Reduction in Fan Power
“Smart Lab” Demand Control Ventilation System
Constant 4 ACH vs. 8 ACH
Reduce load on fans by 61%
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Comparison
BOD Requires 2,353,112 kWh from University Campus
CHW plant
The Re-Design only requires 604,556 kWh for the HRC
Function of amount of airflow being cooled, but also the
lack of heat recovery at the chilled water plant
Cooling tower load is 76% less than that of the BOD
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Comparison
While the efficiencies of the condensing boiler and steam
plant my rival each other, the condensing boiler operates
at a lower temperature reducing energy cost
Re-heat is completely eliminated in the re-design
Annual electrical demand on the re-design’s hot water
system is 61% less than that of the BOD’s
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Comparison
Pinnacle PVS air handling units will not utilize a pre-heat
coil or humidification system
The Pinnacle PVS AHUs would reduce the demand on
the Salk Hall Addition’s HVAC system by nearly
1,041,000 kBTU per year with regard to humidification
and frost prevention
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Design Considerations
BOD’s emergency power service was designed to
operate on a 500 kW emergency generator
University of Pittsburgh Design Standards were consulted
prior to the re-design
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Design Considerations
Power is to originate at the University of Pittsburgh
Central Utilities Plant at 4,160 Volts.
The medium-voltage feeders will terminate in two
substations in the new Salk Hall Basement
One substation will serve all 480V loads within the
building, while the other will serve all 208V loads
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Design Strategy
Locate emergency generator on grade in an isolated
room with sound attenuation
Generator will have a muffler on its exhaust
Automatic transfer switches are located on the ground
floor, separate from the generator room and main
electrical room
Separate ATS units will be provided for emergency,
standby, and optional loads
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Design Strategy
Locate emergency generator on grade in an isolated
room with sound attenuation
Generator will have a muffler on its exhaust
Automatic transfer switches are located on the ground
floor, separate from the generator room and main
electrical room
Separate ATS units will be provided for emergency,
standby, and optional loads
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Primary ATS
Secondary ATS
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Introduction
Building Program
Laboratory Design Characteristics
Existing HVAC System
Re-Designed HVAC System
Simulated Results
Emergency Power System
Design Summary
A new emergency generator will not need to be
purchased since the required power generation is on 420
kW. This is under the 500 kW capacity of the BOD’s
emergency generator.