The University of Vermont
Physical Plant Department
Engineering Intern Program
Contributors
 Salvatore Chiarelli, Director of Physical Plant
 Richard Wolbach, Energy & Utilities Engineer
 Travis Rohlin, Controls & Automation Engineer and
UVM Student, Graduate / Electrical Engineering
 Evan Malina, UVM Student / Mechanical Engineering
 Josh Hogan, UVM Student / Civil Engineering
 Nick Chiarelli, UVM Student / Mechanical Engineering
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
NEW
OLD
Dudley H. Davis Student Center -- 2007
Grassmount -- 1804
The University of Vermont has an
extremely diversified group of
campus buildings and associated
mechanical / electrical systems.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Joshua Hogan – (Civil Engineering)
• Restoration Analysis Projects:
• Williams Hall -- Thermal Imagery
• Increasing Heating Efficiency
• Johnson House -- Joist Analysis
• Structural Integrity of Historic
Buildings
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Thermal Imagery
• Replaced original windows and
framing
• Photographed exterior west
windows
• Compared with images of
original windows
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Thermal Imagery
BEFORE
• Photograph windows from
interior, as well.
AFTER
• Heat transfer is visible around
window frame.
• Specific sections of window
framing cause drafts.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Thermal Imagery
• Restoration was a UVM project
necessity.
• Difficult to measure savings in
our older buildings.
• Reduced need for personal
heaters and A/C units in offices.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Joist Analysis
• Constructed in 1806
• Structure moved twice -- in
1907 and again in 2005.
• Building has seen three (3)
foundations in approximately
100 years.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Joist Analysis
• Stress on both beam and joist
members caused “deflection.”
• Damaged drywall in 1st story.
• Beams are over 200 years old!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Joist Analysis
• Analyze individual beam and joist
members
• Understand optimal support
placement
• Prevent further deflection in main
support members
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Travis Rohlin – (Electrical Engineering)
• Four (4) Major Projects:
• Renovation Control Design
• Utility Sub-Metering Project
• Campus Wide Global Scheduling
• BMS “Point Descriptor” Upgrades
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Renovation Design
• Given Medical Bldg. -- Lab Renovation Project:
• Needed new controls for lab, fume hood and office
space.
• Designed controls system for the laboratory.
• Purchased and installed all equipment in space.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Renovation Design
• Project Responsibilities:
• Drafted Overall Design
• Assisted with Installation and Testing
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Return on Investment
• Gained valuable experience for the next
renovation project.
• Worked on other UVM campus lab renovations.
• Was given increased responsibility on each new
renovation project.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Utility Metering
• Utility Metering Project:
• Davis Center
• Utilities charged by square
footage -- not usage.
• Lots of sub-users, very different
consumption types.
• Use existing BMS sensors to
monitor control points in field.
• Water, heating, cooling
(chilled water) & natural gas.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Utility Metering
• Located system control points with each individual
user’s utilities
• Logged system
control points to
capture the data
• Exported data
using a ODBC type
Driver
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Utility Metering
• Imported logged data into
Microsoft Access.
• Microsoft Access chosen for ease
of reports.
• Finally, a tutorial was created to
aid the UVM PPD business group in
creating utility reports for annual
or semi-annual type reporting.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Return on Investment
• The project cost was labor intensive.
• Customers were billed on actual
usage.
• This project resulted in;
• time saved for customer billing,
• better UVM customer relations,
• less potential turnover,
• and free advertising / marketing!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Global Scheduling
Effort to conserve energy at UVM:
• HVAC units use a lot of energy
 Set-back unoccupied areas
 Changed BMS unit set points
• Automated the overall process
Changed the set point daily or
for special cases (e.g., holidays)
Note: BMS = “Building Management System”
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Global Scheduling
• Used controls systems to automate control process
• Honeywell system
• Combined units within similar “global” schedules
• Determined when areas
or spaces are unoccupied
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Return on Investment
• The project was primarily labor based
• Learned “scheduling” feature
• Organized BMS schedules
• Fine-tuned point management
• UVM Savings
• On-going savings
• Estimated at $77,662 a year!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Nick Chiarelli – (Mechanical Engineering)
UVM Central Heating Plant Projects:
 Boiler Blowdown Recovery System
 Insulation or Thermal Blankets
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
What is blowdown?
• Boilers generate unwanted dissolved solids from
normal operation.
• These solids build up on the water surface. When
this level gets too high, a “blowdown” is necessary to
clean the water.
• The top three (3) inches of water are sprayed off to
get rid of most of the solids.
• Without this, normal boiler operation would be
highly inefficient.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Two (2) Blowdown Types
Surface Blowdown: The
constant flowing blowdown
which removes dissolved
solids from the steam drum.
Bottom Blowdown:
Performed a few times a
week manually to remove
unwanted solids from the
mud drum.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Where does it go …?
• A blowdown tank holds all of the
water and dumps it out the drain
at very high temperatures.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Problems?
• A lot of energy is being thrown
down the drain in this process.
• When the 370°F water hits the
blowdown tank, only 15.8% is
flashed to steam and actually
used in the “heating system.”
• The other 84.2% of this hot,
energy filled water is
disposed of down the drain.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Solution?
• Create a heat exchange system to capture the lost
heat and put it back to use in order make the whole
heating system process more efficient for UVM.
• Pre-heat the incoming City makeup water which is
around 45 °F to 65 °F; when it enters the UVM Heat
Plant system.
• Cool down the dirty blowdown water to make for a
more “environmentally friendly” disposal and to use
less or no City makeup water, in the overall process.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Condensate
60,785 lb/hr
7,313 gal/hr
Deaerator
Condensate Tank
15 psig
245° F
15.8%
Flashed
Steam
Blowdown
Tank
140°F-160°F
City Makeup
Water
Atmospheric pressure
140°F
Steam
15 psig
473 lb/hr
Return
5,331 lb/hr
656 gal/hr
45°F-65°F
Feedwater
66,589 lb/hr
8,011 gal/hr
245°F
Blowdown
Line
200°F-300°F
2,993 lb/hr
Wasted hot 360 gal/hr
water quenched 300°F
to 120°F using
city water
2,520 lb/hr
303 gal/hr
429,473 BTU/hr = $3.41/hr = $29,834/yr
Steam to Campus
63,596 lb/hr
215 psig
Condensate
60,785 lb/hr
7,313 gal/hr
15 psig
245° F
Atmospheric pressure
160°F-180°F
Steam
15 psig
473 lb/hr
Blowdown
Tank
200°F-300°F
**Increase Temp By 80°F-100°F
Feedwater
66,589 lb/hr 8,011 gal/hr
245°F
Blowdown
Line
2,993 lb/hr
360 gal/hr
300°F
Heat Exchanger
Colder
Waste
Water w/o
Quenching
140°F-160°F
Condensate Tank
Deaerator
15.8%
Flashed
Steam
Return
Steam Out
Cold City
5,331 lb/hr
Makeup water 656 gal/hr
45°F-65°F
63,596 lb/hr
215 psig
Heated City
Makeup
Water
5,331 lb/hr
656 gal/hr
125°F-165°F
Final Project Outcome
• A unit was found which fit our situation perfectly
made by Penn Separator tm.
• The Penn Separator tm “Flash Economizer” is a
blowdown tank with a built in stainless steel heat
exchanger.
• With a cost of $12,510 and an estimated savings of
$41,417 in both natural gas and water, the simple
payback period for this project is under 4 months!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Insulation Blankets – Insultech tm
• Insulation on pipes is necessary to hold in the heat of
the steam or hot water.
• Straight pipes have a fiberglass based insulation which
is not easy to take on and off by UVM staff.
• For places where there is a need to get your hands and
work, Insultech tm makes removable (with Velcro
straps) thermal type blankets to help save energy in
these places that would otherwise be bare metal.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Before
After
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
What we have so far …
• Shannon Enterprises conveyed an energy audit or
survey proposal for UVM, last year.
• Shannon Enterprise team went to every mechanical
room on campus to custom fit each and every valve.
• The decision was made to buy the blankets for the
forty-four (44) pressure reducing valves on campus (not
including the Central Heat & Chilled Water Plant).
• Covering these forty-four (44) valves has saved UVM an
estimated $12,000 in fuel savings, so far in a fiscal year.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
What we could be saving …
 Insultech’s report also included the remaining 341
valves on campus -- not including the Central Heat &
Chilled Water Plant.
 Heat is being lost, every single second, out of these
non-insulated valves. UVM could be saving energy
and decreasing our fuel bill by $173 per hour or about
$63,000 per year!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Still more potential …
• Thermal blankets are available for facility applications
other than simply pipes and/or valves.
• The steam and mud drum doors reach over 400 degrees
F and would be a great place to save even more energy!
• These insulators are a great investment, especially with
such a quick payback.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Evan Malina – (Mechanical Engineering)
• Energy Savings Projects:
• Bailey-Howe Library Lighting Projects
• Daylight Sensors
• Super T-8 Fluorescent Stack Lighting
• Gucciardi Fitness Center Window Film
Application (3M tm)
• Campus “Revolving Door” Analyses
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Library Lighting
• Installed Daylight Sensors (circled
in picture, at left)
• Replaced 59 Watt and 32 Watt
bulbs with 51 Watt and 28 Watt
Super T-8 fluorescent lamps,
respectively.
Note: UVM’s Bailey-Howe library is “major electrical user.” It is
always open, and the lights are always on for both student use,
as well as campus security measures.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Daylight Sensors
• Installed Daylight Sensors (circled in
picture, at left)
• Daylight sensors turn off Library
interior, perimeter lights when the
sensors read at least 5.0 footcandles
• Sensors blend well with the ceiling tiles
• Savings per hour;
• 5.76 kW
• $0.75 (assume $0.14 per kWh)
• 10 hrs. / day, 365 days / yr. saved
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Daylight Sensors
• Sensor installation project was about
$16,000 (labor and materials)
• Expected Utility Rebate of $2,000
from Burlington Electric Department
• Savings of around $2,600 per year
• Simple Payback for UVM: 5.4 years
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Stack Lighting Replacement
•
•
•
•
New Philips Brand Bulbs – Super T-8
8 ft. (51 Watt) and 4 ft. (28 Watt)
Replaced old 59 W and 32 W types
Bailey-Howe Library has 350, 8 ft.
and 85, 4 ft. fluorescent type lamps
• High use location – 14 hrs. / day, 365
days / yr. (primarily “lighting load”)
• Estimated UVM savings of 3.34 kW
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Fitness Center Window Film
• 2,600 sq. ft. of exterior glass
• 3M tm Night Vision 25 series film
• Film eliminates 66% of solar heat
transferred
• Film is under warranty for 12 years!
• Project under review and serious
consideration by UVM Physical Plant
for implementation. Local utility
reviewing analysis of existing glass.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Fitness Center Window Film
• 1,500 sq. ft. of glass facing due
South
• 400 sq. ft. of glass facing East &
West exposure
• ~ 80 BTU/hr/sq. ft. (South, East and West)
• 300 sq. ft. of glass facing due North
• ~ 40 BTU/hr/sq. ft. (North)
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Fitness Center Window Film
• 1.0 kWh = 3,400 BTU
• Equals 58.7 kWh energy transferred
from the sun
• 85,702 kWh enters facility over a year
• 66% saved = 56,563 kWh saved
• That is $8,000/yr. in savings for UVM!
• 2.5 year (simple payback)
• Installation & Materials = $7.00/sq. ft.
• Assume $0.14 kWh, 8.0 hours of good
sunlight for approximately 6 months.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Fitness Center Window Film
•
•
•
•
•
Savings = $8,000 / year
Cost = $18,000 @ $7.00 / sq. ft.
Proposed utility rebate of $2,000
Simple Payback = 2.0 years
Assumes $0.14 kWh, 8.0 hours of
sunlight for approximately six (6)
months.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Revolving Doors
• Revolving Doors can potentially
save;
• Energy,
• Space, as well as
• Time
• Increases architectural appeal of a
building, too!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Revolving Doors
• Saving Energy ($):
• Never Open / Air Gap
• Minimizes transfer of air
• MIT School In depth Study
• 8x more air is
transferred through a
standard type door
• $7,500 saved (150,000 sq.
ft. “research building” with two
newly installed revolving doors)
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Revolving Doors
• Save Space
• Vestibules are required in 3,000 +
sq. ft. building
• But not with Revolving Doors
• Save 100 sq. ft., quite easily
• 100 sq. ft. less to heat & cool,
and thus save money over time!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Revolving Doors
• Save Time
• “There is no possibility for
collision, yet persons can pass
both in-and-out at the same
time” – T. Van Kannel (1888)
• Save time by allowing continuous
traffic flow, in both directions, in
traffic space. This can be done
very safely, too.
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009
Questions …?
Thank you very much for your time
and we hope that you have enjoyed
this presentation. Have a good day!
UVM PPD – Engineering Interns 10•5•2009