October 2001

CHP for BuildingsIntegration Test

Centerat

University of Maryland

Cooling• chillers• desiccants

Heating• space• water

Power• microturbines and industrial turbines

• reciprocating engines• fuel cells

GUIDEBOOK

On August 8, 2001, Energy SecretarySpencer Abraham announced the FirstGeneration Packaged Cooling, Heating andPower Systems for Buildings Awards.Contracts were negotiated with seven industryteams, described below, for research, development, and testing of new packagedCHP systems for commercial and institutional buildings.

Burns and McDonnell, teaming with SolarTurbines, Inc. and Broad USA, will designand construct a CHP system for featuringpower from a Taurus 5,200-kW turbine generator, 3,000 refrigerator tons (RT) of freewaste heat-driven absorption cooling, and17,000 RT of additional supplemental gas-fired cooling.

Capstone Turbine Corporation plans todesign and test initial packaged CHP systemsfor buildings by using waste heat fromCapstone’s 30-kW and 60-kW microturbines,coupled with absorption chillers for air-conditioning. Both recuperated and un-recuperated microturbines will be evaluated.

The Gas Technology Institute will packageWaukesha engine generators with Traneabsorption chillers. The team will develop amodular range of sizes to match a variety ofbuilding types and markets.

Honeywell Laboratories plans to developand field test a large CHP packaged systemfor buildings. A 2- to 5-MW turbine generatorwill be combined with a 500- to 2,000-RTabsorption chiller, and a prototype will be builtand tested at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Ingersoll Rand is going to combine a new70-kW microturbine with an ammonia-waterabsorption refrigeration system. The absorption system will be used for cooling theturbine’s inlet air, producing refrigeration forbuilding space conditioning, and refrigerator-freezer applications.

NiSource Energy Technologies will workwith the developer of a Hilton Hotel to demonstrate a modular packaged CHPsystem for buildings. The system will consistof three microturbines, heat recovery heatexchangers, an absorption chiller, a desiccantunit, and an integrated control system. Theresulting product is targeted at hotel/motelchains with the goal of becoming the customers’ standardized model.

United Technologies Research Center isdeveloping an accelerated CHP system forbuildings based on the new 400-kW DTEEnergy Technologies mini-turbine and ahigh-efficiency aero-derivative, gas turbineengine from Pratt & Whitney, coupled toCarrier absorption chillers. The team will also evaluate the use of waste heat to driveammonia water refrigeration, desiccant, andthermal storage systems.

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DOE AWARDS ENCOURAGE INTEGRATED CHP SYSTEMS

ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS ENERGY EFFICIENCY BREAKTHROUGHPresident Bush's 2001 National Energy Policyrecognizes that new technologies likeCooling, Heating, and Power (CHP) are animportant part of tomorrow’s portfolio of energy solutions. Industry has partnered withthe U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) toform a national strategy for implementingCHP technologies in commercial buildings,known as the BCHP Initiative Roadmap, andEnergy Secretary Spencer Abraham hasannounced DOE’s goal of making CHPtechnology the preferred system for commercial buildings by 2020.

Current CHP systems are all field erected.This is fine for large systems, but is far toocostly and complex for systems providing lessthan 1,000 kW. Therefore, Industry and DOE,in partnership, have concluded that integratedCHP systems need to be developed.

Ronald Fiskum, a Program Manager forDOE’s Office of Distributed EnergyResources, says, "In the near future, CHP forbuildings systems will be engineered in thefactory instead of in the field. The test bedlocated at the University of Maryland will yielda series of packaged CHP systems where youdeliver a system, make electrical, hot water,and chilled water connections, and push thestart button."

Packaged or modular CHP systems and universal connection standards would greatly

simplify installation and maintenance—encouraging acceptance of the technology bythe architectural and engineering community.DOE is investing in integration research anddevelopment to provide industry with essentialsystems and building knowledge, allowing fordevelopment of the next generation ofintegrated systems.

“New technologies are proving that we can save energy without sacrificingour standard of living. And we're going to encourage it in every way possible.”

Richard B. Cheney, Vice-President of the United StatesStatement made at the release of the National Energy Policy, May 17, 2001

Controls and communications hardware andsoftware programs enable CHP equipment towork in concert, facilitating integration of theindividual components. The equipment roomin the University of Maryland’s ChesapeakeBuilding was converted into the CHP Controlsand Communications Center for the TestCenter. Monitoring and controls tools such asthe Pacific Northwest National Lab’s WholeBuilding Diagnostician and several manufacturers’ advanced building control software programs are housed at this Center,including software developed by theUniversity of Maryland.

The Whole Building Diagnostician is a software program that tracks a building’senergy use, monitors the performance of air-handling units, and detects problems with outside air control. The program can identifyand immediately diagnose common problemsin the HVAC system and equipment.

A web-based monitoring and control systemhas been employed to provide building -leveldata to system integration researchers andthe general public.

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CONTROLS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Screen display of a building information system developed by the University of Maryland

INTEGRATION TEST CENTER

The CHP for Buildings Integration Test Centerat the University of Maryland was designed tocreate a new understanding of how to integrate equipment into CHPsystems and integrate CHP systems into buildings.

Sponsors of the TestCenter include theU.S. DOE, manufacturers, andutilities. Program management is provided by Oak RidgeNational Laboratory(ORNL). The TestCenter is examiningenergy efficiency fromthe Second Law of Thermodynamics perspective—securingthe highest level ofenergy performanceout of each BTUof fuel.

The University of Maryland’s ChesapeakeBuilding was chosen for the Test Center

because the 52,700-square-foot building isrepresentative ofmedium-sized commercial buildings,representing 23 per-cent of all buildings in the U.S.

Students and researchprofessionals workingon Test Center projects will sharetheir findings withindustry, government,educators, and the engineering comm-unity. Lessons learnedwill provide manufacturers withthe knowledge to buildthe next generation of packaged CHPsystems for commercial buildings.

"The Integration Test Center willshow that distributed generation equipment—properly integratedwith heating, cooling and/or humidity control equipment—can be successfully packaged and coupledwith an office building. We expect toshow that future generations of CHPintegrated systems will provide reliable and economically viableservices to the customers who usethem."

Patti Garland, Technical Project Manager, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

University of Maryland’s Chesapeake Building

The CHP Controls andCommunications Center debuted at the Fuel CellsSummit V: CoordinatingCodes, Standards andRegulatory Activities forBuildings and TransportationApplications Affecting FuelCells on May 30, 2001. Fuelcells are one example of asuite of clean energy technologies that fall into thecategory of distributed energyresources under considerationfor Cooling, Heating, andPower for building applications.

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CHP FOR BUILDINGS: SUPERIOR ENERGYEFFICIENCY, RELIABILITY, AND AIR QUALITYApproximately 67 percent of energy containedin fossil fuels for conventional power generation is rejected as waste heat into theenvironment. Advanced CHP systems usewaste heat from distributed generation to cooland heat buildings, increasing system efficiency to 70 percent or greater.

On-site power generation technologies—microturbines, turbines, reciprocating engines,and fuel cells—are becoming effective waysto generate electricity. Recovered waste heatfrom these technologies can be used topower thermally activated technologies, control humidity with desiccant dehumidifiers,and heat buildings with steam or hot water.

Benefits of CHP include:

• Increased reliability of a building’s power supply. When coupled with uninterruptible power supply systems, CHPcan provide highly reliable power for mission-critical facilities—a substantial advantage in today’s volatile electricity market.

• Delayed or eliminated need for construction of new power facilities. Especially for hard-to-site transmission line and expensive distribution upgrades.

• Reduced CO2 emissions. According to DOE, CHP systems could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 million metric tons of carbon if goals to double U.S. installed capacity by 2010 were met. CHP will also reduce emissions at the regional level.

• Improved indoor air quality (IAQ). In combination with a desiccant dehumidifier, CHP systems can provide better humidity control than conventional systems and reduce the potential for mold and bacteria growth.

• Reduced reliance on imported resourcesA poster at the Controls and Communications Center

explains that the integration of CHP systems represents apotential breakthrough in energy efficiency.

providing air conditioning for Cooling Zone Two. The dehumidifier dries the supply air for thebuilding, a function normally done by the RTU and absorption chiller, reducing the need forgrid-based electrical power. Together, these interactive components efficiently supply air conditioning for Cooling Zone Two and supplement the power requirement for the entire building.

INSTALLATION: ROOFTOP

The 4-story Chesapeake Building’s originaldesign included a variable air volume (VAV)system served by two 90-ton direct expansion(DX) electric rooftop units (RTUs). Each RTUserves one of two Cooling Zones, each consisting of two floors. This design gives TestCenter personnel the opportunity to test twodifferent CHP systems at once, as new CHPcomponents are integrated into the original system.

Installation of new CHP equipment began inearly 2001.

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Outside Air

Setting the engine-driven heat pump condensing unit in place

Setting the liquid desiccant dehumidifier into place

The new evaporator coilarrives by crane

Rooftop air conditioner

Desiccant dehumidifier

D

C

C

D

A 75-kW microturbine, 22-refrigerator ton (RT) absorption chiller, and a solid desiccant dehumidifier provide electric power for the building and cool and dry air in Cooling Zone Two.Waste heat from the microturbine exhaust powers the absorption chiller and the flue gasfrom the chiller powers the desiccant dehumidifier. The absorption chiller assists the RTU in

Chilled Water to Cooling Coil

INSTALLATION: GROUND LEVEL

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Setting the cooling tower in place forthe absorption chiller

75-kW microturbine runson natural gas, creating

energy and heat

Positioning the single-effectexhaust gas-fired absorption chiller

Cooling Zone Two CHP system nears completion

TESTING: COOLING ZONE TWO

Chilled water piping(white) to and from theabsorber to Zone Two

RTU, and exhaust duct(silver) from theabsorber flue to

regenerate the solid desiccant unit

Microturbine and CHP system

B

B

AA

Two natural gas-powered engine-driven air conditioners (EDAC), along with engine jacketwater and exhaust, power a liquid desiccant dehumidifier to cool and dry the air in CoolingZone One. Using natural gas to power the EDAC cuts the need for grid-based electrical power.

The dehumidifier supplements the cooling load on the EDAC and RTU by drying supply air, afunction typically done by the mechanical cooling of the EDAC and RTU alone. Together, theseinteractive components cool Zone One, reducing both pollution and energy use.

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A

Engine-driven compressors and refrigerant condensersRooftop air conditionerLiquid desiccant dehumidifier

TESTING: COOLING ZONE ONE

B C

Liquid Refrigerantto Evaporator Coil

Hot Engine Water

Warm Water Returning to Cool Engine

BA C

ExhaustFan

"The Integration Test Center and the University of Maryland is seeking to provide essential real world answers to CHP integration issues. In the short time of the Center’s existence, we have learned important technical lessons that are being transferred to industry to develop new equipment and integration solutions."

Phil Fairchild, Program Manager for Cooling, Heating, and Power for Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The CHP Integration Test Center is co-sponsored by DOE’s Office of Power Technologies,Office of Distributed Energy Resources, and the CHP for Buildings Program, as well as theUniversity of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Energy Engineering. The BrookhavenNational Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are technical support partners. We would also liketo thank industry representatives participating in the Test Center, including ATS, BaltimoreAircoil, Broad, Capron, Daikin, EPRI, Honeywell, Goettl, Kathabar, Pepco, RMF, Tridium, Trion,and Washington Gas.

2001CHP for Buildings Integration Test Center

"Our Nation has been good at improving the energy efficiency of individualpieces of energy technology. American manufacturers are very good at developing air conditioners, boilers, and power generation as stand alonepieces of equipment that perform very well. However, we have not consideredthat ‘in the real world’ these individual contributors do not function efficientlywith one another. What CHP is about is integrating technologies like on-sitepower generation, heat recovery, and thermally activated technologies toachieve synergistic efficiency gains not possible from individual contributors."

Ronald Fiskum, Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Distributed Energy Resources

"Roughly 67 percent of the energy contained in the fuel for electrical generation is rejected as waste heat into the environment. This waste heat isavailable at recoverable temperatures and can be utilized for air conditioning,heating, humidity control and other usable forms of energy. By doing so, average energy efficiency can increase from 33 percent or less, typical for aconventional system, to as high as 70 percent for a cooling, heating, and power(CHP) system, although the efficiency of electricity generation is reduced."

Reinhard Radermacher, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Centerfor Environmental Energy Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park

From left to right: Patti Garland, Technical Project Manager, ORNL; PredragPopovic, Project Manager; Aris Marantan, student; Matthew Cowie, student;Werner Wongsosoputro, student; Eric Griff, student; and Ronald Fiskum, a

Program Manager for DOE’s Office of Distributed Energy Resources.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS