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Air-handling energy efficiency and design practices

Nilsson, Lars J LU (1995) In Energy and Buildings 22(1). p.1-13
Abstract
With good design practices and life-cycle cost optimization, the specific fan power for individual (SFPI) fans will be between 0.5 and 1 kW m−3−1. Data from nearly 1000 audited fans in Sweden show that the average measured SFPI weighted by drawn motor power is 1.5 kW m−3 s−1 and the situation appears to be similar in other countries. Contract forms used by Swedish builders and consultants' design practices are analyzed here to search for an explanation of the low performance of installed systems. Identified as two major barriers to efficient system design are the lack of performance specifications when procuring systems and the incentive structure in the building sector. As a consequence, duct design methods, rules of thumb, and vendor... (More)
With good design practices and life-cycle cost optimization, the specific fan power for individual (SFPI) fans will be between 0.5 and 1 kW m−3−1. Data from nearly 1000 audited fans in Sweden show that the average measured SFPI weighted by drawn motor power is 1.5 kW m−3 s−1 and the situation appears to be similar in other countries. Contract forms used by Swedish builders and consultants' design practices are analyzed here to search for an explanation of the low performance of installed systems. Identified as two major barriers to efficient system design are the lack of performance specifications when procuring systems and the incentive structure in the building sector. As a consequence, duct design methods, rules of thumb, and vendor recommendations do not lead to system optimization. The broad minima in life-cycle costs over a range of air-handling unit sizes show that potential economic welfare losses from efficiency standards are likely to be smaller than the losses that result from today's design practices. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Air-handling systems, Energy efficiency, Design practices, Fan systems
in
Energy and Buildings
volume
22
issue
1
pages
1 - 13
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:0029277022
ISSN
1872-6178
DOI
10.1016/0378-7788(94)00882-K
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8915eaea-b67b-4899-8e8d-6da8319824d7 (old id 4465370)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:57:06
date last changed
2021-06-06 03:50:48
@article{8915eaea-b67b-4899-8e8d-6da8319824d7,
  abstract     = {{With good design practices and life-cycle cost optimization, the specific fan power for individual (SFPI) fans will be between 0.5 and 1 kW m−3−1. Data from nearly 1000 audited fans in Sweden show that the average measured SFPI weighted by drawn motor power is 1.5 kW m−3 s−1 and the situation appears to be similar in other countries. Contract forms used by Swedish builders and consultants' design practices are analyzed here to search for an explanation of the low performance of installed systems. Identified as two major barriers to efficient system design are the lack of performance specifications when procuring systems and the incentive structure in the building sector. As a consequence, duct design methods, rules of thumb, and vendor recommendations do not lead to system optimization. The broad minima in life-cycle costs over a range of air-handling unit sizes show that potential economic welfare losses from efficiency standards are likely to be smaller than the losses that result from today's design practices.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Lars J}},
  issn         = {{1872-6178}},
  keywords     = {{Air-handling systems; Energy efficiency; Design practices; Fan systems}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--13}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy and Buildings}},
  title        = {{Air-handling energy efficiency and design practices}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-7788(94)00882-K}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/0378-7788(94)00882-K}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{1995}},
}