scholarly journals Healthy Climate and Energy Savings: Using Thermal Ceramic Panels and Solar Thermal Panels in Mediterranean Housing Blocks

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Echarri-Iribarren ◽  
Carlos Rizo-Maestre ◽  
Fernando Echarri-Iribarren

Radiant surface conditioning systems based on capillary tube mats not only provide high standards of comfort, but they also generate substantial energy savings. These systems allow for using renewable energies such as solar thermal panels because they function with water at moderate temperatures—lower in winter and higher in summer—compared to fan-coil systems or hot water radiator systems. Moreover, in summer, they can be combined with solar cooling systems based on lithium chloride or absorption systems based on lithium bromide, which enable the cooling of water at 15–16 °C by means of solar thermal panel energy collection. This further reduces the annual energy. The purpose of this study was to examine the application of thermal ceramic panels (TCP) containing prolipropylen (PPR) capillary tube mats, in residential buildings in the Spanish Mediterranean. The water distribution system was set up individually from a heat pump and was combined with a community system of solar thermal panels. After monitoring a home over a complete one-year cycle, the annual energy demand was quantified through simulations, based on both the radiant system and the VRV system, as well as in combination with a thermal solar panel system. TCP panels reduced the annual energy demands by 31.48%, and the additional investment cost of €11,497 could be amortized over 23.31 years. The combination of TCP panels with 18.5 m2 of solar thermal panels reduced the annual energy demand by 69.47%, and the investment of €20,534 of additional cost could be amortized over 15.67 years. The energy consumptions of installation elements were also comparatively quantified.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Echarri-Iribarren ◽  
Carlos Rizo-Maestre ◽  
José Luis Sanjuan-Palermo

Radiant floor air conditioning systems based on capillary tube mats, in addition to offering high comfort standards, generate significant energy savings. They allow the use of renewable energies such as thermal solar panels and combine them with solar cooling systems based on lithium chloride or absorption systems with lithium bromide in summer, cooling water down to 15–16 °C through solar thermal panel energy collection. Thus, in addition to energy savings from the transport of low water flows, annual energy demand is also reduced. This research analyses the application of thermal ceramic panels (TCP)—containing polypropylene (PPR) tube capillary mats—to public buildings in the Spanish Mediterranean. A case study of the Museum of the University of Alicante (MUA) is presented. Water was distributed individually from a split system heat pump inside the building combined with a thermal solar panel system on the roof. The MUA’s annual energy demand was quantified using thermal simulation tools and was monitored during the entire one-year cycle. Simulations were conducted both for the radiant floor system and an all-air conventional convective system, as well as with solar thermal panel applications. The reduction in annual energy demand was 24.91% when TCP panels are used on the floor. This is a considerable value, but lower than others results obtained in Central Europe due to the higher values of humidity. When solar thermal panels are installed on the rooftop the energy savings can increase to 60.70%.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Cimorelli ◽  
Carmine Covelli ◽  
Bruno Molino ◽  
Domenico Pianese

Greenhouse gas emission is one of the main environmental issues of today, and energy savings in all industries contribute to reducing energy demand, implying, in turn, less carbon emissions into the atmosphere. In this framework, water pumping systems are one of the most energy-consuming activities. The optimal regulation of pumping systems with the use of variable speed drives is gaining the attention of designers and managing authorities. However, optimal management and operation of pumping systems is often performed, employing variable speed drives without considering if the energy savings are enough to justify their purchasing and installation costs. In this paper, the authors compare two optimal pump scheduling techniques, optimal regulation of constant speed pumps by an optimal ON/OFF sequence and optimal regulation with a variable speed pump. Much of the attention is devoted to the analysis of the costs involved in a hypothetical managing authority for the water distribution system in order to determine whether the savings in operating costs is enough to justify the employment of variable speed drives.


Author(s):  
Robert Hendron ◽  
Jay Burch ◽  
Marc Hoeschele ◽  
Leo Rainer

Hot water distribution systems have received a great deal of attention recently, as residential energy efficiency programs target measures that can drive whole-house energy savings beyond the 50% level. Unfortunately, evaluating distribution losses and the resulting thermal interactions with space conditioning loads is very complicated, and must be performed using advanced simulation tools and realistic hot water event schedules, including appropriate event volumes, draw sequencing, and time between draw events. The authors developed a simplified methodology for the analysis of distribution losses based on detailed modeling of alternative system designs using HWSIM, a model specifically designed for this application. Curve fits were then applied to the results so they could be extrapolated to many different house designs and climate regions. The authors also performed preliminary analysis of whole house energy effects of alternate hot water distribution systems in two climates.


Author(s):  
Bairi Levi Rakshith ◽  
Dr. Shesha Giri Rao

The consumption of electrical and thermal energies by appliances in the residential building sector is growing fast and lots of methods are being followed to beat the energy demand in this sector. Among the various approaches, performance enhancement of refrigeration systems has been recognized as one of the important areas for investigation. Due to the increase in the use of small-scale applications and their effect on global energy requirements, specific research has to be focused on small-scale systems with water-cooled condensers to reduce energy usage in residential buildings. In this study, the evaporative condenser of a refrigeration system was connected to the prevailing water distribution with a submerged motor. The proposed system was analysed for energy savings, performance enhancement, and environmental benefits.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ferrández ◽  
Carlos Moron ◽  
Jorge Pablo Díaz ◽  
Pablo Saiz

ResumenEl actual Código Técnico de la Edificación (CTE) pone de manifiesto la necesidad de cubrir parte de la demanda energética requerida para el abastecimiento de agua caliente sanitaria y climatización de piscinas cubiertas mediante sistemas de aprovechamiento de la energía solar térmica. En este artículo se presenta una comparativa entre las dos principales tipologías de captadores solares térmicos que existen en el mercado: el captador de placa plana y el captador de tubo de vacío, atendiendo a criterios de fracción solar, diseño e integración arquitectónica. Todo ello a fin de discernir en qué circunstancias es más favorable el uso de uno u otro sistema, comparando los resultados obtenidos mediante programas de simulación con la toma de medidas in situ.AbstractThe current Technical Building Code (CTE) highlights the need to cover part of the energy demand required for the supply of hot water and heating of indoor swimming pools using solar thermal systems. This article presents a comparison between the two main types of solar thermal collectors that exist in the market: the flat plate solar collector and the vacuum tube solar collector, according to criteria of solar fraction, design and architectural integration. All of this in order to discern in what circumstances the use of one or the other system is more favourable, comparing the results obtained through simulation programs with the taking of measurements in situ.


1987 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 357-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Vickers ◽  
Victor L. Yu ◽  
S. Sue Hanna ◽  
Paul Muraca ◽  
Warren Diven ◽  
...  

AbstractWe conducted a prospective environmental study for Legionella pneumophila in 15 hospitals in Pennsylvania. Hot water tanks, cold water sites, faucets, and show-erheads were surveyed four times over a one-year period. Sixty percent (9/15) of hospitals surveyed were contaminated with L pneumophila. Although contamination could not be linked to a specific municipal water supplier, most of the contaminated supplies came from rivers. Parameters found to be significantly associated with contamination included elevated hot water temperature, vertical configuration of the hot water tank, older tanks, and elevated calcium and magnesium concentrations of the water (P < 0.05). This study suggests that L pneumophila contamination could be predicted based on design of the distribution system, as well as physicochemical characteristics of the water.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 6026
Author(s):  
Sergio Gómez Melgar ◽  
Antonio Sánchez Cordero ◽  
Marta Videras Rodríguez ◽  
José Manuel Andújar Márquez

The construction sector is a great contributor to global warming both in new and existing buildings. Minimum energy buildings (MEBs) demand as little energy as possible, with an optimized architectural design, which includes passive solutions. In addition, these buildings consume as low energy as possible introducing efficient facilities. Finally, they produce renewable energy on-site to become zero energy buildings (ZEBs) or even plus zero energy buildings (+ZEB). In this paper, a deep analysis of the energy use and renewable energy production of a social dwelling was carried out based on data measurements. Unfortunately, in residential buildings, most renewable energy production occurs at a different time than energy demand. Furthermore, energy storage batteries for these facilities are expensive and require significant maintenance. The present research proposes a strategy, which involves rescheduling energy demand by changing the habits of the occupants in terms of domestic hot water (DHW) consumption, cooking, and washing. Rescheduling these three electric circuits increases the usability of the renewable energy produced on-site, reducing the misused energy from 52.84% to 25.14%, as well as decreasing electricity costs by 58.46%.


Author(s):  
Michele Totaro ◽  
Anna Laura Costa ◽  
Lorenzo Frendo ◽  
Sara Profeti ◽  
Beatrice Casini ◽  
...  

Despite an increase of literature data on Legionella spp. presence in private water systems, epidemiological reports assert a continuing high incidence of Legionnaires’ disease infection in Italy. In this study, we report a survey on Legionella spp. colonization in 58 buildings with solar thermal systems for hot water production (TB). In all buildings, Legionella spp. presence was enumerated in hot and cold water samples. Microbiological potability standards of cold water were also evaluated. Legionella spp. was detected in 40% of the buildings. Moreover, we detected correlations between the count of Legionella spp. and the presence of the optimal temperature for the microorganism growth (less than 40 °C). Our results showed that cold water was free from microbiological hazards, but Legionella spp., was detected when the mean cold water temperature was 19.1 ± 2.2 °C. This may considered close to the suboptimal value for the Legionella growth (more then 20 °C). In conclusion, we observed the presence of a Legionnaires’ disease risk and the need of some strategies aimed to reduce it, such as the application of training programs for all the workers involved in water systems maintenance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Ragain ◽  
Sheldon Masters ◽  
Timothy A. Bartrand ◽  
Jennifer L. Clancy ◽  
Andrew J. Whelton

Abstract Drinking water distribution system contamination incidents can prompt public agencies and drinking water utilities to issue do-not-drink and do-not-use advisories. After the contaminant is cleared from distribution mains, consumers are often directed to flush their plumbing. However, little validated guidance and few evaluated communications strategies are available on using flushing to decontaminate building water systems. Additionally, limited data support the effectiveness of current practices and recommendations. In this study, expert elicitation was used to assess existing flushing guidance and develop validated flushing guidance and communications for single-family residences. The resulting guidance recommends progressively opening all cold-water taps from the closest to point of entry to the furthest and allowing the water to run for at least 20 minutes. Hot-water taps should be opened progressively and run for at least 75 minutes. The guidance language and format conformed to grade-level and readability scores within recommended health communication ranges. The readability of eight other flushing guidance documents was also evaluated for contamination incidents from 2008–2015. Seven were written at a 10th–12th grade level, above the 6th–7th grade level recommended for health communications.


2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Baskin ◽  
William G Craddick ◽  
Roberto Lenarduzzi ◽  
Robert L Wendt ◽  
Professor Keith A. Woodbury

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