[Trace-users] Load Calcs vs Energy Model for LEED

Scott Parker sparker at aeieng.com
Tue Oct 7 09:18:37 PDT 2014


I agree that the proposed system model should have the same capacity as the actual equipment.  However, the challenge is that when you fix the leaving air temperature of the air handler (which matches typical design) then Trace does not allow any method for fixing the air handler CFM capacity.

For example, below I have just listed some numbers for reference to illustrate the point:

Sum of Peaks = 19,458 CFM
Block load = 18,902 CFM (actual maximum hourly airflow in Trace will typically be even less than this value)
AHU size = 20,000 CFM (scheduled on plans)

AHU size in trace = block load (18,902 CFM) – no way to force it to be 20,000 CFM.

Therefore, when the air handler (in Trace) is at 18,902 CFM it is at peak fan power (i.e. top of fan curve).  However, it actually is already part way down the true fan curve since the unit is scheduled for 20,000 CFM.  If you use the theoretical fan laws, then the fan power at 18,902 CFM is 84% of the scheduled break horsepower - (18,902/20,000)^3 = 0.84  -- even though the fan is operating at 94.5% of peak fan power.

If anyone has a work around for this I would like to hear it.  For me I have had to manually change the kW/CFM value to match the actual scheduled fan at the block airflow calculated in Trace.

Scott Parker  PE
LEED AP BD+C
Mechanical



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From: Trace-users [mailto:trace-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Steve Jacobs
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2014 11:13 AM
To: 'Caballero, Catalina'; trace-users at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Trace-users] Load Calcs vs Energy Model for LEED

Your proposed inputs need to match what is actually being installed in the building. If they are installing oversized equipment, you need to model oversized equipment. The model will account for part load efficiencies.


-          Steve

From: Trace-users [mailto:trace-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Caballero, Catalina
Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2014 9:04 AM
To: trace-users at lists.onebuilding.org<mailto:trace-users at lists.onebuilding.org>
Subject: [Trace-users] Load Calcs vs Energy Model for LEED

Hello experts,

We recently received comments back from LEED  and one of the comments says the following:

It appears the equipment capacities (fan volume, fan power, cooling capacity, etc.) for the HVAC systems in the Proposed model
are inconsistent with the equipment capacities in the actual design when comparing the LEED Energy Performance Summary Report
to the mechanical schedules provided for PIf4: Schedule and Overview Documents
G3.1.10 in the Proposed building column requires that the Proposed model reflect all HVAC systems at actual equipment capacities
and efficiencies. The HVAC equipment capacities cannot be autosized in the Proposed model. Revise the Proposed model to reflect
all HVAC systems at actual equipment capacities. In addition, update Table 1.4.7B, and provide a revised LEED Energy Performance
Summary Report and the System Enterd Values reports for the Proposed model reflecting the changes. Further, if the equipment
capacities and efficiencies are based on updated mechanical schedules and/or HVAC submittal sheets, provide the updated
mechanical schedules and/or HVAC submittal sheets.

The only question that I have is why would they require for the airflows, to be exactly the same, to the original load calculations when the load calculations looks for the worst case scenario (using ashrae basic envelope, lighting, values), while the energy model looks for the most energy efficient model (actual installed envelope, occupancy, etc). It make sense that they are looking for something similar but it’s definitely not going to match the capacities and or airflows, (load calcs tend to be oversized).

I would greatly appreciate your opinion.

Thanks.

Catalina Caballero.  AIA. Assoc., LEED GA.
Sustainability Coordinator

Johnson, Avedano, Lopez, Rodriguez & Walewski Engineering Group, Inc.
Engineering for High Performance Buildings.
MEPF - BIM - LEED - Cx

2510 NW 97 Ave, Ste 220, Miami, FL 33172.
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