WPI's Faraday Hall HVAC Analysis

FARADAY HALL HVAC PLAN 1

2

Cooling Tower

GENERATION

Chiller

AHU

Rooftop View

DISTRIBUTION

return

supply

Street View

diffuser

diffuser

Interior Hallway Ceiling

diffuser exhaust hood

SUPPLY

diffuser

Supply Diffuser

Return Diffuser

passive chilled beam

Passive Chilled Beam

3 The rooms of Faraday Hall utilize passive chilled beams for heating and cooling and well as air return diffusers in the compartmentalized bathroom. Thermostats are located in each room for temperature control, however to only a limited to a range within either heating or cooling cycled determined by the school. Ventilation for main living spaces are solely from windows on the eastern wall. Supply air diffusers are provided through the hallways and community spaces. All of these systems function through a cooling tower, chiller, and air handling units placed on the roof. This placement makes them out of site and mind with virtually no noise from the HVAC systems for the interior rooms. Seeing these systems which have been implemented it can be noted that Faraday Hall has been awarded LEED Silver, with a greatly efficient HVAC design, making for reduced energy usage. Most of these systems however do not have specific metrics for a rating just the overall efficiency compared to other systems; except chillers which can have a COP of 5 or SEER of 15. To further improve efficiency however, in the future, newer, higher SEER value systems can be upgraded to in addition to considering rainwater collection for partial water supply. The systems implemented do provide some resiliency to extreme episodic weather events by utilizing smaller sized mechanics with less electrical demand, and also requires less outdoor air handling.

FARADAY HALL paint cooking chilled beam

sink/range

Kitchen

Living Room

counter respiration

furniture

window

dust floor flush handle

Water Closet

floor

Bedroom A

This analysis looks at the possible contaminants of an apartment in WPI’s Faraday Hall. Room 425 has a kitchen and living space, three bedrooms, and a deconstructed bathroom layout with separate water closet, vanity, and shower spaces. The innate contaminates that can be present in such spaces are VOCs like formaldehyde, particulate matter, carbon dioxide, bacteria and mold. Two spaces, the kitchen/living room and water closet bathroom are specifically analyzed, with the same contaminants present through other parts of the apartment as well.

door diffuser handle

CONTAMINANTS

Vanity Bedroom B

Formaldehyde (VOC) The best known VOC that can be readily measured. It is present in building materials, construction, and finishes, such as paint, fabrics, and lacquers.

Shower

Particulate Matter Airborne solid and/or liquid particles of varying size. It can develop from dust as fine particles released from people, furniture, and materials.

Bedroom C

Carbon Dioxide Inorganic, greenhouse compound. It is released through respiration of living organisms or chemical reactions such as cooking.

Bacteria/Mold Organic matter produced by or existing as living microbes. They can be found in damp or wet areas resulting in mold, or biological contaminants.