Energy Performance of Buildings Group Laboratory and Field Testing Facilities and Equipment

 

Laboratory Facilities

The Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) group operates several laboratories used to investigate a wide range of thermal distribution system related issues.  In addition to state of the art facilities for measuring air flows, temperature, relative humidity, power consumption and pressure differentials for thermal distribution systems, we also have the following dedicated test systems:

A custom built oven and air circulation/pressurization system is used to test longevity of duct sealants.  This system continuously monitors operating temperatures and pressures for up to 20 individual samples, and is currently being used for a California Energy Commission study in support of potential changes to California State Energy code, and in support of developing a new ASTM standard on duct sealant longevity. 

    

 Our full-scale duct laboratory contains two complete full scale forced air distribution systems, that are instrumented for air flow and thermal testing.  One of these systems is connected to a large (30ft´8´ft´8ft) variable air leakage test chamber that can be used to account for building envelope interactions with forced air system performance.  This laboratory is used to develop air flow measurement techniques for duct air leakage and register and air handler flows in support of ASHRAE and ASTM standards, and to develop reference measurement standards use by LBNL and other researchers.  Previous experimental work has also included the effects of duct and fitting flow resistance on system air flows. 

   

     

Our newest facility is a laser-induced flouorescence (LIF) indoor air flow modeling apparatus.  This uses a scale model of a room filled with water, together with an LIF system to produce visual images of air flow mixing within rooms.  This is currently being used to investigate the effects of low register air velocities on room air mixing for variable capacity HVAC equipment, and to estimate effects on energy use and comfort due to temperature non-uniformities.

 

Other laboratory facilities include aerosol particle analysis, tracer gas analysis and calibration facilities for temperature, humidity, air flow and tracer gas systems. 

 

 

Field Diagnostics and Monitoring

EPB is a leader in the development of improved building diagnostics.  Our field diagnostic tools have been used in the development of national and international standards (chiefly through ASHRAE and ASTM) and utility programs, and we have developed specific measurement techniques for residential and commercial HVAC systems.  We have a state of the art powered flow hood for register flow measurements, tracer gas systems for ventilation and fan flow measurements, sophisticated air moving, pressure, temperature and relative humidity measurement equipment. For long term monitoring we have several multi-channel data acquisition systems with remote access and complete weather stations.  We maintain ongoing collaborations with the key manufacturers of residential HVAC test equipment.