ASHRAE Insights

ASHRAE Insights: "A system with the potential to set a new standard in the mechanical design industry earned first place in the ASHRAE 2004 Student Design Competition.

First place in the HVAC system selection category was awarded to Nick MaffeoIII, Jason Kramer and Dave Peterson of The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. Their advisor is William Bahnfl eth, Ph.D., P.E. The students chose a (Regenerative Dual Duct^TM/SM System) , using an indirect evaporative cooler in conjunction with a direct evaporative cooler with a dual duct system to supply the air. A "regenerative" process using air-to-air heat exchangers to exchange the heat from the return air to the supply air without cross-contamination also was used.

The team feels the (Regenerative Dual Duct^TM/SM System) offers superior indoor air quality by decoupling space sensible and latent loads, avoiding re-circulation of air as well as cross-contamination and also by guaranteeing compliance with ventilation requirements. The system reduces energy consumption as well as the cooling plant size. It does this at a competitive cost and at a lower first and annual energy costs, according to the students.

"The system is able to meet all of the requirements of ASHRAE Standards 15, 55, 62 and 90," they said. "It reduces the use of refrigerants compared to other systems. The reduced mechanical cooling allows for less reliance upon large energy-inefficient equipment, which means less non-renewable fuel consumption. The regenerative cycle allows for large reductions in energy costs.

The system as a whole is cleaner and psychrometrically, more efficient. This system has the potential to set a new standard in the mechanical design industry once it is able to overcome the typical paradigms encountered with such new and different way of thinking." - "Best Student Designs Are Accepted," ASHRAE Insights, September, 2004, Volume 19, Number 9