Original Proposal
Breadth Proposal
Executive Summary
For the breadths of this thesis project, focus was placed on areas of the design of The Medical College that would be affected with the redesign proposal of the mechanical systems. After studying the building through multiple technical reports, review of design documentation, and conversations with the engineering design team, areas of interest for redesign to create a more energy efficient building have been drafted. Based upon this study and other research an acoustical breadth as well as an electrical breadth will be completed. Redesigning mechanical equipment may cause the noise produced by this equipment to change, so it is important to make sure that the noise criteria levels are still met. After designing an energy model of The Medical College using Carrier’s Hourly Analysis Program (HAP), it was seen that the electrical loads in the building were high, so further study will be done on these high electrical loads.
Acoustical Breadth
Redesigning mechanical systems and mechanical equipment will cause the noise produced by these systems to be different than what is currently in use at The Medical College. Noise pollution by the equipment will travel through the structural steel framing, floors, roof, and ductwork as vibrations. The structure-borne and air-borne noise caused by the mechanical equipment will be analyzed using an acoustical design software from Pottorff, The Acoustic Information Model (AIM) software. This software will be used as a noise prediction tool to model the amount of noise that reaches spaces within The Medical College and predict background noise levels of these spaces. This will be useful to ensure that the noise criteria levels match the currently designed and in use noise levels.
Lighting/Electrical Breadth
The Medical College consists of many laboratory and medical research spaces that contain a great deal of equipment with high electrical loads. On top of this laboratory equipment, the lighting systems and mechanical systems that serve the building draw high electrical loads as well. Based upon these statistics through research of the design documentation and study of an energy model of The Medical College using Carrier’s Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) an electrical breadth was deemed very important. The energy model proved that The Medical College had very high electrical loads. It will be necessary to ensure that the most energy efficient lighting fixtures are selected. The electrical loads of the energy model will be analyzed more in depth. An LED lighting fixture retrofit will be completed. The existing fixtures will be analyzed. An energy savings analysis as well as cost analysis will be completed for this LED retrofit.
Revised Proposal
Mechanical Depth Proposal
The first redesign alternative will focus on the integration of active chilled beams into the design of The Medical College. The chilled beams will be replacing VAV boxes in the East Wing’s lobby, office, and classroom spaces. It is also proposed that the existing AHUs that serve the East Wing will supply the active chilled beams to supply the necessary outdoor air to the spaces. A comparison of the design before and after redesign will be completed. This comparison will include energy analysis, ventilation rate comparison, and cost analysis. The second redesign alternative will be focused on implementing a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) to couple with the active chilled beam redesign. This proposed DOAS will serve the East Wing spaces. These units will include a total energy recovery wheel as well as a desiccant dehumidification wheel. These wheels will provided the necessary energy recovery and conditioning of the air to supply as primary air for the active chilled beams. This redesign will be integrated with the active chilled beams and analyzed with the same energy model. An energy analysis, ventilation rate comparison, and cost analysis will be complete.