- Overall HVAC system strategy
To determine my overall HVAC system strategy, I looked at the type of heating and cool loads that the building will experience. The internal loads will be heavily dictated by the occupants and their movements. Given the location of the building, Stanford Dish, the external loads, such as climate and solar exposure, will be critical to consider for the HVAC design. Given the hot summers of the valley and relatively dry and above freezing temperatures in the winter, there is more of a cooling problem rather than heating. Because of this, natural ventilation may not provide all the building needs.
- Heating & Cooling Strategy/Implementation
In general, passive design features such as glazing and shading overhands were used to meet the solar heating requirements during the warmer months and reduce cooling load during the cooler months. Given the central atrium, I would like to use the space for natural ventilation and air movement to cool the building naturally. Apart from these design choices, I picked an air-based heating and cooling system transported through ducts. This system was chosen as the main energy loads will be from cooling which can be easily done through air-based ducts. Apart from this, given the module material provided, it seems like the air-based heating/cooling systems had more technologies and innovations. I only modeled Level 2, and placed the number of supply air terminals.
Space Schedules
Level 2 Plan
Level 1 Conceptual Plan
3D Model:
- HVAC System Challenges that you encountered
- I was unable to run a “HVAC Systems Loads and Sizing” analysis, I used the equation instead
- Modeling the atrium as a naturally ventilated space - how is that done?
- I was having great issues when modeling the flex ducts on some of the supply ducts. It wasn’t connecting properly.
- Modeling the connection between the mechanical equipment and supply and return ducts.