Major Florida University Slashes Energy Costs While Maintaining Lower Humidity
The Problem
In order to address the needs of Florida’s rapidly emerging urban regions, several public universities were established. While some newer facilities were built, many older facilities had to be renovated to improve energy efficiency and cut energy costs. When designing HVAC systems for these universities, it is important to supply cool, clean, and dry air conditions to maintain good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) while eliminating the potential for mold and mildew in the building. The humidity problems associated with the tropical climate of Florida add another daunting challenge for engineers as they try to cut energy costs while decreasing high humidity as well.
The Solution
Heat Pipe Technology’s wrap-around Dehumidification Heat Pipes (DHP™s) utilize the phase change of the working fluid to precool the outside air before entering the cooling coil and reheat the air after the cooling coil. This method has no moving parts and requires no maintenance. DHP™s also reduce the load on the cooling coil and can reduce or eliminate the energy that would otherwise be needed for a separate reheat system.
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The Results
After installation of the DHP™s, the incoming air is precooled, allowing the cooling coil to extract more moisture from the air. The heat pipe systems allow for drier supply air and provide free reheat downstream of the cooling coil. The installation of Heat Pipe Technology's DHP™s allows the university to save energy without compromising the comfort of staff and students. USFAs of June 2010, a total of 36 heat pipe systems have been installed throughout the campus, including medical buildings, classrooms, and laboratories.
The estimated total annual savings after the entire installation: $523,340. The project has a simple payback of under 4 years!
