TIP No. 23: “SELF-FUNDING” A RETROFIT CAPEX FOR COMMERCIAL HEALTHCARE & HERITAGE BUILDINGS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING (& ATTRACTING PRIVATE CAPITAL )……………

“Sourcing the Source” AND Thermal Validation is the prime focus for “FIRST SURVEY” to every Commercial Building Retrofit, IF your design is for “SELF-FUNDING” the project. This Source can be interior or exterior to the Building but always delivering a stable, constant (24/7), low grade source of warm calories. Then all Sourced thermal calories are enhanced (by passive or active contribution) for continuous “feeding” to the “Holistic H.P. System: Hot Water” array (either GSHP; ASHP or WSHP).

There is ALWAYS a Source, either architecturally contrived (e.g. interior building waste-fluid sump-tanks; or Trombe & Curtain wall or by Fforde-Chamber passive air & fluids; or stack effect to Canopy Atria etc.) or naturally occurring (e.g. exterior lake, canal, moat, seawater; or below ground etc.).

plement the (24/7) Source input to the multi-H.P. cascade array Primary Loop. Then, H.P. compressors multiply the The contrived “Calorie Harvesting” design must continuously capture & supenhanced constant Heat Source intake to replenish (hydronic: kWh @ set-point), to the over-sized Buffer Storage Tanks. This H.P. intake to Buffer Storage (kWh) Design must continuously exceed the Daily Load Profile distributed downstream (ex Buffer Tanks via Secondary closed-loops,) to the various on-site multi-tasking applications (space heating; moisture control; medical IAQ/IEQ plus). This ultra-Design energy scavenging & harvesting concept also applies to generating “Holistic H.P. System: Chilled Water” for Air-conditioning  Tropical sites. (cf separate TIP).

The “SELF-FUNDING” is generated by the H.P. Array as the “BEATING HEART” of a Hot Water “Holistic H.P. System”. The final “DESIGN” comprises a challenging innovation for a “future-proofing”, site-bespoke, MEP & Ventilation Design…always dependent upon having first thermally validated a “SOURCED – SOURCE”.

Therefore “Sourcing the Source” and Thermal Validation is the prime focus for every “FIRST” Survey for a Commercial Building Retrofit for a Holistic H.P. System……and the Golden Key to attract private capital for “multi-tasking” (higher value-added) Sustainable investment returns.

 

 

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TIP No. 22 : BEWARE IN SELECTION OF HEAT PUMP DIMENSIONS ……. YOU NEED A COAXIAL CONDENSER AS THE ONLY RETROFIT DESIGN SUITABLE FOR “SELF-FUNDING” DURABILITY & RESILIENCE ……..

When moving parts CAN break-down; they WILL break-down…sooner or later. When correctly designed this must NEVER require a “Return to Factory”. The “Lowest Life Cycle Cost (LCC)” involves a monobloc ASHP (water-cooled chiller life-span normally at 20-30 years & HMRC NAV amortization @ <6years) to be designed with a larger “footprint” for an overall larger “Enclosure volume” than a standard “compact”designed, residential H.P. This facilitates, the on-site, Lift-in/Lift-out of modular Condensers/Compressors/Fans/UV-C to “Future-Proof” & give “Resilience” for the periodic “state-of-the-art” upgrades in refrigerant specifications; ERV technology and regulatory pandemic H & S protections.

Similarly, each such “ASHP footprint” needs a larger surrounding space allocation for a “bulky” Service technician to perform any component “Lift-outs” in addition to ample clearance around each internal H.P. component. In particular, we give focus to the Condenser, where our years of field expertise, always favours the design longevity for a Coaxial, Double-Walled, Open-Vented Condenser versus the compact Plate Heat Exchanger Design. The Coaxial becomes heavier & bulkier, by requiring larger thermal design oversizing to deliver “instant” set-point hydronic discharge (unless fitted with Head Pressure Controls for a Low Lift Delta T closed circuit L.T. Central Heating).

This (DW-OV) Coaxial Condenser is the ONLY design for long-term, (x2–x300% more robust durability of Plate Condensers) at Lowest Maintenance costs & LCC. It eliminates the long-term problems of fouling & scaling plus the expensive eventual leakage of gasket seals & brazing of Plate Condensers. Coaxial Designs in stainless or titanium steel can be used with full regulatory Approval for potable water even when the ASHP or WWHP “heat source” is brackish pond or seawater.

 

 

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TIP No. 21 : Can you share a better definition ??

We define a Commercial Building Retrofit “HOLISTIC HEAT PUMP SYSTEM” Design for:

Heritage Properties; Nursing & Elderly Homes as a continuous “SELF-FUNDING DEVICE” by its high SCOP (>8-10) of continuous energy savings & operating run-time (>20years):

 

For 24/7 exhaust ducting of interior stale air directly into an ASHP/ERV for continuous moisture removal; hydronic heat circulation; filtered (MERV13-18) & purified (UV-C) fresh air circulation to the optimised IAQ/IEQ design points for each parameter.

 

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TIP No. 20: PROHIBITIONS REMAIN IN PLACE TO PREVENT RESIDENTIAL CATEGORIES OF HEAT PUMP ……

Prohibitions remain in place to prevent residential categories of Heat Pump from being used to retrofit Decarb. designs on Commercial Building Heritage sites. A residential Heat Pump has never yet been manufactured with the required componentry specifications nor the interior component configuration to be integrated within a “Holistic System” to meet a Conservation design.

 

We shall explain this limitation by a separate posting as a Technical Tip. We shall define why the various component specifications for a residential Heat Pump condenser; evaporator coil etc. are completely inappropriate for a Commercial Building retrofit, no matter if we use a Ground source or Air source or Water source residential H.P. version.

 

In our retrofit design for Conservation of a Heritage building we are committed to future-proofing all interior thermal zones to eliminate cold moist air, stale air & the evolving increased risks for “inhalation” of air pollution. At the same time, each Commercial Building retrofit design must be optimised for “validated” cost-effective Resilience & Redundancy.

 

Our method, is to design around “bespoke commercial” heat pumps as the central feature for a “Holistic System” of 24/7 year round IAQ stability. Only then, can assurances of financial returns (by highest SCOP) be developed for the project stakeholders of the Heritage Building retrofit. We develop an iteration for the highest SCOP by site-specific, predictive modelling for a hybrid combo. of “active” mini-heat pump cascades blended with “passive” thermal façades & roof-top solar canopy arrays. In high north latitudes, this “passive” thermal input can significantly increase annual SCOP for a few months per year.

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TIP No. 19 HISTORIC SITE RETROFIT DESIGN “VALUE-ADDING” BY >3+ BUFFER TANKS PER ZONE ……

For every Commercial Building Retrofit Design that is ‘Green’ & Holistic, the greatest opportunity for Value Investment is the selection & location of concealed multiple Buffer Tanks (Thermal Energy Storage).  This TES allows the Design for a “decarbonised” stable IAQ Dry Climate Control at 1-2xACH-Ventilation (24/365) with highest efficiency at lowest operating & maintenance costs. Only, as a second priority, is due diligence for engineering MEP plus innovative interior design (concealed air ducts & latent radiant panels) as important.

 

In particular, for large Historic Buildings (and high celebrity prestige residences), these TES Tanks require closed loop, recirculating warm (45C) fluid needing multiple, large volume, vertical Tanks (>1,000-5,000litres each or volume reduction by using PCM). At >3+ as the minimum number of TES per Zone, it is often impossible for any hidden indoor location. The only solution is an outdoor, buried sub-soil location, discretely distanced away from any structural risk to the building (and in compliance to all local Environmental & Historical codes). For ancient Heritage buildings within Korea this requires double walled, highest grade stainless steel, certified & pressure tested, bunded Tanks with all sockets & piping by welded stainless steel. Similar TES Tanks in Japan show continuous operational duty & high performance, with zero deterioration beyond 80+years durability.

 

Additionally, the combined multi TES total volumetric capacity is necessary to be oversized beyond the combined hybrid output of the Solar plus multi Heat Pump cascade generated daily to set-point output. Our expertise for this >3+ TES Design RULE has proven the correct methodology. This TES stored energy capacity provides Resilience for a full 48-hour “reserve” operating performance during Power outage &/or any other malfunction requiring a Service Technician’s site visit. It is also, by every analysis, a worthwhile zero-risk, High Benefit Strategy, for long-term Durability & Redundancy. Even at periodic 20+ year intervals, when the ancillary indoor HVAC equipment needs a technology upgrade, no changes are needed for the original “passive” TES Design.

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TIP No. 18 : ASSISTANCE PLEASE, TO SOURCE PROVEN EMPIRICAL DATA & CLEANING PROTOCOLS FOR SEABIRD GUANO AT HIGH NORTHERN UK (54Deg.N) LATITUDE??.…..R.S.V.P.

There is a problem to begin the verification for this high performance, Commercial Building Retrofit Design (cf. Footnote 1) at a UNESCO HISTORIC site. The Design features a rapid ROI by a Hybrid Heat Pump Cascade & Solar Array. We need to validate the optimised Design proportion of PV Panels versus Thermal Evacuated Tubes. This is across a large area of inner/hidden roof area for annual contribution of solar performance in addition to the Heat Pumps.

Our recent months of controlled test records show bird spoiled, reduced output, wide variability at 18% to 46% for both panel types by seabird guano & windswept salt-spray. The location is on the coast (<0.5km high tide distance) & daily maelstroms of 230+ pigeon flock on high turrets at 300metres. All panel design is at 38deg. Tilt, facing due South, non-shadowed.

For accurate energy performance & system financial Analysis we use NASA, NOAA & ASHRAE solar data at GPS location to input our TRNSYS 18 software; BUT, with no evidential data for a guano factor it will conclude “GIGO”.

We request help for Guano data citations at equivalent NW-UK coastal locations?

 

1[All Zone heating, by closed, hydronic loop, re-circulated radiant-heat (22-24C latent emitters); recycled 20% Fresh dry-air (45-50%RH & 2ACH); low pressure (+3Pa) & medical Filtered Air (MERV-13) to operate at highest SCOP. These FOUR “multi-benefits” of the hybrid cascade Heat Pump System Design replicates the Project completed in 1992 with UK-BRE for two Exhibition sites in China. The Design delivers to set-point: (1)Sanitary Hot Water; (2)Total Space-heating; (3)Conservation dehumidification; with (4)Future-pandemic proof medically-safe air: and meets all accurate financial imperatives required for prospective investors.]

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TIP No. 17 : BASELINE METRICS & REMOTE ISLANDS

Fundamental to the financial Analysis for every stakeholder Retrofit, is the input of accurate Baseline metrics. From this input, we complete regression analysis on many previous years of multiple variables for weather, Facility energy consumption & property usage/occupation.
This constructs a conservative, future-proof predictive model that includes progressive COP de-rating for ageing & environmental degradation factors.

This “model” is then carefully engaged versus the stakeholders’ selected Ren. Energy Equipment & Design….and yet, despite our due diligence, certain remote island retrofit installations created a deep SHOCK….and it was not electrical.

Despite all the expertise of our early Analytical Teams; “rogue” retrofits gave significant unforeseen anomalies. One particular prestigious Facility in Papeete (French Polynesia) & others in Port Vila; Apia (W. Samoa) & Papua New Guinea were very “off-kilter”.

It was finally determined, that seasonal higher wind strength to distant sea spray & changes to seabird flight patterns caused severe reductions of solar Absorbance by salt & guano deposits. This varied according to the angle of tilt & reflectivity. A bird flock’s sudden perception of “shock” causes a sudden collective evacuation of overhead bowels. (which was officially recognized for our Design Submittals for two U.S. Pacific Military Bases in Okinawa & Guam & then for Changi Airport, Singapore.

A future posting TIP, will set-out our exacting techniques to quantify a peak summer performance solar de-grade for our UNESCO Tardis ’54 Project Design (N.W.-UK under 5kms from exposed coast) ….which are not to dissimilar to our techniques used to compensate for Desert Haze & the Haboobs occurring across our Solar~Heat Pump Designs across UAE & NATO military bases.

 

 

 

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TIP NO. 16: EXPERTISE FROM GLOBAL REMOTE ISLANDS

Our early years of R&D, across the Japanese islands of 1970’s, evolved our engineering expertise for an absolutely secure anchoring technique (on both rooftops & now solar Façade-curtain walls) of Ren.Energy devices onto variable exterior building envelopes. This demanded resilience to the highest cyclonic wind loading and also for Historic & Heritage structures in an earthquake zone.

We progressed to overcome the Japanese “Rooftop Taboo” which lead to receiving the first ever 1985 JIS-Mark Award (by MITI) for a non-Japanesedevice. From this, we gained the recognition & “acceptance” for our Ren.Energy Engineering Design submittal to win the Athlete’s Village 1988 Seoul Olympicscontract.

Thereafter, we progressed from N. Asia to all the remote (High Energy Tariff) island locations of S. Pacific, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, & Mediterranean to Design (with Advisory on-site Supervision) ever larger Facility structures that required meeting the financial imperative for Rapid ROI <5years by the international investors. It was a very practical learning discipline for the “Green” 21st Century.

 

 

 

 

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TIP No. 7: INSUFFICIENT “PREQUALIFIED PROSPECTS”

It happens, by multiple reasons, that the time comes in every “Territory” when a Consultancy experiences a severe “LULL” in “Prequalified Prospects”.

 

This is the time when a Consultancy must extend well beyond & outside its existing Base. It incurs extra cost & much extra due diligence to avoid “Murphy’s Law”. To achieve new projects with well satisfied Clients, the proven Strategy in Renewable Energy is to replicate a “cookie cutter template” of your most successful past project Design and “target” this to similar Owner/Operator end-users (e.g. Hotels & Resorts) whilst island hopping around the globe.

 

The many thousands of remote islands all suffer from high energy costs that require professional, problem solving solutions. The opportunities at that time then become substantial …..with no possibility for any further “LULL” in your “Prequalified Prospects”.

 

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TIP No. 15: ON-SITE “REDUNDANCY” A NECESSITY

Remote locations with no nearby technicians on-hand for URGENT Servicing upon “equipment outage”, must have “ON-SITE REDUNDANCY”. This means extended kWh “Stand-by Storage” for both Hydronic & Electric resources: multiple hot water buffer tanks and electrical battery storage. The minimum recommended, normal outage stand-by is 18 hours  across the peak daily load profile, but scaled higher, as customized, for site requirements.

 

This requires a design that includes a hybrid combination of a multiple mini-cascade of partial-load, staged H.P.’s with both Solar “active & passive” circuits included. Usually, these higher CAPEX costs (for the extra stand-by equipment) is well offset by the higher remote location energy costs …..and the Financial Imperative of the Client remains SUPREME.

 

 

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