ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / Much of the energy consumed in developed countries is for residential heating and cooling. Substantial savings are possible if one can monitor the indoor environment at many locations, and then actively control the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. This project uses a wireless sensor array and dedicated microcontroller system to control a residential HVAC system. A low data rate, ad-hoc network of sensors is deployed throughout a residence, with the data sent to a central controller. A graphical user interface allows the resident to monitor the system status, and to set parameters.

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This study is set out to confirm the phenomenon commented on by Hassan Fathy (1986) that the temperature difference between courtyards has a role in the promotion of convective cooling through transitional spaces in a multiple-courtyards building in semi and regions. The transitional spaces situated between courtyards are identified with specific titles such as Takhtabüsh in the Egypt; and Tablinum in a Roman Domus. However, despite the historic significance of these spaces, most studies have mainly focused on the climatic performance of buildings with a single courtyard. Empirical and numerical study has not been conducted on the nature of this phenomenon. In order to confirm this conjecture, this thesis is set out to conduct fieldwork and theoretical investigation. This thesis is a single case study of the Casa de Pilatos in Seville, Spain. The case study is used to develop a methodology for analysis of multiple-courtyard phenomenon. Field measurement and mathematical models are used to determine the drivers for yard-to-yard airflows. The fieldwork uses data logging equipment to record dry bulb temperatures, relative humidity, and air velocity through the transitional spaces. The amount of cooling attributed to yard-to-yard flows and implication to cooling requirements in a contemporary environment are evaluated. Adaptive criteria of Nicol and Humphrey (2001)'and Brager and de Dear (2001) are used to predict the thermal comfort of subjects. The drivers are determined through analysis of buoyancy `stack' forces and local wind regime. The building mass introduces three hours delay with up to 2.5kW or 36W/m2 variation in heat balance in the transitional spaces by 15: 00h. The calculated volume flow rates through the transitional space are 5.3m3/s (equivalent to 5kW or 71 W/m2 in convective cooling) at 15: 00h. The DBT in the gardens are up to 11 k below the WBT. It is shown that multiple-courtyards phenomenon is a robust strategy accommodating a large variation in temperatures. The study confirms that temperature difference is the driver for convective flows through transitional spaces. This study presents an opportunity to investigate the applicability of this concept in the contemporary context. Findings of this study have direct application in the reduction of cooling energy in widely used courtyard concept in semi and regions.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Engineering))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering, 1999

Introdução: Destaca-se a importância dos organismos do gênero Legionella como agentes causadores de doenças do aparelho respiratório como a legionelose ou doença do Legionário, e ainda de um controle na manutenção adequada de sistemas de ar condicionado, uma vez que estes foram identificados como ambientes favoráveis à proliferação desses microrganismos. Objetivo: Devido à importância de bactérias do gênero Legionella como agentes causadores de doenças, e um crescente número de casos de legionelose relacionados à permanência em ambientes fechados, este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a presença de Legionella em águas de bandejas de sistemas de ar condicionado. Métodos: Foram realizadas análises de amostras de água provenientes de bandejas de ar condicionado de dois hospitais, uma instituição de ensino superior e um centro comercial, totalizando 41 amostras. Volumes de 1L das amostras coletadas foram concentrados em membrana, seguida de tratamento ácido. Alíquotas das amostras tratadas e não tratadas com ácido, foram então inoculadas em meio Agar BCYE-, com e sem adição de antibióticos. As cepas isoladas foram submetidas a teste sorológico para identificação. Resultados: Das amostras analisadas, 4 (9,5%) apresentaram resultado positivo para Legionella sp.; uma no centro comercial e três em um dos hospitais estudados. Os isolados foram submetidos a teste sorológico, sendo um identificado como Legionella pneumophila sorogrupo 1 e três como seis prováveis espécies:L. longbeachae, L. bozemanni, L. dumoffi, L. gormanii, L. jordanis, L. micdadei, L. anisa . Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo comprovam a presença de Legionella sp. nos sistemas de ar condicionado pesquisados, sendo observada maior freqüência dos isolados em amostras analisadas oriundas dos hospitais.Os resultados demonstraram a importância e a necessidade de planos de monitoramento em sistemas de 7 ar condicionado como medida preventiva à colonização por organismos patogênicos nesses sistemas e dessa forma proteger a saúde dos ocupantes e usuários de ambientes climatizados artificialmente. / Introduction: It highlights the importance of organisms genus Legionella as responsible for diseases of the respiratory system such as legionellosis or Legionnaires´disease, and a control on proper maintenance of air conditioning systems, as these were identified as favorable environment for the proliferation of these microorganisms. Objective: Due to the importance of Legionella as causative agents of disease and a growing number of cases of legionellosis related to stay indoors, this study aimed to determine the presence of Legionella in water samples from air-conditioning systems. Methods: We performed analysis of samples of water from trays of airconditioning systems in two hospitals, a university and a trade center, totalizing 41 samples. One liter volumes of water samples were concentrated on membrane, followed by acid treatment. Aliquots of the sample treated and not treated with acid, were inoculated on BCYE- agar medium, with and without added antibiotics. The strains were subjected to serological identification. Results: Out of the samples analyzed, 4 (9.5%) were positive for Legionella sp.; one in a trade center and three in one of the hospitals. Isolates were submitted to serological testing, one identified as Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 and three as probable six species: L. longbeachae, L. bozemanni, L. dumoffi, L. gormanii, L. jordan, L. micdadei, L. anise. Conclusion: The results confirm the presence of Legionella sp. in air conditioning systems studied. It was observed a higher frequency in isolates from hospitals. The results demonstrated the importance and necessity of monitoring plans in air-conditioning systems as a preventive measure to colonization by pathogens in these systems and protect the health of occupants and users of these buildings.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Vita. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis. 1977. B.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / B.S.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / The electric utilities in the United States are faced with continued rapid growth in electrical demand. The traditional response to growth in demand has been the expansion of generating capacity. However, economic, environmental, and scheduling constraints will combine to make adequate expansion difficult, if not impossible, in the 1980's. This thesis examines load management as an alternative to the proliferation of generating plants. This path is illustrated by the development of an air conditioning system designed to displace power consumption in commercial buildings from peak to off-peak periods. The urban domestic utilities face their peak loads during the summer air conditioning season. The displacement of daytime air conditioning will therefore reduce the utilities' annual peak load. The proposed air conditioning system uses off-peak power, and conventional mechanical equipment, to recharge a thermal energy storage system. The thermal storage medium is a sodium sulfate-based phase change material (PCM) enclosed in small thin bags. These bags are distributed throughout the ceiling plane of the building; supported by special ceiling tiles. At night, the PCM is charged by chilling the plenum space; during the day, the PCM, in direct contact with the occupied space, removes sensible heat gains by melting. System components are described by their programmatic requirements. The performance of the proposed off-peak cooling system was simulated under a variety of conditions involving interior zone commercial office spaces. It was found, using thermal comfort criteria, that the system performed well using a PCM set point temperature of 67°F. Under the operating parameters established, the simulations indicated that the energy flow rates were adequate for successful system performance. Finally, it was determined that the system can provide immediate savings through customer demand leveling and increased chiller efficiency. However, the major potential for savings will relate to anticipated utility incentives for off-peak electrical use. / Charles C. Benton / M.Arch.