No description available.

Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) systems collect energy from the sun to heat the household water. In the context of a system energy balance, numerical simulations were conducted using the commercial software “TRNSYS-17” to study the SDHW system performance (solar fraction) influenced by the critical parameters in various sizes of the thermal storage tank (TES) tank. The key parameters were the magnitude of the collector mass flow rate, degree of thermal stratification within the TES tank, and the duration of the mass flows through the collector. An empirical correlation was obtained to determine the operating collector mass flow rate and TES volume to deliver the peak system performance. The correlation was preliminarily verified with different weather data. The studies showed that the optimal collector mass flow rate occurred when the same amount of total daily household demand passed through the collector. Furthermore, when the twofold amount of the household demand passed through the collector, the optimal dimensionless tank volume became insensitive to the change of collector flow rate and remained constant at 0.84. Researchers discovered that promoting thermal stratification within the TES tank would enhance system performance. Thermal stratification within a TES improves the system performance by sending colder water to the solar collector and hotter water to the household. This research challenges the research community’s focus on thermal stratification by showing that solar fraction is directly related to the solar collector heat losses. As such, the role of the TES tank is to supply cold fluid to the collector to minimize collector losses. Thermal stratification in the top portion of the tank is thus unimportant in influencing solar fraction. In this research, the pump is turned on/off by monitoring the temperature difference between the collector inlet and outlet. Different pump control strategies at different collector mass flow rates were implemented to adjust the pump-on time. The studies showed the system performance was negligibly affected (~0.5%) by employing different pump control strategies while the collector mass flow rate was held constant. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Over 1.7 million Virginians rely on private water systems to supply household water. The heaviest reliance on these systems occurs in rural areas, which are often underserved in terms of financial resources and access to environmental health education. As the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) does not regulate private water systems, it is the sole responsibility of the homeowner to maintain and monitor these systems. Previous limited studies indicate that microbial contamination of drinking water from private wells and springs is far from uncommon, ranging from 10% to 68%, depending on type of organism and geological region. With the exception of one thirty-year old government study on rural water supplies, there have been no documented investigations of links between private system water contamination and household demographic characteristics, making the design of effective public health interventions, very difficult. The goal of the present study is to identify potential associations between concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (e.g. coliforms, E. coli) in 831 samples collected at the point-of-use in homes with private water supply systems and homeowner-provided demographic data (e.g. homeowner age, household income, education, water quality perception). Household income and the education of the perceived head of household were determined to have an association with bacteria concentrations. However, when a model was developed to evaluate strong associations between total coliform presence and potential predictors, no demographic parameters were deemed significant enough to be included in the final model. Of the 831 samples tested, 349 (42%) of samples tested positive for total coliform and 55 (6.6%) tested positive for E. coli contamination. Chemical and microbial source tracking efforts using fluorometry and qPCR suggested possible E. coli contamination from human septage in 21 cases.  The findings of this research can ultimately aid in determining effective strategies for public health intervention and gain a better understanding of interactions between demographic data and private system water quality. / Master of Science

Lead is a common additive in plumbing components despite its known adverse health effects. Recent research has attributed cases of elevated blood lead levels in children and even fetal death with the consumption of drinking water containing high levels of lead. Although the federal Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) strives to minimize lead exposure from water utilities through the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), an estimated 47 million U.S. residents reliant on private unregulated water systems (generally individual and rural) are not protected. Detection, evaluation, and mitigation of lead in private systems is challenging due to lack of monitoring data, appropriate sampling protocols, and entities to fund research. Through a statewide sampling survey, over 2,000 homeowners submitted water samples for analysis. This survey documented that 19% of households had lead concentrations in the first draw sample (i.e., 250 mL sample collected after 6+ hours of stagnation) above the EPA action level of 15, with concentrations as high as 24,740. Due to the high incidence observed, this research focused on identifying system and household characteristics that increased a homeowner's susceptibility of lead in water. However, 1% of households had elevated lead concentrations after flushing for five minutes, which highlighted potential sources of lead release beyond the faucet. Therefore, a follow-up study was conducted to investigate sources and locations of lead release throughout the entire plumbing network. Using profiling techniques (i.e., sequential and time series sampling), three patterns of waterborne lead release were identified: no elevated lead or lead elevated in the first draw of water only (Type I), erratic spikes of particulate lead mobilized from plumbing during periods of water use (Type II), and sustained detectable lead concentrations (>1 ) even with extensive flushing (Type III). Lastly, emphasis was given to understand potential lead leaching from NSF Standard 61 Section 9 certified lead-free plumbing components as the synthetic test water is not representative of water quality observed in private water systems. Overall, this dissertation research provides insight into a population that is outside the jurisdiction of many federal agencies. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Os sistemas prediais de água não potável podem ser do tipo centralizado, quando os efluentes oriundos de diversas edificações são coletados e transportados para um único local de tratamento e redistribuídos para um conjunto de residências; ou descentralizado, quando a coleta, o tratamento e o transporte dos efluentes ocorrem próximos ao local de produção. Porém, tanto o sistema centralizado quanto o descentralizado possui particularidades que os fazem interessantes ou não em aspectos sociais, econômicos e ambientais. Desta forma, o objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi formular modelos matemáticos que permitissem comparar o sistema centralizado com o descentralizado. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica com o intuito de coletar informações sobre as principais variáveis que interferem na tomada de decisão de cada tipo de sistema. A partir dos princípios da Programação Linear Inteira foram formulados três modelos que permitiram encontrar qual tipo de sistema apresenta o menor custo total acumulado, quanto é o valor desse custo ao longo do tempo e quantos sistemas são necessários instalar para atender a uma demanda específica. Com base nos dados da literatura consultada, o sistema centralizado apresentou-se mais vantajoso do que os sistemas descentralizados quanto aos custos de implantação, de manutenção e de operação considerando uma vida útil de 20 anos. Todavia, verificou-se que a escolha do sistema mais viável não deve se concentrar apenas nos custos, mas também devem ser consideradas variáveis qualitativas. Deste modo, as formulações gerais dos modelos permitem a inserção de outras variáveis de decisão e restrições para aprimorar a tomada de decisão quanto ao tipo de sistema predial de água não potável a ser implantado. / Non-potable water systems may be of the centralized type when effluents from several buildings are collected and transported to a single treatment site and redistributed to a set of residences; or decentralized, when the collection, treatment and transportation of the effluent occurs near the place of production. However, both the centralized and decentralized systems have particularities that make them interesting or not in social, economic and environmental aspects. In this way, the main objective of this research was to formulate mathematical models that allowed to compare the centralized system with the decentralized one. For the development of the study a bibliographic review was carried out in order to collect information on the main variables that interfere in the decision making of each type of system. From the principles of Linear Programming, three models were formulated that allowed to find out which type of system has the lowest cumulative total cost, what is the value of this cost over time and how many systems are needed to meet a specific demand. Based on the data of the literature, the centralized system was more advantageous than the decentralized systems in terms of the implantation, maintenance and operation costs considering a useful life of 20 years. However, it has been found that the choice of the most viable system should not only focus on costs but should also be considered as qualitative variables. In this way, the general models formulations allow the insertion of other decision variables and constraints to improve the decision making regarding the type of non-potable water system to be implanted.

A preocupação mundial com o cenário de escassez do recurso natural \"água\" é sintetizada no slogan adotado pela WateReuse Research Foundation em campanha pelo reuso de água: \"Water... it\'s too valuable to be used just once\". Progressivamente tem-se melhorado os processos de gestão da água, com controle de desperdício, procedimentos e utilização de fontes alternativas de abastecimento, não apenas na escala dos sistemas públicos, mas nos sistemas prediais. No Brasil, seguindo esta tendência global, existem iniciativas independentes de sistemas prediais de água não potável sendo instalados em edifícios residenciais e comerciais. Estas iniciativas, no entanto, contam hoje com pequeno respaldo técnico normativo, diretrizes ou legislação que orientem gestores, executores e profissionais sobre as práticas adequadas de implantação, gestão e monitoramento deste tipo de sistema, colocando em risco a segurança dos usuários e o sucesso da tecnologia. Considerando-se que para produzir um edifício de qualidade é fundamental atender às necessidades dos usuários, adequando as soluções ao uso que será feito do produto, a Avaliação Durante Operação (ADO) do edifício apresenta-se como uma ferramenta adequada para a análise da situação atual do sistema. Inserindo-se neste contexto, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de propor uma ferramenta que auxilie a avaliação de desempenho de sistemas prediais de água não potável durante sua operação em edifícios residenciais, no que se refere à operação e manutenção. Para tanto, foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico sobre sistemas prediais de água não potável, tratamentos de água disponíveis e avaliação de desempenho. Seguindo a metodologia de ADO, foram realizados estudos de casos em edifícios residenciais para levantamento de dados atuais de desempenho. Ao término da análise dos casos selecionados, foi possível validar a ferramenta proposta e constatar que a falta de capacitação técnica, normas técnicas e legislações específicas que orientem projetistas, executores, gestores e usuários e padronizem os sistemas prediais de água não potável contribui para o cenário encontrado nos estudos, caracterizado por sistemas que operam com desempenho inferior ao adequado para atender às necessidades e garantir a segurança de seus usuários. / The global concern with the scenario of increasing natural resource scarcity is synthesized in the slogan adopted by WateReuse Research Foundation for a reuse campaign: \"Water... it\'s too valuable to be used just once.\" Progressively, the water management processes have been improved, by controlling waste, procedures and use of alternative sources of water supply, not only at the city level but also individually. In Brazil, following this global trend, there are independent initiatives of non-potable water systems being installed in residential and commercial buildings. These initiatives, however, have today little technical normative support, guidelines or legislation to orientate managers, performers and professionals on the appropriate practices for deployment, management and monitoring of this type of system, endangering the safety of users and the success of technology. Considering that to produce a quality building it is critical to meet the user\'s needs, suiting the solutions according to the product use, the evaluation during operation (EDO) presents itself as adequate tool for analyzing the current situation and proposing improvements on the system performance. In this context, this study aims to propose a tool that assists the performance evaluation of non-potable water systems during its operation in residential buildings, regarding the design, implementation, operation and maintenance. In order to do that, it was performed bibliographical survey on nonpotable water systems, available water treatments and performance evaluation. Following the EDO methodology, case studies were conducted in a sample of residential buildings for current performance data collection. Upon completion of the analysis of selected cases, the proposed tool was validated and it was found that the lack of technical training, technical standards and specific legislation to guide designers, performers, managers and users, and to standardize the non-potable water systems contributes to the scenario found in the case studies, characterized by systems operating with performance unsuited to meet the needs and ensure the safety of its users.

Submitted by CRISTIANO PANSANATO null (pansanato.cristiano@gmail.com) on 2017-01-12T21:03:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Cristiano Pansanato - Dissertação de Mestrado - 2016.pdf: 4251034 bytes, checksum: f23b5995e15e89e575b69d4b742fb372 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-01-16T18:33:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 pansanato_c_me_bauru.pdf: 4251034 bytes, checksum: f23b5995e15e89e575b69d4b742fb372 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-16T18:33:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 pansanato_c_me_bauru.pdf: 4251034 bytes, checksum: f23b5995e15e89e575b69d4b742fb372 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A busca mundial for fontes de energia que garantam um crescimento sustentável tem marcado o século XXI. Nesse cenário, o Brasil é beneficiado, com diversas fontes de energias viáveis nas condições atuais e outras promissoras num cenário de médio e longo prazo. A utilização da energia solar convertida em energia térmica ou elétrica apresenta-se como uma destas alternativas. Explorar a energia solar de forma viável economicamente e melhorar a eficiência de captação e transformação são os grandes desafios que se apresentam. Neste contexto, este estudo se propôs a analisar experimentalmente o desempenho de um Sistema Acoplado, composto por coletores planos com e sem cobertura. O objetivo é reduzir o custo de implantação de um sistema de aquecimento, uma vez que o os coletores sem cobertura são mais baratos. Além disso, dependendo das características de implantação, é ainda possível aumentar a eficiência global do sistema através de um pré-aquecimento da água no coletor sem cobertura, aproveitando a maior eficiência térmica para temperaturas de operação próximas a do ambiente. Para estudo do Sistema Acoplado, um outro sistema composto apenas por coletores com cobertura foi montado e denominado Sistema Simples. Desta forma, com os dois aparatos montados e devidamente instrumentados foi possível obter resultados para as mesmas condições ambientais de teste. Assim, diversos esquemas de controle também puderam ser testados e analisados tanto na operação do Sistema Acoplado como do Sistema Simples. Resultados comparativos avaliando as condições de saída, energia útil e armazenada e eficiências térmicas foram apresentados e comparados para os dois sistemas. / The global search for energy sources that ensure sustainable growth has marked the 21st century. In this scenario, Brazil is benefited, with several viable sources of energy under current conditions and other promising sources in a medium and long-term scenario. The use of solar energy converted into thermal or electric ones presents itself as one of these alternatives. Using solar energy in a cost-effective way and improving the performance for capturing and transforming are the major challenges nowadays. In this context, this study proposed to analyze experimentally the performance of a Coupled System, composed by glazed and unglazed flat collectors. The purpose of this system is to reduce the installation costs of a heating system, since the unglazed collectors are less expensive. In addition, depending on its implementation characteristics, it is possible to increase the overall efficiency of the system by preheating the water in an unglazed collector, taking advantage of its higher thermal efficiency at nearby operating and ambient temperatures. For analysis of Coupled System, another system composed only of glazed collectors was assembled and denominated as Simple System. In this way, with the two devices mounted and instrumented some results can be obtained for the same environmental test conditions. Thus, several control schemes could also be tested and analyzed in the operation of both systems. Comparative results evaluating the output conditions, useful and stored energy and thermal performances are presented and compared for the systems.

Os sistemas prediais de água não potável podem ser do tipo centralizado, quando os efluentes oriundos de diversas edificações são coletados e transportados para um único local de tratamento e redistribuídos para um conjunto de residências; ou descentralizado, quando a coleta, o tratamento e o transporte dos efluentes ocorrem próximos ao local de produção. Porém, tanto o sistema centralizado quanto o descentralizado possui particularidades que os fazem interessantes ou não em aspectos sociais, econômicos e ambientais. Desta forma, o objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi formular modelos matemáticos que permitissem comparar o sistema centralizado com o descentralizado. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica com o intuito de coletar informações sobre as principais variáveis que interferem na tomada de decisão de cada tipo de sistema. A partir dos princípios da Programação Linear Inteira foram formulados três modelos que permitiram encontrar qual tipo de sistema apresenta o menor custo total acumulado, quanto é o valor desse custo ao longo do tempo e quantos sistemas são necessários instalar para atender a uma demanda específica. Com base nos dados da literatura consultada, o sistema centralizado apresentou-se mais vantajoso do que os sistemas descentralizados quanto aos custos de implantação, de manutenção e de operação considerando uma vida útil de 20 anos. Todavia, verificou-se que a escolha do sistema mais viável não deve se concentrar apenas nos custos, mas também devem ser consideradas variáveis qualitativas. Deste modo, as formulações gerais dos modelos permitem a inserção de outras variáveis de decisão e restrições para aprimorar a tomada de decisão quanto ao tipo de sistema predial de água não potável a ser implantado. / Non-potable water systems may be of the centralized type when effluents from several buildings are collected and transported to a single treatment site and redistributed to a set of residences; or decentralized, when the collection, treatment and transportation of the effluent occurs near the place of production. However, both the centralized and decentralized systems have particularities that make them interesting or not in social, economic and environmental aspects. In this way, the main objective of this research was to formulate mathematical models that allowed to compare the centralized system with the decentralized one. For the development of the study a bibliographic review was carried out in order to collect information on the main variables that interfere in the decision making of each type of system. From the principles of Linear Programming, three models were formulated that allowed to find out which type of system has the lowest cumulative total cost, what is the value of this cost over time and how many systems are needed to meet a specific demand. Based on the data of the literature, the centralized system was more advantageous than the decentralized systems in terms of the implantation, maintenance and operation costs considering a useful life of 20 years. However, it has been found that the choice of the most viable system should not only focus on costs but should also be considered as qualitative variables. In this way, the general models formulations allow the insertion of other decision variables and constraints to improve the decision making regarding the type of non-potable water system to be implanted.

A preocupação mundial com o cenário de escassez do recurso natural \"água\" é sintetizada no slogan adotado pela WateReuse Research Foundation em campanha pelo reuso de água: \"Water... it\'s too valuable to be used just once\". Progressivamente tem-se melhorado os processos de gestão da água, com controle de desperdício, procedimentos e utilização de fontes alternativas de abastecimento, não apenas na escala dos sistemas públicos, mas nos sistemas prediais. No Brasil, seguindo esta tendência global, existem iniciativas independentes de sistemas prediais de água não potável sendo instalados em edifícios residenciais e comerciais. Estas iniciativas, no entanto, contam hoje com pequeno respaldo técnico normativo, diretrizes ou legislação que orientem gestores, executores e profissionais sobre as práticas adequadas de implantação, gestão e monitoramento deste tipo de sistema, colocando em risco a segurança dos usuários e o sucesso da tecnologia. Considerando-se que para produzir um edifício de qualidade é fundamental atender às necessidades dos usuários, adequando as soluções ao uso que será feito do produto, a Avaliação Durante Operação (ADO) do edifício apresenta-se como uma ferramenta adequada para a análise da situação atual do sistema. Inserindo-se neste contexto, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de propor uma ferramenta que auxilie a avaliação de desempenho de sistemas prediais de água não potável durante sua operação em edifícios residenciais, no que se refere à operação e manutenção. Para tanto, foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico sobre sistemas prediais de água não potável, tratamentos de água disponíveis e avaliação de desempenho. Seguindo a metodologia de ADO, foram realizados estudos de casos em edifícios residenciais para levantamento de dados atuais de desempenho. Ao término da análise dos casos selecionados, foi possível validar a ferramenta proposta e constatar que a falta de capacitação técnica, normas técnicas e legislações específicas que orientem projetistas, executores, gestores e usuários e padronizem os sistemas prediais de água não potável contribui para o cenário encontrado nos estudos, caracterizado por sistemas que operam com desempenho inferior ao adequado para atender às necessidades e garantir a segurança de seus usuários. / The global concern with the scenario of increasing natural resource scarcity is synthesized in the slogan adopted by WateReuse Research Foundation for a reuse campaign: \"Water... it\'s too valuable to be used just once.\" Progressively, the water management processes have been improved, by controlling waste, procedures and use of alternative sources of water supply, not only at the city level but also individually. In Brazil, following this global trend, there are independent initiatives of non-potable water systems being installed in residential and commercial buildings. These initiatives, however, have today little technical normative support, guidelines or legislation to orientate managers, performers and professionals on the appropriate practices for deployment, management and monitoring of this type of system, endangering the safety of users and the success of technology. Considering that to produce a quality building it is critical to meet the user\'s needs, suiting the solutions according to the product use, the evaluation during operation (EDO) presents itself as adequate tool for analyzing the current situation and proposing improvements on the system performance. In this context, this study aims to propose a tool that assists the performance evaluation of non-potable water systems during its operation in residential buildings, regarding the design, implementation, operation and maintenance. In order to do that, it was performed bibliographical survey on nonpotable water systems, available water treatments and performance evaluation. Following the EDO methodology, case studies were conducted in a sample of residential buildings for current performance data collection. Upon completion of the analysis of selected cases, the proposed tool was validated and it was found that the lack of technical training, technical standards and specific legislation to guide designers, performers, managers and users, and to standardize the non-potable water systems contributes to the scenario found in the case studies, characterized by systems operating with performance unsuited to meet the needs and ensure the safety of its users.