Purdue University - School of Mechanical Engineering

Automated Diagnostics for

Cooling Equipment
Principal Investigator: Prof. Jim Braun
Recent Sponsors: California Energy Commission, Department of Energy, Honeywell
Building 1
Building 2
Building 3
Store D Store C
a/c
a/c
a/c a/c
A
B
Central
Processing
Facility
A/C Unit
Micro-
controller
Transmit data
via network
Transmit data
via network
Thermo / Mechanical
Equipment
Transducers
Benefits
improved comfort
lower energy costs
lower maintenance costs
Shopping Mall
Building 1
Building 2
Building 3
Store D Store C
a/c
a/c
a/c a/c
A
B
Central
Processing
Facility
A/C Unit
Micro-
controller
Transmit data
via network
Transmit data
via network
Thermo / Mechanical
Equipment
Transducers
Benefits
improved comfort
lower energy costs
lower maintenance costs
Shopping Mall
Vision
Goals
Early detection & diagnosis
of faults for chillers and air
conditioners
Impact evaluation for faults
Optimal maintenance
scheduling
Low-cost sensors
Results
Methodology based on low-cost
temperature & pressure
measurements
Laboratory prototype
Field demos/evaluations
Purdue University - School of Mechanical Engineering
Intelligent Controls in Commercial Buildings
Principal Investigator: Prof. Jim Braun
Recent Sponsors: California Energy Commission, Honeywell, ASHRAE
Goals
Develop/evaluate controls that a) respond to peak electrical shortages
(reduce peaks) and/or b) improve energy efficiency
0
500
1000
1500
2000
C
o
o
l
i
n
g

L
o
a
d

(
W
a
t
t
s
)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Time of Day (hours)
Conventional Control
Demand-Response
Strategy
0
500
1000
1500
2000
0
500
1000
1500
2000
C
o
o
l
i
n
g

L
o
a
d

(
W
a
t
t
s
)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Time of Day (hours)
Conventional Control
Demand-Response
Strategy
Control of Building Thermostats
Economic Paybacks for
CO
2
-Based Ventilation
Purdue University - School of Mechanical Engineering
Environmentally-Friendly Cooling Equipment
Principal Investigators: Prof. Eckhard Groll, Jim Braun, and Luc Mongeau
Recent Sponsors: Army, ARTI, Tecumseh Compressors,
Goals
Develop/evaluate technologies that: a) utilize environmentally friendly working
fluids and/or b) have improved energy efficiency
1) transcritical carbon-dioxide cycles, 2) Ericsson cycles, 3) thermoacoustics
Transcritical CO
2
Cycles
Thermoacoustic Cooling
3
4s 4t 4h
1
2s
2
actual compression
isentropic compression
isobar
isentropic
expansion
adiabatic
expansion
expansion through
a turbine
T
s
TRANSCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE VAPOR
COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
Heat pumping surfaces (stack)
Gas (Helium, Argon)
3
T
S
Net Heat Pumping
Conduction losses
Q
L
Q
H
Q
L
Q
H
gas particle in a
standing wave
To the pressure antinode
and hot heat exchanger
sink
1
2
3
4
4
solid surface (stack plate)
source
Conduction losses
2
1
Heat pumping surfaces (stack)
Gas (Helium, Argon)
3
T
S
Net Heat Pumping
Conduction losses
Q
L
Q
H
Q
L
Q
H
gas particle in a
standing wave
To the pressure antinode
and hot heat exchanger
sink
1
2
3
4
4
solid surface (stack plate)
source
Conduction losses
2
1
Purdue University - School of Mechanical Engineering
Modeling of Cooling
Systems, Equipment, and Components
Principal Investigators: Prof. Jim Braun and Eckhard Groll
Recent Sponsors: ARTI, ASHRAE, Trane, Parker Hannifin, LG Electronics,
Goals
Develop improved models that are useful for design, energy analysis, and
control evaluations for components, equipment, and complete systems
Refrigerant Flow Distribution
Recent Applications
CFD modeling of refrigerant
flow distributors
Modeling of scroll compressors
Improved models for predicting
the impact of refrigerant charge
Transient modeling of cooling
coils
Transient modeling of chillers
.