Back 2 Basics

Based on Cx-3 ATC/FPT and TAB-3 software

We are at month three of this B2B energy retrocommissioning test
series. This entire series is an extension to the October-NovemberDecember B2B series addressing K-12 school building HVAC
applications. Januarys test focused on the addition of a dedicated
outdoor air system (DOAS) and three of the several sequences of
operation. The second test focused on the testing, adjusting, and
balancing of the new DOAS unit and its associated duct distribution. This third month is focused back on the DOAS and three
more sequences of operation. The test this month is On-Maximum
Heating, On-Nominal Heating, and On-100% Airside Economizer.
When beginning a retrocommissioning initiative, it is important
to not jump to the answer without following time-tested, quality
assured steps that lead an energy conservation team to the optimum
answer(s). To comply with this approach, it is important to begin
first with data collection followed by data analysis, solution planning, solution implementation, and then monitoring, measuring,
and benchmarking the original performance data.
Not included in this test, but still an important part of the overall
HVAC building system performance, are the following individual
room energy retrocommissioning features:
Unit ventilators operating as needed during unoccupied cycles to
maintain reduce room thermostat setpoint (heating season) and
raise room thermostat setpoint (A/C season). During the unoccupied cycle, the DAOS unit shall be off so that no unnecessary
outdoor air is introduced to the unoccupied space.
Unit ventilator space heating and space sensible cooling is provided
via the room thermostat setpoint. The heating setpoint is 68F with a
4 temperature dead-band with the cooling setpoint of 72, although
a more energy conservation initiative setting the thermostat cooling
setpoint at 76 will save more energy throughout the A/C season.
Relative humidity-high limit setpoint within the space works in
sequence with the DOAS unit dehumidification mode of operation,
should space humidity exceed space comfort level. On a call for
dehumidification from one or more space high limit humidistats,
the DOAS discharge air shall be reset down from 60 to 55, resulting
in additional moisture being removed from the outdoor supply air.
An alternate to the DOAS unit providing overall dehumidification
control is to have each unit ventilator capable of providing individual room dehumidification control based on the units cooling
capacity, as it also has reheat capabilities within the unit ventilator.
A drain pan in the unit will also be needed to allow condensation to
be removed. It is important to note that this type of terminal reheat
feature is not available when using chilled beams in lieu of unit ventilators. In this case, condensation could occur on the chilled beam
if a dehumidification mode of operation were to be used.
Individual room CO2 sensors sequenced are designed to close
down the associated DOAS two-position outdoor air terminal
based on adequate CO2 level within the room. The approach
provides a reduction in energy consumption by cutting back on
outdoor air when not needed. It is important to note that consideration needs to be given to state codes relative to acceptable ventilation requirements, as well as consideration towards maintain

10

En gi n e e r e d Sy stem s

March 2012

BY HOWARD MCKEW, P.E., C.P.E.

space pressure within the room and the building to prevent the
building from going under negative pressure that would result in
unconditioned air entering the building.
With the energy conservation initiatives agreed upon, the energy
retrocommissioning team has gone forward with implementing these
enhancements (B2B, October 2011) and replacing the existing automatic control system with a direct digital computerized BAS computer to monitor, measure, and benchmark the past energy performance
to the new high-performance energy retrocommissioned system.
Leading up to the energy retrocommissioning test, the TAB engineer rebalanced the new DOAS installation, as well as the existing
unit ventilator system, associated exhaust system, and the central
chilled water and hot water systems and documented the results in
the TAB system flow diagrams.
The energy retrocommissioning team shall document each
sequence of operation on page two of this B2B. The ATC system will
be demonstrated using the FPT Cx-3 software, with the reaction
device-by-device embedded into the system flow diagram below the
associated device. The HVAC installing contractor will demonstrate
the new DOAS installation working with the schools ATC operator
and the retrocommissioning engineer facilitating the process. Each
sequence shall be confirmed via each control device passing per
the specific ATC reaction to confirm the new DOAS ATC/FPT is
operating per the design intent. The answers can be found at www.
esmagazine.com.
When the energy retrocommissioning team has completed the
ATC/FPT process, all failed device reactions will have automatically been inventoried into the Cx-3 softwares corrective action log
requiring further action by the technician. For this system, there will
be several other sequences of operation, plus verification of alarms
and safeties that are not part of this B2B test.
The commissioning engineers ATC/FPT system flow diagrams,
sequence-by-sequence of operation results shall be included in this operator handbook with the TAB design-to-actual results. Operating instructions will have occurred prior to the energy retrocommissioning implementation project and during the retrocommissioning of the systems.
Here again, the operator handbook provided for this energy retrocommissioning initiative will include the current basis of design
document to ensure future reference data is available for any new
operating personnel and to recommission the system.
The CMMS system operator should update her asset database
and PM workorder to ensure these units will receive the required
care based on new components and equipment. See The Facility
Files column for a sample PM workorder for a DOAS unit.
As part of the project closeout, existing record drawings should
be updated with the additions, deletions, etc., to these systems. The
team should also submit the necessary paperwork for any available
utility company rebate(s), having received early approval of the utility rebate incentive in the solution plan phase of this project.
At the project closeout meeting, the monitoring, measuring, and
benchmarking assignment should be made and a monthly reporting system mutually agreed upon by the retrocommissioning team.

 Energy Retro-Cx
EF-1

EF-Typical

EF-Last

DE-Typ

DE-Last

DE-1

ERC-Typ

ERC-1

ERC-Last

F-1

F-1

FDPLast

Exhaust From Associated

Room Unit Ventilator

ERSP-1

F-1
DOAS

D-1

OAT

TT-1

SAF-1

CC-1

PHC-1
TT-2

RT-1st

RT-Typical

UV-Typ
cooling coil

DOA1st

RHC-1

ERCDOAS

CO-Typ

heating coil

VFD
Outdoor Air

CO-1st

UV-1st

ERSWTT

ERRWTT

Month 3- The Energy Conservation Opportunity:

K-12 School Building With New DOAS And
Existing Unit Ventilator System Application

RT-Last

Note: Each UV to be retrofitted to have

return air damper open 100% and existing
outdoor air damper also open 100% to
accept DOA as provided via 2-position air
terminal

UV-Last
DOALast

RA

RA
Direct Outdoor
air Supply

TT-3

DOATyp

CO-Last

SH-Typical

SD-1

VFD

HWP-1
Hot Water Supply from the Boiler

VFD
CHWP-1
Chiller Water Supply from the Air-Cooled Chiller

VFD

Energy RetroCX Airside New ERU

and DOAS Application
Device

D-1

SAF-1

PHC-1

RHC-1

ERCDOAS
CHWP-1

Reaction

Status

Result

Status

Result

Status

Result

Monitoring
Normal power
Emergency power
Alarm indication
Occupied cycle
Unoccupied cycle

X
X
X
X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X
X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X
X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fall

D-1

Two-Position OA Damper

Closed
Open

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

SAF-1

Supply Air Fan

On
Off
Modulating

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

F-1 DOAS

Filter Differential Pressure

No signal
Monitoring
High static filter

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fall

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fall

UV-Typ

Typical Unit Ventilator

On
Off

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

CC-1

Cooling Coil With Two-way

ATC Valve

Closed
Open
Modulating

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

PHC-1

Pre-Heating Coil With Two-way

ATC Valve

Closed
Open
Modulating

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

RHC-1

Reheating Coil With Two-way

ATC Valve

Closed
Open
Modulating

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

ERC-DOAS

Energy Recovery Coil

No flow
Full flow

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

CHWP-1

CHW Pump VFD

On
Off
Modulating

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

ERSP-1

Energy Recovery System

Pump VFD

On
Off
Modulating

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

HWP-1

HW Pump VFD

On
Off
Modulating

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

OAT

OA Temperature Transmitter

No signal
Monitoring
Alarm

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

SD-1

Smoke Detector

No signal
Monitoring
Alarm

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

X
X
X

Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail

VFD

OAT

SD-1

ANSWERS:

12

Status:

Description

VFD

HWP-1

On-100% Airside Economizer

BAS Interface

VFD

ERSP-1

On-50% OccupancyNormal Heating

BAS
Computer

UV-Typ

CC-1

On-100% Occupancy
& Max Heating

Tag

VFD
F-1
DOAS

Mode:

TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THIS MONTH'S ANSWERS, VISIT WWW.ESMAGAZINE.COM.

En gi n e e r e d Sy stem s

March 2012